256    L.M.     J. Hart
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Prov. 8. 13

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.”

4 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.