Classic Poem

I. Of Faith and W ORKS .

He that in word offendeth not,
Is call'd a perfect man I wot;
Yet he whose thoughts and deeds are bad,
The law-perfection never had.

I am design'd a perfect soul,
Ev'n though I never kept the whole,
Nor any precept; for 'tis known,
He breaks them all that breaks but one.

By faith I do perfection claim,
By works I never grasp the name:
Yet without works my faith is nought,
And thereby no perfection brought.

Works without faith, will never speed,
Faith without works is wholly dead:
Yet I am justify'd by faith,
Which no law-works adjutant hath.

Yea, gospel-works no help can lend,
Though still they do by faith attend:
Yet faith by works is perfect made,
And by their presence justify'd.

But works with faith could never vie,
And only faith can justify:
Yet still my justifying faith
No justifying value hath.

Lo! justifying grace from heaven
Is foreign ware and freely given:
And saving faith is well content
To be a mere recipient.

Faith's active in my sanctity;
But here its act it will deny,
And frankly own it never went
Beyond a passive instrument.

I labour much, like holy Paul;
And yet not I, but grace does all:
I try to spread my little sails,
And wait for powerful moving gales.

When pow'r's convey'd I work; but see,
'Tis still his pow'r that works in me.
I am an agent at his call,
Yet nothing am, for grace is all.

II. Of Rewards of G RACE and D EBT .

In all my works I still regard
The recompence of full reward:
Yet such my working is withal,
I look for no reward at all.

God's my reward exceeding great,
No lesser heaven than this I wait:
But where's the earning work so broad,
To set me up an heir of God?

Rewards of debt, rewards of grace,
Are opposites in ev'ry case;
Yet sure I am, they'll both agree
Most jointly in rewarding me.

Though hell's my just reward for sin,
Heav'n as my just reward I'll win.
Both these my just rewards I know,
Yet truly neither of them so.

Hell can't in justice be my lot,
Since justice satisfaction got;
Nor heav'n in justice be my share,
Since mercy only brings me there.

Yet heav'n is mine by solemn oath,
In justice and in mercy both:
And God in Christ is all my trust,
Because he's merciful and just.

CONCLUSION .

Here is the Piddle, where's the man
Of judgment, to expound?
For masters fam'd that cannot scan,
In Israel may be found.

We justly those in wisdom's list
Establish'd saints may call,
Whose bitter-sweet experience blest
Can clearly grasp it all.

Some babes in grace may mint and mar,
Yet aiming right succeed:
But strangers they in Isra'l are,
Who not at all can read.