Classic Poem

Let none presume he stands so fast,
But that he may fall first or last:
The most confirm'd in grace
Stands in a slippr'y place:
He treads on ice, and if he take not care
Unto his steps, is down e're he's aware.

'Tis hard to keep a middle-way
'Twixt two extremes, and never stray,
Since to the worst, man's mind
By nature is inclind;
Each vertue hath two vices on both sides,
'Tis odds, that into one of them he slides.

So many snares, so many evils,
So many doubts, so many divels
Environ him about,
That be he ne're so stout,
His faith may faile, his feet may slip awry,
And he soon fall from his integrity.

David that was so great, so good,
And highly in God's favour stood,
In two such sins he fell
As might have dam'd him well,
But that in mercy God pleas'd to restore
Him to that state that he was in before.

Peter though he a pillar were
Of th' Church, his Master did forswear:
Such power had fear to make
His former faith to shake.
Thus he who stood the day before so strong
Thus to his grief and shame laid all along.

I will not be too confident
Of my fast-footing, but content
My faith and fear should stand
Together hand in hand,
That fear may keep my faith from being too bold.
And faith my fear from losing of its hold.