A COMMENT ON COMMENT IN GENERAL CONFESSION OF SINS, IN CHURCH LITURGY by JOHN BYROM

@3ACCORDING to thy promises@1—Hereby,
Since it is certain that God cannot lie,
The truly penitent may all be sure
That grace admits them to its open door;
And they, forsaking all their former sin,
However great, will freely be let in.

@3Declar'd@1—By all the ministers of peace,
God has assur'd repentance of release;
And intervening penitence, we see,
Could even change his positive decree;
As in the @3Ninevites@1; if any soul
Repent, the promise is the sure parole.

@3Unto mankind@1—not only to the Jews,
Christians, or Turks, in writings which they use;
Writ on the tablet of each conscious heart,
"Repent,—from all iniquity depart;"
Not for no purpose; for, the plain intent
Is restoration, if a soul repent.

@3In Christ@1—by whom true scripture has assur'd
Redeeming grace for penitents procur'd;
The fainter hopes, which reason may suggest,
Are deeply, by the gospel's aid, impress'd:
'Twas alway hop'd for—was the promis'd good,—
But, by his coming, clearly understood.

@3Jesu@1—Jehovah's manifested love,
In Christ, th' anointed Saviour from above;
The demonstration of the saving plan,
For all mankind, is God's becoming man:
No truth more firmly ascertain'd than this—
"Repent, be faithful, and restor'd to bliss."

@3Our Lord@1—our new, and true parental Head;
Our @3second Adam@1, in the @3first@1 when dead;
Who took our nature on Him, that in men
His Father's image might shine forth again:
Sure of success may penitents implore
What God, thro' Him, rejoices to restore.

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