1 Give thanks to GOD, He reigns above,
kind are His thoughts, His name is love:
His mercy ages past have known,
and ages long to come shall own.
2 From age to age exalt His name,
God and His grace are still the same:
He fills the hungry soul with food,
and feeds the poor with every good.
3 But if their hearts rebel, and rise
against the God that rules the skies;
if they reject His heav'nly word,
and slight the counsels of the LORD.
4 He'll bring their spirits to the ground,
and no deliv'rer shall be found:
laden with grief they waste their breath
in darkness and the shades of death.
5 Then to the LORD they raise their cries,
He makes the dawning light arise,
and scatters all that dismal shade
that hung so heavy round their head.
6 He cuts the bars of brass in two,
and lets the smiling pris'ner thro';
takes off the load of guilt and grief,
and gives the lab'ring soul relief.
7 O may the sons of men record
the wondrous goodness of the LORD!
How great His works! how kind His ways!
let every tongue pronounce His praise.
Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #107A
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 >
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