Faith - How Guarded

Yes, thou dost well, to arm thy tender mind 
With all that learning, and stern common sense 
Living hath spoke, or dying left behind;
To blank the frowardness of pert pretence 
With long experience of a mighty mind,
That, daring to explore the truth immense,
Subsided in a faithful reverence
Of the best Catholic hope of human kind.
Yes, thou dost well to build a fence about 
Thine inward faith, and mount a stalwart guard 
Of answers, to oppose invading doubt.
All aids are needful, for the strife is hard;
But still be sure the truth within to cherish,— 
Truths long besieged too oft of hunger perish.