No Strength of Nature Can Suffice

No strength of na­ture can suf­fice

To serve the Lord aright;

And what she has

she mis­ap­plies

For want of clear­er light.

How long be­neath the Law I lay

In bond­age and dis­tress!

I toiled the pre­cept to ob­ey

But toiled with­out suc­cess.

Then to ab­stain from out­ward sin

Was more than I could do;

Now

if I feel its pow­er with­in

I feel I hate it too.

Then all my ser­vile works were done

A right­eous­ness to raise;

Now

free­ly chosen in the Son

I free­ly choose His ways.

What shall I do was then the word

That I may wor­thi­er grow?

What shall I ren­der to the Lord?

Is my in­qui­ry now.

To see the Law by Christ ful­filled

And hear His par­don­ing voice;

Changes a slave in­to a child

And du­ty in­to choice.