4. 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. "T is 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,
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 may n't 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 ev'ry thrall?

A. Because he is the Lord of grace,
JEHOVAH, all in all.

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. May n'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.

SECTION IV.

FAITH AND WORKS BOTH EXCLUDED FROM THE MATTER OF JUS

TIFICATION BEFORE GOD, THAT REDEMPTION MAY APPEAR TO BE
ONLY IN CHRIST.

WHO dare a 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.

I dare not act with this intent

For acts of mine to draw the rent:
Nor do good works with this design
To win the crown by works of mine.
I'd thus the promis'd grace forsake,
Nor Jesus for my Saviour take;
Yea, thus would dreadfully presume,
And work mine own eternal doom.

Presumption cannot rise more high;
I'd make the truth of God a lie,
The God of truth a liar too;

What more mischief could Satan do?

Why, I'd discredit God's record
Concerning Jesus Christ the Lord,
His glorious and eternal Son,

Whose blood has life eternal won.