Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books ‎#II.CI

II.CI. The world's three chief temptations

1 When in the light of faith divine,
We look on things below,
Honour, and gold, and sensual joy,
How vain and dangerous too.

2 Honour's a puff of noisy breath;
Yet men expose their blood,
And venture everlasting death
To gain that airy good.

3 While others starve the nobler mind,
And feed on shining dust,
They rob the serpent of his food,
T'indulge a sordid lust.]

4 The pleasures that allure our sense
Are dang'rous snares to souls!
There's but a drop of flatt'ring sweet,
And dash'd with bitter bowls.

5 God is mine all sufficient good,
My portion and my choice;
In him my vast desires are fill'd,
And all my pow'rs rejoice.

6 In vain the world accosts my ear,
And tempts my heart anew:
I cannot buy your bliss so dear,
Nor part with heav'n for you.

Text Information

• First Line: When in the light of faith divine
• Title: The world's three chief temptations
• Meter: C. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1793

Tune Information

(No tune information)