In vain men talk of living faith,

In vain men talk of living faith,
When all their works exhibit death;
When they indulge some sinful view,
In all they say and all they do.

The true believer fears the Lord;
Obeys his precepts, keeps his word;
Commits his works to God alone,
And seeks his will before his own.

A barren tree that bears no fruit,
Brings no great glory to its root;
When on the boughs rich fruit we see,
'Tis then we cry, "A goodly tree."

Never did men, by faith divine,
To selfishness and sloth incline;
The Christian works with all his power,
And grieves that he can work no more.