"of more or less where god doth reign,
there is no chance," she gently said,
"for, whether large or small his gain,
here every man alike is paid.
no niggard churl our high chieftain,
but lavishly his gifts are made,
like streams from a moat that flow amain,
or rushing waves that rise unstayed.
free were his pardon whoever prayed
him who to save man's soul did vow,
unstinted his bliss, and undelayed,
for the grace of god is great enow."
"but now thou wouldst my wit checkmate,
making my wage as wrong appear;
thou say'st that i am come too late,
of so large hire to be worthy here;
yet sawest thou ever small or great,
living in prayer and holy fear,
who did not forfeit at some date
the meed of heaven to merit clear?
nay much the rather, year by year,
all bend from right and to evil bow;
mercy and grace their way must steer,
for the grace of god is great enow."
"but enow of grace have the innocent
new-born, before the sacred shrine,
they are sealed with water in sacrament,
and thus are brought into the vine.
anon the day with darkness blent,
death by its might makes to decline;
who wrought no wrong ere hence they went,
the gentle lord receives, in fine;
they obeyed his will, they bore his sign,
why should he not their claim allow?
yea, and reward them, i opine,
for the grace of god is great enow."
"'t is known enow that all mankind
at first were formed for perfect bliss;
our forefather that boon resigned,
all for an apple's sake, i wis;
we fell condemned, for folly blind,
to suffer sore in hell's abyss;
but one a remedy did find
lest we our hope of heaven should miss.
he suffered on the cross for this,
red blood ran from his crownèd brow;
he saved us by that pain of his,
for the grace of god is great enow."
"enow there flowed from out that well,
blood and water from his broad wound:
the blood bought us from bale of hell,
and from second death deliverance found.
the water is baptism, truth to tell,
that followed-the spear so sharply ground,
and washes away the guilt most fell
of those that adam in death had drowned.
now is there nothing in earth's great round,
to bar from the bliss wherewith god did endow
mankind,—restored to us safe and sound,
for the grace of god is great enow."
