Why should our garments, made to hide

Why should our garments, made to hide

Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Published in 15 hymnals

Representative Text

Why should our garments, made to hide
Our parents’ shame, provoke our pride?
The art of dress did ne’er begin
Till Eve our mother learnt to sin.

70
When first she put the covering on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.

How proud we are! how fond to shew
Our clothes, and call them rich and new,
When the poor sheep and silkworms wore
That very clothing long before!

The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I:
Let me be dress’d fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.

71
Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind:
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
These are the robes of richest dress.

No more shall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear:
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this blest apparel too.

It never fades, it ne’er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould:
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more ‘tis worn, the more it shines.

72
In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven, and wear it there:
God will approve it in his sight;
’Tis his own work, and his delight.



Source: Divine and Moral Songs: attempted in easy language for the use of children with some additional composures #HXXII

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: Why should our garments, made to hide
Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 15 of 15)
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Choice Hymns #75

TextPage Scan

Divine and Moral Songs #HXXII

TextPage Scan

Divine Songs for Children #XXII

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Divine Songs #22

Hymns for Children and Young Persons. First Am. from the London ed. #d158

Hymns for Schools and Families #d573

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Hymns for Schools and Families, Specailly Designed for the Children of the Church #359

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d280

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d258

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Selection of Hymns for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church #124

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Songs, Divine and Moral #108

Sunday School Harmonist #d20

The New Sunday-School Harmonist #d102

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Watt's Divine Songs For the use of Children #22

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