3. It was a false, misleading dream That God His Law had given For us to keep and merit claim And earn our way to heaven. God’s Law is but a mirror bright To bring the inbred sin to sight That lurks within our nature. 4. By our own strength to put aside God’s wrath and win His blessing Is useless task, by many tried, Is only guilt increasing. For God hypocrisy abhors; Flesh with the spirit ever wars, For ’tis by nature evil. 5. And yet the Law fulfilled must be, Or we were lost forever; Therefore God sent His Son that He Might us from death deliver; He all the Law for us fulfilled And thus His Father’s anger stilled Which over us impended. 6. Since Christ hath full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Thy grace alone, dear Lord, I plead. Thy death my life now is indeed, For Thou hast paid my ransom. 7. Not doubting this, I trust in Thee, Thy Word cannot be broken; Thou all dost call, “Come unto Me!” No falsehood hast Thou spoken. “He that believes and is baptized, He shall be saved,” say’st Thou, O Christ, “And he shall never perish.” 8. He’s just ’fore God, and he alone, Who by this faith is living; This faith will by good works be known, To God the glory giving. Faith gives thee peace with God above, But thou thy neighbor, too, wilt love If thou art a new creature. 9. The Law reveals the guilt of sin And makes man conscience-stricken; The Gospel then doth enter in The sinful soul to quicken. Come to the Cross, trust Christ and live; The Law to you no peace can give With all its good endeavors. 10. From faith in Christ, whene’er ’tis right, Good works are surely flowing; The faith is dead that shuns the light, No good works ever showing. By faith alone the just shall live, Good works alone the proof can give Of love, which true faith worketh. Paul Speratus, 1523, abr. Composite tr. 1910. 315 7s 6 l Blessed are the sons of God, They are bought with Christ’s own blood; They are ransomed from the grave, Life eternal they shall have. With them numbered may we be Here and in eternity! 2. They are justified by grace, They enjoy the Savior’s peace; All their sins are washed away, They shall stand in God’s great Day. With them numbered may we be Here and in eternity! 3. They are lights upon the earth, Children of a heavenly birth; One with God, with Jesus one, Glory is in them begun. With them numbered may we be Here and in eternity! J. Humphreys, 1743. 316