Good Dan and Jane were man and wife,
And lived a loving kind of life;
One point, however, they disputed,
And each by turns his mate confuted.
'Twas faith and works — this knotty question
They found not easy of digestion.
While Dan for faith alone contended,
Jane equally good works defended.
" They are not Christians sure, but Turks,
" Who build on faith and scoff at works, "
Quoth Jane; — while eager Dan replied,
" By none but heathens faith's denied. "
" I'll tell you, wife, " at length quoth Dan.
" A story of a right good man.
" A patriarch sage, of ancient days,
" A man of faith, whom all must praise.
" In his own country he possess'd
" Whate'er can make a wise man blest;
" His was the flock, the field, the spring,
" In short, a little rural king.
" Yet, pleased, he quits his native land,
" By faith in the divine command.
" God bade him go; and he, content,
" Went forth, not knowing where he went.
" He trusted in the promise made,
" And, undisputing, straight obey'd.
" The heavenly word he did not doubt,
" But prov'd his faith by going out. "
Jane answer'd, with some little pride —
" I've an example on my side;
" And though my tale be somewhat longer,
" I trust you'll find it vastly stronger.
" I'll tell you, Daniel, of a man,
" The holiest since the world began;
" Who now God's favour is receiving,
" For prompt obeying not believing .
" One only son this man possest,
" In whom his righteous age was blest;
" And more to mark the grace of Heaven,
" This son by miracle was given.
" And from this child the word divine
" Had promised an illustrious line,
" When, lo! at once a voice he hears,
" Which sounds like thunder in his ears.
" God says — go sacrifice thy son!
" — This moment, Lord, it shall be done.
" He goes, and instantly prepares,
" To slay this child of many prayers.
" Now, here you see the grand expedience,
" Of works, of actual sound obedience.
" This was not faith, but act and deed,
" The Lord commands — the child shall bleed.
" Thus Abraham acted, " Jenny cried;
" Thus Abraham trusted, " Dan replied.
" Abraham! " quoth Jane, " why that's my man, "
" No, Abraham's him I mean, " says Dan.
" He stands a monument of faith; "
" No, 'tis for works, the scripture saith. "
" 'Tis for his faith that I defend him; "
" 'Tis for obedience I commend him. "
Thus he — thus she — both warmly feel,
And lose their temper in their zeal;
Too quick each other's choice to blame,
They did not see each meant the same.
" At length, good wife, " said honest Dan,
" We're talking of the self-same man.
" The works you praise I own, indeed,
" Grow from that faith for which I plend;
" And Abraham, whom for faith I quote,
" For works deserves especial note:
" 'Tis not enough of faith to talk,
" A man of God, with God must walk:
" Our doctrines are, at last, the same,
" They only differ in the name.
" The faith I fight for, is the root;
" The works you value, are the fruit.
" How shall you know my creed's sincere,
" Unless in works my faith appear?
" How shall I know a tree's alive,
" Unless I see it bear and thrive?
" Your works not growing on my root,
" Would prove they were not genuine fruit.
" If faith produce no works, I see,
" That faith is not a living tree.
" Thus faith and works together grow,
" No separate life they e'er can know:
" They're soul and body, hand and heart,
" What God hath join'd, let no man part. "