Of all the creatures God has made

Verse 1

Of all the creatures God has made, There is but man alone That stands in need to be arrayed In coverings not his own.

Verse 2

By nature, bears, and bulls, and swine, With fowls of every wing, Are much more warm, more safe, more fine, Than man, their fallen king.

Verse 3

Naked and weak, we want a screen; But when with clothes we’re decked, Not only lies our shame unseen, But we command respect.

Verse 4

Can sinful souls, then, stand unclad, Before God’s burning throne, All bare, or, what is quite as bad, In coverings of their own?

Verse 5

Rich garments must be worn to grace The marriage of the Lamb; Not nasty rags to foul the place, Nor nakedness to shame.

Verse 6

Robes of imputed righteousness Will gain us God’s esteem; No naked pride, no fig-leaf dress, How fair soe’er it seem.

Verse 7

’Tis called a robe, perhaps to mean Man has by nature none; It grows not native, like our skin, But is by faith put on.

Verse 8

A sinner clothed in this rich vest, And garments washed in blood, Is rendered fit with Christ to feast, And be the guest of God.