The Lord receives his highest praise <br />From humble minds and hearts sincere; <br />While all the loud professor says <br />Offends the righteous Judge's ear. <br /> <br />To walk as children of the day, <br />To mark the precepts' holy light, <br />To wage the warfare, watch, and pray, <br />Show who are pleasing in His sight. <br /> <br />Not words alone it cost the Lord, <br />To purchase pardon for His own; <br />Nor will a soul by grace restored <br />Return the Saviour words alone. <br /> <br />With golden bells, the priestly vest, <br />And rich pomegranates border'd round, <br />The need of holiness expressed, <br />And called for fruit as well as sound. <br /> <br />Easy indeed it were to reach <br />A mansion in the courts above, <br />If swelling words and fluent speech <br />Might serve instead of faith and love. <br /> <br />But none shall gain the blissful place, <br />Or God's unclouded glory see, <br />Who talks of free and sovereign grace, <br />Unless that grace has made him free!<br /><br />William Cowper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/living-and-a-dead-faith/
