Q. Ah! where's my title, right, or claim
To that eternal bliss?

A. In Christ alone, that glorious name,
The Lord our Righteousness.

Q. But who unfit can enter there,
Or with such nasty feet?

A. Christ by his blood presents thee fair,
His Spirit makes thee meet.

Q. But mayn't my spirit, weak as grass,
Fail ere it reach the length?

A. Jesus the Lord, thy righteousness,
Will be the Lord thy strength.

Q. Mayn't hellish hosts and wicked foes
Sore by the way molest?

A. Christ is a friend to bridle those,
And give the weary rest.

Q. Mayn't guilty conscience loudly brand,
And all my comfort chase?
A. Christ with a pardon in his hand
Can shew his smiling face.

Q. But how can divine mercy vent,

Where sins are great and throng? A. Christ is the channel with decent That mercy runs along.

Q. But may not justice interpose,
And stand in mercy's way?

A. Jesus did all the debt thou owes
To divine Justice pay.

Q. Where shall mine eyes the pardon spy,
Unto my saving good?

A. In Christ's free promise see it lie,
In his atoning blood.

Q. What ground have I to trust and say,
The promise is not vain?

A. In Christ the promises are Yea,
In him they are Amen.

Q. But where is Christ himself, O where
With promises so sweet?

A. Christ's in the promises, and there
Thy faith and he may meet.

Q. Is Christ in them, and they in Christ?
How shall I this descry?

A. His blood and Spirit therein list
To seal and to apply.

Q. 'Gainst legal fiery threats of wrath,
Pray, what defence is best?

A. Christ's full obedience ey'd by faith:
There should the guilty rest.

Q. But how shall faith be had? Alas!
I find I can't believe.

A. Christ is the author of that grace,
And faith is his to give.

Q. Ah! when may faithless I expect
He'll such a bliss bequeath?

A. He will of unbelief convict,
And pave the way for faith.

Q. Repentance must attend, but whence
Shall I this grace receive?

A. Christ is exalted as a Prince
All needful grace to give.

Q. How can so vile a lump of dust
Heart-holiness expect?

A. Christ by his holy Spirit must
This gradual change effect.

Q. How shall I do the works aright
I'm daily bound unto?

A. Christ in thee, by his Spirit's might,
Works both to will and do.

Q. How shall my maladies be heal'd,
So sore molesting me?

A. Christ is the great Physician seal'd,
The Lord that healeth thee.

Q. By prayer I ought to seek his face,
This course how shall I drive ?
A. "Tis Christ alone that has the grace
And Sp'rit of pray'r to give.

Q. Salvation-work is great and high,
Alas! What shall I do?

A. Christ as the Alpha thereof eye,
And the Omega to.

Q. What pillar then is most secure
To build my hope upon?

A. Christ only the foundation sure,
The living corner-stone.

Q. When I'm with black polution stain'd,
How shall I cleansed be?

A. Christ is a fountain for that end
Set open wide for thee.

Q. What shall I do, when plagues abound,
With sorrows, griefs, and fears?

A. Christ has a balsam for thy wounds,
A bottle for thy tears.

Q. But is there any help for one
That utterly is lost?

A. Christ saves from sin, and he alone
Ev'n to the uttermost.

Q. But where shall I be safe at last
From hell and endless death?
A. Christ is a refuge from the blast
Of everlasting wrath.

Q. But mayn't ev'n natʼral death to me
Become a dreadful thing?

A. Christ by his death in love to thee
Did ev'ry death unsting.

Q. Why, Sir, is Christ the whole you say
No answer else I find.

A. Because, were Christ our all away,
There's nothing left behind.

Q. How can he answer ev'ry case,
And help in ev'ry thrall ?

A. Because he is the Lord of

Jehovah all in all.

grace,

Q. How is he present to supply,
And to relieve us thus?

A. Because his glorious name is nigh,
Immanuel, God with us.

Q. Has he alone all pow'r to save,
Is nothing left to man?

A. Yea, without Christ we nothing have,
Without him nothing can.

Q. Mayn't some from hence take latitude
And room their lusts to please?

If Christ do all, then very good,
Let us take carnal ease.

A. Christ will in flaming vengeance come,
With fury in his face,

To damn his foes that dare presume,
And thus abuse his grace.

?

Faith and works both excluded from the matter of justifi cation before God, that redemption may appear to be only in Christ.

W

HO dare an holy God address
With an unholy righteousness?
Who can endure his awful probe,
Without perfection for their robe ?

None could his great tribunal face,
Were faith itself their fairest dress;
Faith takes the robe, but never brags
Itself has ought but filthy rags.

Faith claims no share, and works far less,
In justice-pleasing righteousness:
The servant were to be abhorr'd,
Would claim the glory of his Lord.

Blasphemous unbelief may claim
The praises of the worthy lamb;
But faith disclaiming all its best,
Not on itself, but Christ, will rest.

I'm sav'd and justifi'd by faith,
Which yet no saving value hath ;
Nor e'er pretends to save from thrall,
But in its object has its all.

"Tis Christ alone saves guilty me,
And makes my right to life so free,
That in himself it stands alone :

Faith takes the right, but gives me none.

S