1 Stand by the law once proclaimed from Sinai;
Some its teachings and its force deny:
What says the Saviour? now hearken and obey
"Not one jot or tittle shall pass away."
Chorus:
Stand by the law, stand by the law:
Jesus the law did magnify;
Stand by the law if you hope to enter heaven;
The law proves us sinners; through Christ we're forgiven.
2 Ten are its precepts, consider them again,
Love to God, and love to fellow-men;
Four point to God and the duty that we owe,
And six, our relation to mortals show. [Chorus]
3 Sin by the law we are sinners proved to be,
Christ has died that we may all be free:
Free from the death which the broken law demands,
But not from obedience to its commands. [Chorus]
4 Now if the law was unknown till Sinai,
All were righteous who before did die!
And, if its precepts by Christ were done away,
There lives not a sinner on earth to-day! [Chorus]
5 All yearly sabbaths, and offerings the same,
Lost their meaning when the Saviour came;
But kill the law, and the devil goes to heaven!
No need of a Saviour, or sins forgiven! [Chorus]
Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #1302
Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >
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