Christian Love

Happy the heart where graces reign

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 242 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Happy the heart where graces reign,
Where love inspires the breast;
Love is the brightest of the train,
And strengthens all the rest.

2 Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain,
And all in vain our fear;
Our stubborn sins will fight and reign,
If love be absent there.

3 'Tis love that makes our cheerful feet
In swift obedience move;
The devils know, and tremble too;
But devils do not love.

4 This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease;
'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet, realms of bliss.

Amen.



Source: Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #454

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: Happy the heart where graces reign
Title: Christian Love
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Happy the heart where graces reign. I. Watts. [Love to God.] First published in his Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1707 (2nd edition 1709, Book ii., No. 38), in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled, “Love to God." Of this hymn stanza iv. and the idea embodied in stanza v. had previously appeared in Watts's hymn, "'Tis pure delight without alloy," given in his Horae Lyrica, 1706, stanzas iii., iv. It is in extensive use in Great Britain and America.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #10391
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)

The Baptist Hymnal #330

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The Cyber Hymnal #10391

Include 240 pre-1979 instances
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