Isaac Watts

The Christian’s hidden life. Col. 3:3. O happy soul that lives on high While men lie grov’lling here His hopes are fixed above the sky, And faith forbids his fear. His conscience knows no

Christ dwells in heaven, but visits on earth. SS 6:1-3,12. When strangers stand and hear me tell What beauties in my Savior dwell, Where he is gone they fain would know, That they may

Complaint of heavy afflictions in mind and body. My righteous Judge, my gracious God, Hear when I spread my hands abroad, And cry for succor from thy throne; O make thy truth and mercy

The glory of Christ. My Savior and my King, Thy beauties are divine; Thy lips with blessings overflow, And every grace is thine. Now make thy glory known, Gird on thy dreadful sword, And

v.5-9 L. M. The perfections and providence of God. High in the heav’ns, eternal God, Thy goodness in full glory shines Thy truth shall break through every cloud That veils and darkens thy designs.

Surprising deliverance. When God restored our captive state, Joy was our song, and grace our theme; The grace beyond our hopes so great That joy appeared a painted dream. The scoffer owns thy hand,

Self-righteousness insufficient. “Where are the mourners,” saith the Lord, “That wait and tremble at my word, That walk in darkness all the day? Come, make my name your trust and stay. [“No works nor

The inward witness to Christianity. 1 Jn. 5:10. Questions and doubts be heard no more, Let Christ and joy be all our theme; His Spirit seals his gospel sure, To every soul that trusts

Sincerity and hypocrisy; or, formality in worship. John 4:24; Ps. 139:23,24. God is a Spirit, just and wise, He sees our inmost mind; In vain to heav’n we raise our cries, And leave our

v.24-26 C. M. Hosanna; the Lord’s day; or, Christ’s resurrection and our salvation. This is the day the Lord hath made, He calls the hours his own; Let heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad,

Unfruitfulness, ignorance, and unsanctified affections. Long have I sat beneath the sound Of thy salvation, Lord; But still how weak my faith is found, And knowledge of thy word! Oft I frequent thy holy

Hosannah to Christ. Mt. 21:9; Luke 19:38,40. Hosannah to the royal Son Of David’s ancient line! His natures two, his person one, Mysterious and divine. The root of David here, we find, And offspring

The Divine nature, providence, and grace. Praise ye the Lord; ’tis good to raise Our hearts and voices in his praise; His nature and his works invite To make this duty our delight. The

The saint’s trial and safety. Unshaken as the sacred hill, And firm as mountains be, Firm as a rock the soul shall rest That leans, O Lord, on thee. Not walls nor hills could

Christ our wisdom, righteousness, etc. 1 Cor. 1:30. Buried in shadows of the night We lie till Christ restores the light; Wisdom descends to heal the blind, And chase the darkness of the mind.

The different success of the gospel. 1 Cor. 1:23,24; 3:6,7; 2 Cor. 2:16. Christ and his cross is all our theme; The myst’ries that we speak Are scandal in the Jew’s esteem, And folly

Family blessings. O happy man, whose soul is filled With zeal and reverent awe! His lips to God their honors yield, His life adorns the law. A careful providence shall stand And ever guard

None excluded from hope. Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:24. Jesus, thy blessings are not few, Nor is thy gospel weak; Thy grace can melt the stubborn Jew, And bow th’ aspiring Greek. Wide as

A living and a dead faith. Collected from several scriptures. Mistaken souls, that dream of heav’n, And make their empty boast Of inward joys, and sins forgiv’n, While they are slaves to lust! Vain

v.1-16 C. M. The sufferings and death of Christ. Why has my God my soul forsook, Nor will a smile afford? (Thus David once in anguish spoke, And thus our dying Lord.) Though ’tis

Adoption. 1 John 3:1ff; Gal. 4:6. Behold what wondrous grace The Father has bestowed On sinners of a mortal race, To call them sons of God! ‘Tis no surprising thing That we should be

The song of Zacharias. Lk. 1:68ff; John 1:29,32. Now be the God of Isr’el blessed, Who makes his truth appear; His mighty hand fulfils his word, And all the oaths he sware. Now he

How doth the little busy Bee Improve each shining Hour, And gather Honey all the day From every opening Flower! How skilfully she builds her Cell! How neat she spreads the Wax! And labours

Conviction of sin by the law. Rom. 7:8,9,14,24. Lord, how secure my conscience was, And felt no inward dread! I was alive without the law, And thought my sins were dead. My hopes of

Children devoted to God. [For those who practise infant Baptism.] Gen. 17:7,10; Acts 16:14,15,33. Thus saith the mercy of the Lord, “I’ll be a God to thee; I’ll bless thy num’rous race, and they

Joy in heaven for a repenting sinner. Luke 15:7,10. Who can describe the joys that rise Through all the courts of Paradise, To see a prodigal return, To see an heir of glory born?

