Our righteousness must far exceed

1 Our righteousness must far exceed
That of the Pharisees indeed;
It must be of a diff'rent kind,
Such as renews the heart and mind.

2 To sing and pray, and make a show,
Is what the hypocrite can do;
May seem to act the christian part,
Yet not the cause of Christ at heart.

3 Where grace divine, reigns not within,
The mind is still attach'd to sin;
The best devotion, dead and cold,
As was the Pharisees of old.

4 But diff'rent is the b'lievers state,
He will not live at such a rate;
His case unto himself is known,
He pleads, no merits of his own.

5 He pleads not for self-righteousness,
But all he pleads is pard'ning grade;
All which he trusts he shall partake,
And that alone for Jesus sake.

6 He gains that faith which works by love,
And all within him live and move
In Christ his Saviour, and his God,
Who hath redeem'd him with his blood.

7 Here is the christian set to view:
Lord grant that I may be such too;
Grant me that righteousness I need,
Which does the Pharisees exceed.

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #CVIII