620 L.M. W. Gadsby
“The heart is deceitful above all things.” Jer. 17. 9
1
Sin has a thousand pleasing charms,
 
Which flatter to preserve from harms;
 
She richly gilds her pleasing baits,
 
And calls her trash delicious sweets.
2
Young men and maidens, rich and poor,
 
Are pleased with her deceptive ore;
 
There’s scarce an eye that views the light,
 
But she can charm by day or night.
3
Nor are the vessels of the Lord
 
Free from the chirpings of this bird,
 
Her craft and spleen she’ll make them feel,
 
And make them like a drunkard reel.
4
Her nature’s serpentine indeed;
 
Her strength could make a Samson yield;
 
Nor David could against her stand,
 
When David’s God withheld his hand.
5
Good God! what can a mortal do,
 
With such a cursèd, artful foe?
 
Let grace divine my soul defend,
 
Nor let me to this monster bend.
6
[Work in me, Lord, to will and do,
 
My way to Zion to pursue;
 
And while I tread the thorny road,
 
Teach me to lean upon my God.]