University of Virginia Library

3262.

[Can suffering purge my inbred sin?]

Can suffering purge my inbred sin?
No more than it can heaven procure:
But He, who brought this fire within,
By patience makes my nature pure,
But He, who with the suffering comes,
My dross in His own way consumes.
His love into the furnace cast,
His love attends and keeps me here,
That coming forth as gold at last,
Stamp'd with His name and character,
And perfected through sufferings I
May spotless to His bosom fly.