A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF THE NATURE AND
DESIGN OF TRUE RELIGION.
I
“What is Religion?”—Why, it is a Cure
Giv'n in the Gospel gratis to the Poor
By Jesus Christ, the Healer of the Soul;
Which all who take are sure to be made whole;
And they who will not, all the Art of Man
May strive to cure them, but it never can.
II
“Care for what Malady?”—For that of Sin,
From whence all other Maladies begin.
It had its Rise in Adam first of all;
And all his Sons, partaking of his Fall,
Want a new Adam to beget them free
From Sin and Death; and Jesus Christ is He.
III
“How it is giv'n?”—By raising a new Birth
Of Heav'nly Life, surviving that of Earth;
Which may at any Time,—at some it must,—
Return its mortal Body to the Dust;
And then the Born of God in Christ again
Will rise immortal, true angelic Men.
IV
“Why in the Gospel?”—Gospel is, indeed,
In its true living Sense, the Holy Seed,
By God's great Mercy first in Adam sown,
And first in Christ to full Perfection grown,—
Fulness, from which all holy Souls derive,
And Bodies too, the Pow'r to be alive.
V
“Why gratis giv'n?”—Because the Love-desire
Of God, in Christ, can never work for Hire.
Its Nature is to love for Loving's Sake,
To give itself to ev'ry Will to take;
To them it brings amidst the darkest Night
Its Life and Immortality to Light.
VI
“Why to the Poor?”—Because they feel their Want,
Which Trust in Riches is so loth to grant.
The Rich have something which they call their own;
The Poor have nothing, but to Christ alone
They owe Themselves, and pay Him what they owe,
And what Religion is They only know.
