236    S.M.     J. Hart
True and False Faith. Acts 15. 9; Rom. 5. 1, 2

1 Faith’s a convincing proof,
  A substance sound and sure,
  That keeps the soul secured enough,
  But makes it not secure.

2 [Notion’s the harlot’s test,
  By which the truth’s reviled;
  The child of fancy, finely dressed,
  But not the living child.]

3 Faith is by knowledge fed,
  And with obedience mixed,
  Notion is empty, cold, and dead,
  And fancy’s never fixed.

4 True faith’s the life of God;
  Deep in the heart it lies;
  It lives and labours under load;
  Though damped, it never dies.

5 Opinions in the head,
  True faith as far excels
  As body differs from a shade,
  Or kernels from the shells.

6 [To see good bread and wine,
  Is not to eat and drink;
  So some who hear the word divine,
  Do not believe, but think.]

7 True faith refines the heart,
  And purifies with blood;
  Takes the whole gospel, not a part,
  And holds the fear of God.