795    7.6.7.     J. Hart
Election. 1 Thess. 5. 24; 2 Tim. 2. 19; 1 Pet. 1. 2

1 Mighty enemies without,
  Much mightier within,
  Thoughts we cannot quell or rout,
  Blasphemously obscene;
  Coldness, unbelief, and pride,
  Hell and all its murderous train,
  Threaten death on every side,
  And have their thousands slain.

2 Thus pursued, and thus distressed,
  Ah! whither shall we fly?
  To obtain the promised rest,
  On what sure hand rely?
  Shall the Christian trust his heart?
  That, alas! of foes the worst,
  Always takes the tempter’s part;
  Nay, often tempts him first.

3 If today we be sincere,
  And can both watch and pray,
  Watchfulness, perhaps, and prayer,
  Tomorrow may decay.
  If we now believe aright,
  Faithfulness is God’s alone,
  We are feeble, fickle, light,
  To changes ever prone.

4 But we build upon a base
  That nothing can remove,
  When we trust electing grace
  And everlasting love.
  Victory over all our foes
  Christ has given with his blood,
  Perseverance he bestows
  On every child of God.