Sinai and Zion

Representative Text

1 Not to the terrors of the Lord,
The tempest, fire, and smoke:
Not to the thunder of that word
Which God on Sinai spoke:

2 But we are come to Sion's hill,
The city of our God;
Where milder words declare His will,
And spread His love abroad.

3 Behold th' innumerable host
Of angels clothed in light:
Behold the spirits of the just,
Whose faith is turned to sight.

4 Behold the blest assembly there
Whose names are writ in heaven;
Hear God, the Judge of all, declare
Their sins, through Christ, forgiven.

5 Angels, and living saints, and dead
But one communion make:
All join in Christ, their living Head,
And of His love partake.



Source: The Church Hymnal: revised and enlarged in accordance with the action of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892. (Ed. B) #392

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 to the terrors of the Lord
Title: Sinai and Zion
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Not to the terrors of the Lord. I. Watts. [Whitsuntide.] Appeared in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1709, Bk. ii., No. 152, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Sinai and Sion." It is in common use in Great Britain and America. It is also in use in the following forms:—
1. Not to the terrors of the Lord. In the Mitre Hymn Book, 1836, No. 203; Kennedy, 1863, and others. This is composed of stanzas i., ii., from Watts, and a third stanza probably by E. Osier, who assisted W. J. Hall in compiling the Mitre Hymn Book.
2. Behold the radiant, countless host. Composed of stanzas iii., v. altered, in The Church Hymnal, Philadelphia, 1869.
3. The saints on earth and those above (q.v.). The opening stanza of this cento is stanza v. of this hymn.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

ST. ANNE

Though no firm documentation exists, ST. ANNE was probably composed by William Croft (PHH 149), possibly when he was organist from 1700-1711 at St. Anne's Church in Soho, London, England. (According to tradition, St. Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary.) The tune was first published in A Suppleme…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4662
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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 184)
Text

A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #454

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A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion. (10th ed.) #454

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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #142

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #515

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #515

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #515

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A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #398

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A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs #282

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion #d170

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (10th ed.) #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (6th ed.) #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (3rd ed.) #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. 16th ed. #257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #299

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families 16ed. #281

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #487

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A Collection of Sacred Song #9(H26)

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A Collection of Sacred Song #9(H26)

A New Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the Most Approved Authors, Adapted to Public and Private Worship. 2nd ed. #d350

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A New Version of the Psalms of David #HLXIX

A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d415

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns, Embracing all the Varieties of Subjects #H135

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #487

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #487

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #821

Asaph #d171

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Book of Worship (Rev. ed.) #577

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Book of Worship #577

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d595

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Carmina Sacra #99b

Chapel Hymns #d376

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #261

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Christian Hymns #375

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Christian Melodies #96

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Christian Melodies #96

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d618

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Church Melodies #279

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #679

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Church Poetry #191

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Church Psalmist #405

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Church Psalmist #405

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Church Psalmist #405

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Church Psalmody #583

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d477

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Congregational Hymn and Tune Book; containing the Psalms and Hymns of the General Association of Connecticut, adapted to Suitable Tunes #435

General Collection of Hymns, Original and Selected, for Use of Christians #d213

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Hymn and Tune Book, for the Church and the Home #449

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship #298

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a298

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #521

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #521

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Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #184

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #164

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #787

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #787

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d201

Text

Hymnal #184

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Hymnal #184

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Hymns and Chants #166

Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d260

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #II.CLII

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (5th ed.) #83

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (8th ed.) #83

Hymns and Spiritual Songs. 1st Canadian ed. #d205

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Hymns for the Church of Christ (3rd thousand) #298

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Hymns for the Church of Christ. (6th thousand) #298

Hymns for the Hospital Chapel, Worcester #d158

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Hymns for the Reformed Church in the United States #338

Hymns for the Use of the New Jerusalem Church #d164

Hymns for the Use of the Society of United Christian Friends Professing the Faith of Universal Salvation #d278

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Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, as authorized by the General Convention #26

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Hymns Recommended for use in the Reformed Episcopal Church #106

Hymns Selected #d148

Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge and Various Other Writers #d148

Hymns suited to the Feasts and Fasts of the Church and Other Occasions of Public Worship ... approved by the Convention of 1826 #d111

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Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #744

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Hymns, Selected and Original #744

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Hymns #744

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Hymns #744

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Hymns #744

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Hymns #744

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Laudes Domini #499

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Laudes Domini #935

Parish Psalmody #d537

Parish Psalmody #d550

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Plymouth Collection #a705

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #705

Pages

Exclude 183 pre-1979 instances
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