Alas, what hourly dangers rise

Alas, what hourly dangers rise.  Anne Steele* (1717-1778). From Steele’s Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional (1760), where the author was named as ‘Theodosia’. It was entitled ‘Watchfulness and Prayer, Matt. 26: 41’. The reference is to the verse beginning ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation’. It had six stanzas: Alas, what hourly dangers rise!   What snares beset my way! To heaven then let me lift my eyes,   And hourly watch and pray. How oft my mournful thoughts complain,   And melt in flowing tears! My weak resistance, ah how vain!   How strong my foes and fears! O gracious God, in whom I live,   My feeble efforts aid, Help me to watch and pray, and strive,   Though...