1.
Shall wisdom cry aloud,
And not her speech be heard?
The voice of God's eternal Word,
Deserves it no regard?
2.
"I was his chief delight,
His everlasting Son,
Before the first of all his works,
Creation was begun.
3.
"Before the flying clouds,
Before the solid land,
Before the fields before the floods
I dwelt at his right hand.
4.
"When he adorned the skies,
And built them, I was there
To order when the sun should rise,
And marshal every star
5.
"When he poured out the sea,
And spread the flowing deep,
I gave the flood a firm decree
In its own bounds to keep.
6.
"Upon the empty air
The earth was balanced well;
With joy I saw the mansion where
The sons of men should dwell.
7.
"My busy thoughts at first
On their salvation ran,
Ere sin was born, or Adam's dust
Was fashioned to a man.
8.
"Then come, receive my grace,
Ye children, and be wise;
Happy the man that keeps my ways;
The man that shuns them dies."
Source: The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion (New ed. thoroughly rev. and much enl.) #284
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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