The Cyber Hymnal ‎#2804

2804. I Hate the Tempter and His Charms

1. I hate the tempter and his charms,
I hate his flattering breath;
The serpent takes a thousand forms
To cheat our souls to death.

2. He feeds our hope with airy dreams
Or kills with slavish fear;
And holds us still in wide extremes,
Presumption or despair.

3. Now he persuades, How easy ’tis
To walk the road to Heav’n;
Anon he swells our sins, and cries,
They cannot be forgiv’n.

4. He bids young sinners, Yet forbear
To think of God, or death;
For prayer and devotion are
But melancholy breath.

5. He tells the aged, they must die,
And ’tis too late to pray;
In vain for mercy now they cry,
For they have lost their day.

6. Thus he supports his cruel throne
By mischief and deceit,
And drags the sons of Adam down
To darkness and the pit.

7. Almighty God, cut short his power;
Let him in darkness dwell;
And that he vex the earth no more,
Confine him down to hell.

Text Information

• First Line: I hate the tempter and his charms
• Title: I Hate the Tempter and His Charms
• Author: Isaac Watts (1709)
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, 1709, number 156
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: MIRFIELD
• Composer: Arthur Cottman (1872)
• Meter: CM
• Incipit: 51113 45555 12332
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain