ld Adam once a heaven of pleasure found,
While he with perfect innocence was crowned.
His winged affections to his God could move
In raptures of desire, and strains of love.

Man standing spotless, pure, and innocent,
Could well the law of works with works content;
Though then, nor since, it could demand no less
Than personal and perfect righteousness!

These unto sinless men were easy terms,
Though now beyond the reach of withered arms.
The legal covenant then upon the field,
Perfection sought, man could perfection yield.

Rich had he and his progeny remained,
Had he primeval innocence maintained.
His life had been a rest without annoy,
A scene of bliss, a paradise of joy.

But subtle Satan, in the serpent hid,
Proposing fair the fruit that God forbid,
Man soon seduced by hell’s alluring art,
Did, disobedient, from the rule depart,

Devoured the bait, and by his bold offence
Fell from his blissful state of innocence,
Prostrate, he lost his God, his life, his crown,
From all his glory tumbled headlong down,

Plunged in a deep abyss of sin and woe,
Were, void of heart to will, or hand to do;
For’s own relief he can’t command a thought,
The total sum of what he can is nought.

He’s able only now to increase his thrall,
He can destroy himself, and this is all,
But can the hellish brat heav’n’s law fulfill?
Whose precepts high surmount his strength and skill,

Can filthy dross produce a golden beam?
Or poisoned springs a salutif’rous stream?
Can carnal mind, fierce enmity’s wide maw,
Be duly subject to the divine law?

Nay, now its direful threatenings must take place
On all the disobedient human race,
Who do by glut omnipotence provoke,
Obnoxious stand to his uplifted stroke.

They must engulf themselves in endless woes,
Who to the living god are deadly foes;
Who natively his holy will gainsay,
Must to his awful justice fall a prey.

In vain do mankind now expect, in vain
By legal deeds immortal life to gain;
Nay, death is threatened, threats must have their due,
Or souls that sin, must die; as God is true.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

1 Saue mee, O God, by thy Name, and by thy power iudge me.
2 O God, heare my prayer: hearken vnto the wordes of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen vp against me, and tyrants seeke my soule: they haue not set God before them. Selah.
4 Beholde, God is mine helper: the Lorde is with them that vpholde my soule.
5 He shall rewarde euill vnto mine enemies: Oh cut them off in thy trueth!
6 Then I will sacrifice freely vnto thee: I wil praise thy Name, O Lord, because it is good.
7 For he hath deliuered me out of al trouble, & mine eye hath seene my desire vpo mine enemies.

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