Why is my heart so far from thee,
My God, my chief delight?
Why are my thoughts no more by day
With thee, no more by night?
[Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be
As I have tasted in thy love,
As I have found in thee?]
When my forgetful soul renews
The savor of thy grace,
My heart presumes I cannot lose
The relish all my days.
But ere one fleeting hour is passed,
The flatt'ring world employs
Some sensual bait to seize my taste,
And to pollute my joys.
[Trifles of nature or of art,
With fair, deceitful charms,
Intrude into my thoughtless heart,
And thrust me from thy arms.]
Then I repent, and vex my soul
That I should leave thee so:
Where will those wild affections roll
That let a Savior go?
[Sin's promised joys are turned to pain,
And I am drowned in grief;
But my dear Lord returns again,
He flies to my relief.
Seizing my soul with sweet surprise,
He draws with loving bands
Divine compassion in his eyes,
And pardon in his hands.]
[Wretch that I am, to wander thus
In chase of false delight!
Let me be fastened to thy cross,
Rather than lose thy sight.]
[Make haste, my days, to reach the goal,
And bring my heart to rest
On the dear center of my soul,
My God, my Savior's breast.]
Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.20
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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