Bid Me of Men Beware

Bid me of men beware,
And to my ways take heed,

Bid me of men beware,
And to my ways take heed,
Discern their every secret snare,
And circumspectly tread;
O may I calmly wait
Thy succours from above;
And stand against their open hate,
And well-dissembled love!

My spirit, Lord, alarm
When men and devils join;
‘Gainst all of the powers of Satan arm
In panoply divine;
O may I set my face
His onsets to repel;
Quench all his fiery darts, and chase
The fiend to his own hell!

But, above all, afraid
Of my own bosom-foe,
Still let me seek for thee for aid,
To thee my weakness show;
Hang on thy arm alone,
With self-destructing care,
And deeply in the spirit groan
The never-ceasing prayer.

Give me a sober mind,
A quick-discerning eye,
The first approach of sin to find,
And all occasions fly.
Still may I cleave to thee,
And never more depart,
But watch with godly jealousy
Over my evil heart.

Thus may I pass my days
Of sojourning beneath,
And languish to conclude my race,
And render up my breath;
In humble love and fear,
Thine image to regain,
And see thee in the clouds appear,
And rise with thee to reign!