Library · Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Book 2 · Hymns 151–160
Hymns and Spiritual Songs · Isaac Watts
Hymn 2:151. Prophesy and inspiration.
1 'Twas by an order from the Lord
The ancient prophets spoke his word;
His Spirit did their tongues inspire,
And warm'd their hearts with heavenly fire.
2 The works and wonders which they wrought
Confirm'd the messages they brought;
The prophet's pen succeeds his breath
To save the holy words from death.
3 Great God, mine eyes with pleasure look
On the dear volume of thy book;
There my Redeemer's face I see,
And read his name who dy'd for me.
4 Let the false raptures of the mind
Be lost and vanish in the wind;
Here I can fix my hopes secure,
This is thy word, and must endure.
Hymn 2:152. Sinai and Sion, Heb. 12. 18 &c.
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 cloth'd in light!
Behold the spirits of the just
Whose faith is turn'd to sight!
4 Behold the bless'd assembly there,
Whose names are writ in heaven;
And God the judge of all declares
Their vilest sins forgiven.
5 The saints on earth and all the dead
But one communion make;
All join in Christ their living head,
And of his grace partake.
6 In such society as this
My weary soul would rest:
The man that dwells where Jesus is,
Must be for ever blest.
Hymn 2:153. The distemper, folly, and madness of sin.
1 Sin like a venomous disease
Infects our vital blood;
The only balm is sovereign grace,
And the physician, God.
2 Our beauty and our strength are fled,
And we draw near to death;
But Christ the Lord recalls the dead
With his almighty breath.
3 Madness by nature reigns within,
The passions burn and rage;
Till God's own Son with skill divine
The inward fire assuage.
4 [We lick the dust, we grasp the wind,
And solid good despise;
Such is the folly of the mind,
Till Jesus makes us wise.
5 We give our souls the wounds they feel,
We drink the poisonous gall,
And rush with fury down to hell;
But heaven prevents the fall.]
6 [The man possess'd amongst the tombs,
Cuts his own flesh and cries;
He foams, and raves, till Jesus comes,
And the foul spirit flies.]
Hymn 2:154. Self-righteousness insufficient.
1 "Where are the mourners, [1] (saith the Lord)
"That wait and tremble at my word,
"That walk in darkness all the day?
"Come, make my name your trust and stay.
2 ["No works nor duties of your own
"Can for the smallest sin atone;
"The robes [2] that nature may provide
"Will not your least pollutions hide.
3 "The softest couch that nature knows
"Can give the conscience no repose:
"Look to my righteousness, and live;
"Comfort and peace are mine to give.]
4 "Ye sons of pride that kindle coals
"With your own hands to warm your souls,
"Walk in the light of your own fire,
"Enjoy the sparks that ye desire.
5 "This is your portion at my hands;
"Hell waits you with her iron bands,
"Ye shall lie down in sorrow there,
"In death, in darkness, and despair."
[1] Isaiah 1:10-11. [2] Isaiah 28:20.
Hymn 2:155. Christ our passover.
1 Lo the destroying angel flies
To Pharaoh's stubborn land:
The pride and flower of Egypt dies
By his vindictive hand.
2 He pass'd the tents of Jacob o'er,
Nor pour'd the wrath divine;
He saw the blood on every door,
And bless'd the peaceful sign.
3 Thus th' appointed Lamb must bleed
To break th' Egyptian yoke;
Thus Israel is from bondage freed,
And 'scapes the angel's stroke.
4 Lord, if my heart were sprinkled too
With blood so rich as thine,
Justice no longer would pursue
This guilty soul of mine.
5 Jesus our passover was slain,
And has at once procur'd
Freedom from Satan's heavy chain,
And God's avenging sword.
Hymn 2:156. Presumption and despair; or, Satan's various temptations.
1 I hate the tempter and his charms,
I hate his flattering breath;
The serpent takes a thousand forms
To cheat our souls to death.
2 He feeds our hopes with airy dreams,
Or kills with slavish fear;
And holds us still in wide extremes,
Presumption, or despair.
3 Now he persuades, "How easy 'tis
"To walk the road to heaven;"
Anon he swells our sins, and cries,
"They cannot be forgiven."
4 [He bids young sinners, "Yet forbear
"To think of God or death;
"For prayer and devotion are
"But melancholy breath."
5 He tells the aged, "They must die,
"And 'tis too late to pray;
"In vain for mercy now they cry,
"For they have lost their day."]
6 Thus he supports his cruel throne
By mischief and deceit;
And drags the sons of Adam down
To darkness and the pit.
7 Almighty God, cut short his power,
Let him in darkness dwell;
And, that he vex the earth no more,
Confine him down to hell.
Hymn 2:157. The same.
1 Now Satan comes with dreadful roar,
And threatens to destroy;
He worries whom he can't devour
With a malicious joy.
2 Ye sons of God, oppose his rage,
Resist, and he'll be gone;
Thus did our dearest Lord engage
And vanquish him alone.
3 Now he appears almost divine
Like innocence and love,
But the old serpent lurks within
When he assumes the dove.
4 Fly from the false deceiver's tongue,
Ye Sons of Adam, fly;
Our parents found the snare too strong,
Nor should the children try.
Hymn 2:158. Few saved; or, The almost Christian, the hypocrite, and apostate.
1 Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shews a narrower path,
With here and there a traveller.
2 "Deny thyself, and take thy cross,"
Is the Redeemer's great command;
Nature must count her gold but dross
If she would gain this heavenly land.
3 The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more,
Is but esteem'd almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure.
4 Lord, let not all my hopes be vain;
Create my heart entirely new,
Which hypocrites could ne'er attain,
Which false apostates never knew.
Hymn 2:159. An unconverted state; or, Converting grace.
1 [Great King of Glory and of grace,
We own with humble shame,
How vile is our degenerate race,
And our first father's name.]
2 From Adam flows our tainted blood,
The poison reigns within,
Makes us averse to all that's good,
And willing slaves to sin.
3 [Daily we break thy holy laws,
And then reject thy grace;
Engag'd in the old serpent's cause
Against our Maker's face.]
4 We live estrang'd afar from God,
And love the distance well;
With haste we run the dangerous road
That leads to death and hell.
5 And can such rebels be restor'd?
Such natures made divine?
Let sinners see thy glory, Lord,
And feel this power of thine.
6 We raise our Father's name on high,
Who his own Spirit sends
To bring rebellious strangers nigh,
And turn his foes to friends.
Hymn 2:160. Custom in sin.
1 Let the wild leopards of the wood
Put off the spots that nature gives,
Then may the wicked turn to God,
And change their tempers and their lives.
2 As well might Ethiopian slaves
Wash out the darkness of their skin;
The dead as well might leave their graves,
As old transgressors cease to sin.
3 Where vice has held its empire long
'Twill not endure the least control;
None but a power divinely strong
Can turn the current of the soul.
4 Great God, I own thy power divine,
That works to change this heart of mine;
I would be form'd anew, and bless
The wonders of creating grace.