1 Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom, love, and power,
That ever mortals knew,
That angels ever bore:
All are too mean
To speak his worth,
Too mean to set
My Savior forth.
2 But, O what gentle terms,
What condescending ways
Doth our Redeemer use
To teach his heavenly grace!
Mine eyes with joy
And wonder see
What forms of love
He bears for me.
[3 Arrayed in mortal flesh,
He like an angel stands,
And holds the promises
And pardons in his hands;
Commissioned from
His Father's throne,
To make his grace
To mortals known.]
[4 Great Prophet of my God,
My tongue would bless thy name;
By thee the joyful news
Of our salvation came;
The joyful news
Of sins forgiven,
Of hell subdued,
And peace with heaven.]
[5 Be thou my Counselor,
My Pattern, and my Guide;
And through this desert land
Still keep me near thy side.
O let my feet
Ne'er run astray,
Nor rove, nor seek
The crooked way!]
[6 I love my Shepherd's voice,
His watchful eyes shall keep
My wandering soul among
The thousands of his sheep:
He feeds his flock,
He calls their names,
His bosom bears
The tender lambs.]
[7 To this dear Surety's hand
Will I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfills
His Father's broken laws:
Behold my soul
At freedom set!
My Surety paid
The dreadful debt.]
[8 Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered his blood, and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside.
His powerful blood
Did once atone,
And now it pleads
Before the throne.]
[9 My Advocate appears
For my defense on high;
The Father bows his ears,
And lays his thunder by.
Not all that hell
Or sin can say
Shall turn his heart,
His love away.]
[10 My dear Almighty Lord,
My Conqueror and my King!
Thy scepter and thy sword,
Thy reigning grace I sing.
Thine is the power;
Behold, I sit
In willing bonds
Before thy feet.]
[11 Now let my soul arise,
And tread the tempter down;
My Captain leads me forth
To conquest and a crown,
A feeble saint
shall win the day,
Though death and hell
Obstruct the way.]
12 Should all the hosts of death,
And powers of hell unknown,
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on,
I shall be safe;
For Christ displays
Superior power,
And guardian grace.
The Christian's duty, exhibited in a series of hymns, 1791
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 >
