Matthew 16: Of those who learned and austere

Of those who learned and austere,
Devout and spiritual appear,
As the chief guides to heaven,
Few keep themselves entirely free
From envy, pride, hypocrisy,
The Pharisaic leaven.

But while we Pharisees condemn
We rush into a worse extreme,
Ourselves for nothing sell,
With Sadducees our shame declare.
Live like unthinking brutes, and care
For neither heaven nor hell.

Yet guarded by Thy word alone,
Jesus the double snare we shun,
We seek the joys above,
With humble faith we follow Thee
With undisguised simplicity.
And undissembled love.