God's law demands our living faith

1God's law demands our living faith,
And we a crowd of lifeless creeds;
Its warrant is a firm "God saith:"
Its claim not words, but living deeds.

2Yet, Lord, forgive,—thy holy law
Grows tarnished in our earthly clasp;
Pure in itself, without a flaw,
It dims in our too worldly grasp.

3Forgive the sacrilege, and take
From every soul each unholy stain,
And help us for thy Son's dear sake,
To keep thy law perfect again.