The next word that I would unto thee say, <br />Is how thou mayst attain without delay, <br /> <br />Those blessed graces, and that holiness <br />Thou dost with so much godly zeal express <br /> <br />Thy love to, and thy longing to enjoy, <br />That sins and weakness might thee less annoy. <br /> <br />Know, then, as I have hinted heretofore, <br />And shall now speak unto a little more, <br /> <br />All graces in the person of the Son <br />Are by the Father hid, and therefore none <br /> <br />Can them obtain but they who with him close; <br />All others graceless are but only those; <br /> <br />For of his fullness 'tis that we receive, <br />And grace for grace; let no man then deceive <br /> <br />Himself or others with a feigned show <br />Of holiness, if Jesus they eschew. <br /> <br />When he ascended to his Father, then <br />It was that he received gifts for men; <br /> <br />Faith, hope, and love, true zeal, an upright heart, <br />Right humbleness of mind, and every part <br /> <br />Of what the word of life counts holiness, <br />God then laid up in him, that we redress <br /> <br />And help might have, who do unto him fly <br />For righteousness and gospel sanctity.<br /><br />John Bunyan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-graces-are-to-be-obtained/
