Who but fools
ignore the rules
the Maker chose.
(He knows
these rules are wise.)
We prove
and prize
them, love
their every part.
Real comfort,
joy of heart
within the boundaries of his law
– no dreary chore:
but satisfying ways,
upwelling praise
of him who taught me,
whose mercy caught me.

No life ‘confined’,
– our health of mind,
and body, benefit,
in doing things righteous:
such duties delight us.

Christ paid;
my judgement laid
upon him,
suffered for my sake.
When I repented
(– real, not fake),
forgiveness granted,
and thankful liberty now felt.
Unfettered by infertile guilt,
nor sterile faint remorse:
the attractive force
of sin repelled,
and quelled;
– my will, desire,
have been created new,
igniting energy
for living by his statutes true.
My mind, my feet may wander:

Curtail, impress, and draw me back,
and nothing will I lack,
no blame
– peace, happiness, no shame,
and braced, prepared
for life’s complexity,
applying ways of purity.

Romans 7
Defeated often, wretched, sad.
How can I conquer sin, be glad?
God’s law is my delight.
Thanks be to God, there is a way,
for Christ will glorify one day,
receive me into Light.

He strengthens, teaches, sanctifies,
and though my spirit often sighs,
I am regenerate.
So I must persevere and pray
for power to conquer, walk his way,
my Father supplicate.

We must be importunate when
we feel defeated by our sin,
– grace for our time of need:
‘Come, fill me with your Spirit, Lord,
and teach my by your holy Word’,
my Saviour’s name I plead.

So mortify, make battle on
the sinful nature’s deeds so wrong:
we need not sin obey.
With Christ we’re resurrected, so
in grace and knowledge we may grow;
we do enjoy his way.
Tune: 886 886 eg Buddugoliaeth by G W Hughes

Eternal sovereign God alone
can holiness define.
The perfect One himself has shown
the standard, that standard now is mine.

His law accused us all, each one,
accused us of our sin;
and threatened punishment must come:
God’s justice, – soon justice he would bring.

But God can make the dead anew,
alive in Christ, forgiven;
their debt all paid, sin hid from view,
They’ve access, –  I’ve access now to heaven.

The Christian loves God’s law – desires
in holiness to grow;
towards the standard high aspires
while granted, I’m granted life below.

And when I know I’ve failed, I’m grieved,
and sorry for my sin;
by grace I’ve for my good received
God’s perfect, his perfect discipline.
Tune: eg Diadem

Romans 8:1-17
No condemnation,
no domination:
we’re free from rule by sin and death.
– Christ Jesus, the sin-offering,
release came through his suffering,
his Spirit bringing Life, new birth.

God’s law, which could not save us,
we love, it now delights us,
and by his Spirit we obey.
Though foolishly we stumble,
and slip, and trip, and tumble,
we now walk on his righteous way.