I hate the tempter and his charms

1 I hate the tempter and his charms,
I hate his flattering breath;
The serpent takes a thousand forms
To cheat our souls to death.

2 He feeds our hopes with airy dreams,
Or kills with slavish fear;
And holds us still in wide extremes,
Presumption or despair.

3 Now he persuades, "how easy 'tis
To walk the road to heav'n;"
Anon he swells our sins, and cries,
"They cannot be forgiv'n."

4 He bids young sinners "yet forbear
To think of God or death;
For prayer and devotion are
But melancholy breath."

5 He tells the aged, "they must die,
And 'tis too late to pray;
In vain for mercy now they cry,
For they have lost their day."

5 Thus he supports his cruel throne
By mischief and deceit,
And drags the sons of Adam down
To darkness and the pit.

6 Almighty God, cut short his power,
Let him in darkness dwell;
And, that he vex the earth no more,
Confine him down to hell.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799