Miracles attending Israel’s journey. When Isr’el, freed from Pharaoh’s hand, Left the proud tyrant and his land, The tribes with cheerful homage own Their King, and Judah was his throne. Across the deep their

Afflictions and death under Providence. Job 5:6-8. Not from the dust affliction grows, Nor troubles rise by chance; Yet we are born to cares and woes; A sad inheritance! As sparks break out from

v.19ff C. M. Christ’s mediatorial kingdom; or, His Divine and human nature Hear what the Lord in vision said, And made his mercy known: “Sinners, behold your help is laid On my Almighty Son.

Salvation, righteousness, and strength in Christ. Isa. 45:21-25. Jehovah speaks! let Isr’el hear; Let all the earth rejoice and fear, While God’s eternal Son proclaims His sovereign honors and his names. “I am the

Pleading the promises. Ver. 38,49 Behold thy waiting servant, Lord, Devoted to thy fear; Remember and confirm thy word, For all my hopes are there. Ver. 41,58,107 Hast thou not writ salvation down, And

Doubts and fears suppressed. My God, how many are my fears! How fast my foes increase! Conspiring my eternal death, They break my present peace. The lying tempter would persuade There’s no relief in

God far above creatures. Job 4:17-21. Shall the vile race of flesh and blood Contend with their Creator God? Shall mortal worms presume to be More holy, wise, or just than he? Behold, he

My God, how many are my fears! How fast my foes increase! Conspiring my eternal death, They break my present peace. The lying tempter would persuade There’s no relief from heaven; And all my

The atonement of Christ. Rom. 3:25. How is our nature spoiled by sin! Yet nature ne’er hath found The way to make the conscience clean, Or heal the painful wound. In vain we seek

Power and government from God alone. [Applied to the glorious Revolution by King William, or the happy accession of King George to the throne.] To thee, most Holy and most High, To thee we

v.1,3,5-7,11 C. M. Christ’s incarnation, and the last judgment. Ye islands of the northern sea, Rejoice, the Savior reigns; His word, like fire, prepares his way, And mountains melt to plains. His presence sinks

v.1,8-16 S. M. The warnings of God to his people. Sing to the Lord aloud, And make a joyful noise; God is our strength, our Savior God; Let Isr’el hear his voice. “From vile

The perfections of God. Great is the Lord; his works of might Demand our noblest songs: Let his assembled saints unite Their harmony of tongues. Great is the mercy of the Lord; He gives

The devil vanquished; or, Michael’s war with the dragon. Rev. 12:7. Let mortal tongues attempt to sing The wars of heav’n, when Michael stood Chief general of th’ Eternal King, And fought the battles

An unconverted state; or, Converting grace. [Great King of glory and of grace, We own, with humble shame, How vile is our degen’rate race, And our first father’s name.] From Adam flows our tainted

Youth and judgment. Eccl. 11:9. Lo! the young tribes of Adam rise, And through all nature rove Fulfil the wishes of their eyes, And taste the joys they love. They give a loose to

The word of God is the saint’s portion. Ver. 111, paraphrased. Lord, I have made thy word my choice, My lasting heritage; There shall my noblest powers rejoice, My warmest thoughts engage. I’ll read

Characters of the children of God. From several scriptures. So new-born babes desire the breast, To feed, and grow, and thrive; So saints with joy the gospel taste, And by the gospel live. [With

Desire of knowledge; or, The teachings of the Spirit with the word. Ver. 64,68,18 Thy mercies fill the earth, O Lord; How good thy works appear! Open mine eyes to read thy word, And

Justification by faith, not by works. Rom. 3:19-22. Vain are the hopes the sons of men On their own works have built; Their hearts by nature all unclean, And all their actions guilt. Let

The banquet of love. SS 2:1-4,6,7. Behold the Rose of Sharon here, The Lily which the valleys bear; Behold the Tree of Life, that gives Refreshing fruit and healing leaves. Amongst the thorns so

v.1,2 C. M. Assistance and victory in the spiritual warfare. For ever blessed be the Lord, My Savior and my shield; He sends his Spirit with his word, To arm me for the field.

Faith the way to salvation. Rom. 1:16; Eph. 2:8,9. Not by the laws of innocence Can Adam’s sons arrive at heav’n; New works can give us no pretence To have our ancient sins forgiv’n.

The folly of persecutors. Are sinners now so senseless grown That they the saints devour? And never worship at thy throne, Nor fear thine awful power? Great God! appear to their surprise; Reveal thy