Presumption and despair; or, Satan's various temptations. <br /> <br />I hate the tempter and his charms, <br />I hate his flatt'ring breath; <br />The serpent takes a thousand forms <br />To cheat our souls to death. <br /> <br />He feeds our hopes with airy dreams, <br />Or kills with slavish fear; <br />And holds us still in wide extremes, <br />Presumption or despair. <br /> <br />Now he persuades, "How easy 'tis <br />To walk the road to heav'n;" <br />Anon he swells our sins, and cries, <br />"They cannot be forgiv'n." <br /> <br />[He bids young sinners "yet forbear <br />To think of God, or death; <br />For prayer and devotion are <br />But melancholy breath." <br /> <br />He tells the aged, "they must die, <br />"And 'tis too late to pray; <br />In vain for mercy now they cry, <br />For they have lost their day."] <br /> <br />Thus he supports his cruel throne <br />By mischief and deceit, <br />And drags the sons of Adam down <br />To darkness and the pit. <br /> <br />Almighty God, cut short his power, <br />Let him in darkness dwell <br />And that he vex the earth no more, <br />Confine him down to hell.<br /><br />Isaac Watts<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymn-156/
