The Robe of Righteousness. Isa. 61. 10; Luke 15. 22
J. Hart C.M.
1
Of all the creatures God has made,
There is but man alone
That stands in need to be arrayed
In coverings not his own.
2
[By nature, bears, and bulls, and swine,
With fowls of every wing,
Are much more warm, more safe, more fine,
Than man, their fallen king.]
3
Naked and weak, we want a screen;
But when with clothes we’re decked,
Not only lies our shame unseen,
But we command respect.
4
[Can sinful souls, then, stand unclad,
Before God’s burning throne,
All bare, or, what is quite as bad,
In coverings of their own?
5
Rich garments must be worn to grace
The marriage of the Lamb;
Not nasty rags to foul the place,
Nor nakedness to shame.]
6
Robes of imputed righteousness
Will gain us God’s esteem;
No naked pride, no fig-leaf dress,
How fair soe’er it seem.
7
[’Tis called a robe, perhaps to mean
Man has by nature none;
It grows not native, like our skin,
But is by faith put on.]
8
A sinner clothed in this rich vest,
And garments washed in blood,
Is rendered fit with Christ to feast,
And be the guest of God.
