Lord, where shall guilty souls retire

Lord, where shall guilty souls retire

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ELIZABETHTOWN (Kingsley)
Published in 53 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Lord! where shall guilty souls retire,
Forgotten and unknown?
In hell they meet thy dreadful fire--
In heaven thy glorious throne.

2 If, winged with beams of morning light,
I fly beyond the west,
Thy hand, which must support my flight,
Would soon betray my rest.

3 If, o'er my sins, I think to draw
The curtains of the night,
Those flaming eyes, that guard thy law,
Would turn the shades to light.

4 The beams of noon, the midnight hour,
Am both alike to thee:
Oh, may I ne'er provoke that power,
From which I cannot flee.

Source: Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs ancient & modern (Abr. ed.) #170

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, where shall guilty souls retire
Author: Isaac Watts
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 53 of 53)
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A Select Verse System for the Use of Individuals, Families, and Schools #61

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #202

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d538

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Christian Melodies #76

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Christian Melodies #76

Christian Mission Hymns #d22

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d647

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Church Psalmist #P139f

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Church Psalmist #P139f

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Church Psalmist #P139f

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Church Psalmody #P139.5

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Church Psalmody #P139e

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Harmonia Sacra #29b

Hymns on Various Subjects #d14

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Laudes Domini #170

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Laudes Domini #278

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Manual of Christian Psalmody #P139e

Melodies of the Church #d615

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Plymouth Collection #a192

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #192

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d501

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #421

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #P139.4

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Psalms and Hymns #P139e

Sacred poetry #d291

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Sacred Poetry #aCXXXIXb

Sacred Poetry #d290

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Sacred Poetry #CXXXIXb

Songs for the New Life #d383

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Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #267

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #267

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #267

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Songs for the Sanctuary #267

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Songs for the Sanctuary #267

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Songs for the Sanctuary #267

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Songs of the Church #918

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #192

The Book of Praise #d459

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The Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs #162

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The Chapel hymn book, with tunes #552

The Christian Hymn Book #d397

The Christian Hymn Book. 7th ed. #d401

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The Christian Psalmist #P139d

The Church Hymn Book #d311

The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d534

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The Columbian Repository #337

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The Congregational Hymn Book #19

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The Middlesex Collection of Church Music #83

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The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book #307b

The Sabbath Hymn Book. Baptist ed. #d623

Union Hymns #d242

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