For a Tender Conscience, Hymn 2

How empty then the former boast,
The impotence of pride,
When in ourselves we put our trust,
And on our works relied:
Strong in our liberty of will,
Our nature's noble powers,
We vow'd to scale the heavenly hill,
And seize the crown as ours.

The stress of our salvation, we
On human efforts laid:
Or if sometimes we mention'd Thee,
And slightly ask'd Thine aid,
Our own attempts, we thought, should gain
For us the glorious prize,
Our meritorious toil and pain
Should lift us to the skies.

Our own desires, though weak, sincere,
Our own endeavours stood,
To' atone for our transgressions here,
In place of Jesu's blood.
Alas for us! we knew not then
His blood and righteousness,
Through which alone the sons of men
May all be saved, by grace.