Ye Christian men, pray notice well

1 Ye Christian men pray notice well!
Our Saviour in the Parable
Does clearly prove and plainly show,
What Satan in the Church can do.

2 The Church is to a field compar'd,
Well cultivated and prepar'd:
And where the Gospel truth is b'liev'd,
There is the Gospel seed receiv'd.

3 But when the watchmen fall to sleep,
And they neglect their guard to keep,
The enemy soon interfer's,
And sows the field with seeds of tares.

4 Such ever was the Churches case,
The formal Christian void of grace:
Is like the tares among the wheat,
When rightly prov'd is but a cheat.

5 But lest the wheat be pluck'd up too,
The tares among the wheat must grow:
There to remain till harvest day,
Till they are search'd and cast away.

6 This Parable will shew us plain,
That Saints and Sinners will remain:
As members of his Church and State,
Till Jesus comes to separate.

7 How careful then ought we attend!
To watch and pray unto the end;
Till all our trials shall be past,
Lest we should prove but tares at last.

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #XLI