Dost Thou See Them?

'The Temptation of Christ by the Devil', 1860, by Félix Joseph Barrias (1822-1907), Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa

1. Christian, dost thou see them
On the holy ground,
How the troops of Midian
Prowl and prowl around?
Christian, up and smite them,
Counting gain but loss;
Smite them by the merit
Of the holy Cross.
 
2. Christian, dost thou feel them,
How they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring,
Goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble;
Never be down-cast;
Smite them by the virtue
Of the Lenten fast.

​3. Christian, dost thou hear them,
How they speak thee fair?
‘Always fast and vigil?
Always watch and prayer?’
Christian, answer boldly,
‘While I breathe I pray:’
Peace shall follow battle,
Night shall end in day.
 
4. ‘Well I know thy trouble,
O my servant true;
Thou art very weary, -
I was weary true;
But that toil shall make thee
Some day all mine own, -
But the end of sorrow
Shall be near my throne’.

St Andrew of Crete, 660-732, translated by J. M. Neale, 1818-1866
The English Hymnal no.​72