Afflictions and Death Under Providence

Not from the dust affliction grows

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: RESIGNATION (15653)
Published in 52 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Not from the dust affliction grows,
Nor troubles rise by chance;
Yet we are born to cares and woes –
A sad inheritance!

2 As sparks break out from burning coals,
And still are upwards borne,
So grief is rooted in our souls,
And man grows up to mourn.

3 Yet with my God I leave my cause
And trust his promised grace;
He rules me by his well-known laws
Of love and righteousness.

4 Not all the pains that e’er I bore
Shall spoil my future peace;
For death and hell can do no more
Than what my Father please.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #465

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: Not from the dust affliction grows
Title: Afflictions and Death Under Providence
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Not from the dust affliction grows. I. Watts. [Affliction of God.] Published in his Hymns, &c, 1709, Bk. i., No. 83, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and from thence has passed into a few hymnals. In the Translations and Paraphrases of the Church of Scotland, which were authorized in 1781, this hymn (No. 5) is included in a new form as, “Tho' trouble springs not from the dust." In this form Watts is reproduced in everything but the actual words. By whom this recast was made is not known. In the marked copy of the Translations & Paraphrases, by the daughter of W. Cameron it is left a blank.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 52 of 52)
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The Psalms of David #I.LXXXIII

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #I.LXXXIII

Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge and Various Other Writers #d147

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The Columbian Repository #435

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A Choice Selection of Evangelical Hymns, from various authors #150

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #I.83

Hymns Selected #d147

The Psalms of David ... New ed. #d154

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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #361

Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs, including Some Never Before in Print #d223

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Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music #16b

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Hymns, Selected and Original #458

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The Christian Lyre, Volume 1 #101

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The Christian Lyre #101

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Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #458

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The Christian Lyre #101

Psalms and Hymns for Public worship, Containing All the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts ... #d615

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #291

The American Repository of Sacred Music #d111

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #67

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d309

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #750

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Hymns #458

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #A83

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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #614

Text

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #465

Parish Psalmody #d534

Parish Psalmody #d547

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d559

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The American Vocalist #102b

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Hymns #458

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The Baptist Psalmody #752

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Hymns #458

The Millennial Harp #d274

The Millennial Harp #d144

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Hymns #458

The Primitive Hymns #d410

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The Baptist Hymn Book #79

The Church Hymn Book #d652

The Southern Psalmist #d554

The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d580

The Christian Harmony #d223

Gospel Voices No.3 #d178

The Good Old Songs #d384

The Good Old Songs #d382

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