"grace enow a man may get
by penitence, though he sin again;
but with long sorrow and regret,
he must bear punishment and pain;
but righteous reason will not let
the innocent be hurt in vain;
god never gave his judgment yet,
that they should suffer who show no stain.
the sinful soul of mercy fain
finds pardon if he will repent,
but he who sinless doth remain
is surely saved, being innocent."
"two men are saved of god's good grace,
who severally have done his will:
the righteous man shall see his face,
the innocent dwells with him still.
in the psalter thou may'st find a case:
'lord, who shall climb to thy high hill,
or rest within thy holy place?'
the psalmist doth the sense fulfill:
'who with his hands did never ill,
his heart to evil never lent,
there to ascend he shall have skill;'
so surely saved is the innocent."
"that the righteous is saved i hold certain;
before god's palace he shall stand
who never took man's life in vain,
who never to flatter his fellow planned.
of the righteous, the wise man writeth plain
how kindly our king doth him command;
in ways full strait he doth restrain,
yet shows him the kingdom great and grand,
as who saith: 'behold! yon lovely land!
thou may'st win it, if so thy will be bent.'
but with never peril on either hand,
surely saved is the innocent."
"of the righteous saved, hear one man say—
david, who in the psalter cried:
'o lord, call never thy servant to pay,
for no man living is justified.'
so thou, if thou shalt come one day
to the court that each cause must decide,
for mercy with justice thou may'st pray
through this same text that i espied.
but may he on the bloody cross that died,
his holy hands with hard nails rent,
give thee to pass when thou art tried,
saved, not as righteous, but innocent."
"of the sinless saved the tale is told,—
read in the book where it is said:
when jesus walked, among men of old,
the people a passage to him made;
bringing their bairns for him to hold,
for the blessing of his hand they prayed.
the twelve reproved them: 'overbold
to seek the master;' and sternly stayed.
but jesus said: 'be ye not afraid;
suffer the children, nor prevent;
god's kingdom is for such arrayed.'
surely saved are the innocent."
