God's law demands one living faith

God's law demands one living faith,
And not a crowd of lifeless creeds;
Its warrant is a firm "God saith;"
Its claim not words, but living deeds.

Yet, Lord, forgive—thy holy law
Grows tarnished in our earthly clasp;
Pure in itself, without a flaw,
It dims in our too worldly grasp.

Forgive the sacrilege, and take
From every soul the unholy stain,
And help us for thy Son's dear sake,
To keep thy perfect law again.