John Bunyan

How Graces Are to Be Obtained

The next word that I would unto thee say,
Is how thou mayst attain without delay,

Those blessed graces, and that holiness
Thou dost with so much godly zeal express

Thy love to, and thy longing to enjoy,
That sins and weakness might thee less annoy.

Know, then, as I have hinted heretofore,
And shall now speak unto a little more,

All graces in the person of the Son
Are by the Father hid, and therefore none

Can them obtain but they who with him close;
All others graceless are but only those;

For of his fullness 'tis that we receive,
And grace for grace; let no man then deceive

Himself or others with a feigned show
Of holiness, if Jesus they eschew.

When he ascended to his Father, then
It was that he received gifts for men;

Faith, hope, and love, true zeal, an upright heart,
Right humbleness of mind, and every part

Of what the word of life counts holiness,
God then laid up in him, that we redress

And help might have, who do unto him fly
For righteousness and gospel sanctity.