Classic Poem

QUESTION .

Kind teacher, may I come to learn
 In this abrupt address,
By framing questions that concern,
 My endless happiness?

Answer .

Yea, child; but if you'd learn to run
 The great salvation race,
Know that the name of Christ alone,
 Can answer ev'ry case.

Q. By sin my God and all is lost,
 O where may God be found?
A. In Christ; for so the Holy Ghost
 Shews by the joyful sound.

Q. But how will God with sinful me
 Again be reconcil'd?
A. In Christ, in whom his grace to thee
 And favour is reveal'd.

Q. O how shall I a sharer prove,
 And see his glorious grace?
A. In Christ, the image of his love,
 And brightness of his face.

Q. Where shall I seek all divine store,
 And without fail obtain?
A. In Christ, in whom for evermore,
 His fulness does remain.

Q. But how shall I escape and flee
 Th' avenging wrath of God?
A. In Christ, who bore upon the tree
 That whole amazing load.

Q. Alas! I'm daily apt to stray,
 How shall I heav'n-ward make?
A. Through Christ, the consecrated way,
 Design'd for thee to take.

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. May'nt hellish hosts and wicked foes
 Sore by the way molest?
A. Christ is a friend to bridle those,
 And give the weary rest.

Q. May'nt guilty conscience loudly brand,
 And all my comfort chase?
A. Christ with a pardon in his hand,
 Can show his smiling face.

Q. But how can divine mercy vent,
 Where sins are great and throng?
A. Christ is the channel with descent
 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 thus 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 pray'r 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 is the Alpha thereof, aye,
 And the Omega too.

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 pollution 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,
 Even 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 may'nt ev'n nat'ral 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 every thrall?
A. Because he is the Lord of grace,
 J EHOVAH , all in all.

Q. How is he present to supply,
 And to relieve us thus?
A. Because his glorious name is high,
 I MMANUEL , 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. May'nt 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.