God's law demands one living faith
1
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.
2
Yet, Lord, forgive—thy holy lawGrows tarnished in our earthly clasp;Pure in itself, without a flaw,It dims in our too worldly grasp.
3
Forgive the sacrilege, and takeFrom every soul the unholy stain,And help us for thy Son's dear sake,To keep thy perfect law again.