"The Law of God Is Good and Wise"

                    by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. The Law of God is good and wise

        And sets His will before our eyes,

        Shows us the way of righteousness,

        And dooms to death when we transgress.



        2. Its light of holiness imparts

        The knowledge of our sinful hearts

        That we may see our lost estate

        And seek deliverance ere too late.



        3. To those who help in Christ have found

        And would in works of love abound

        It shows what deeds are His delight

        And should be done as food and right.



        4. When men the offered help disdain

        And wilfully in sin remain,

        Its terror in their ear resounds

        And keeps their wickedness in bounds.



        5. The Law is good; but since the Fall

        Its holiness condemns us all;

        It dooms us for our sin to die

        And has no power to justify.



        6. To Jesus we for refuge flee,

        Who from the curse has set us free,

        And humbly worship at His throne,

        Saved by His grace through faith alone.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #295 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Ps. 19: 8

        Author: Matthias Loy, 1863

        Tune: "Erhalt uns, Herr"

        1st Published in: _Geistliche Lieder_

        Town: Wittenberg, 1543