Can we in un­be­liev­ers find
That no­ble rea­di­ness of mind
To hear, in­ves­ti­gate, and prove
The truth of Je­su’s par­don­ing love?
Yes, Lord; thro’ Thy pre­vent­ing grace,
There are who cor­dial­ly em­brace
The joyf­ul news of sin for­giv­en,
With God Him­self sent down from Hea­ven.

Up from the sleep of na­ture stirred,
They dai­ly search Thy writ­ten word,
Inquiring if these things be so,
To Thine own ora­cles they go;
Thine ora­cles the an­swer give,
And will­ing mul­ti­tudes be­lieve
The Gos­pel by Thy Spir­it sealed,
And find Thy glo­ri­ous self re­vealed.

What then are they that dare for­bid
The un­con­vinced Thy book to read,
Who take the sac­red key away,
Damp their de­sire to search and pray,
Conceal Thy re­cords from their view,
The Scrip­tures were not wrote for you,
Accept your more un­err­ing guide
The Church, the Ca­tho­lics—the bride!

Turn, sin­ners, turn from such away,
And ra­ther God than man ob­ey;
The Scrip­tures search both day and night,
And try if what ye hear be right;
Put forth your grain of gra­cious pow­er,
(Your use of that shall bring ye more)
’Till the true light Him­self impart,
And breathes, the Wit­ness, in your heart.