Hymns and Spiritual Songs Part 1

Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

by Isaac Watts.

Preface.

The following extracts from the Doctor's preface contain the substance of his plan in the three different parts into which the Hymns are divided; the whole would have exceeded the limits of a small book.

"Far be it from my thoughts to lay aside the Book of Psalms in public wors.h.i.+p; few can pretend so great a value for them as myself: it is the most n.o.ble, most devotional and divine collection of poesy; and nothing can be supposed more proper to raise a pious soul to heaven than some parts of that book; never was a piece of experimental divinity so n.o.bly written, and so justly reverenced and admired. But it must be acknowledged still, that there are a thousand lines in it which were not made for a church in our days to a.s.sume as its own. There are also many deficiencies of light and glory which our Lord Jesus and his apostles have supplied in the writings of the New Testament: and with this advantage I have composed these Spiritual Songs, which are now presented to the World. Nor is the attempt vainglorious or presuming; for in respect of clear evangelical knowledge, 'The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than all the Jewish Prophets.' Matt. xi. 11.

"Now let me give a short account of the following composures.

"The greatest part of them are suited to the general state of the gospel, and the most common affairs of Christians: I hope there will be very few found but what may properly be used in a religious a.s.sembly, and not one of them but may well be adapted to some seasons either of private or public wors.h.i.+p. The most frequent tempers and changes of our spirit, and conditions of our life, are here copied, and the breathings of our piety expressed according to the variety of our pa.s.sions, our love, our fear, our hope, our desire, our sorrow, our wonder and our joy, as they are refined into devotion, and act under the influence and conduct of the blessed Spirit; all conversing with G.o.d the Father 'by the new and living Way' of access to the throne, even the person and the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him also, even 'to the Lamb that was slain and now lives,' I have addressed many a song; for thus doth the holy Scripture instruct and teach us to wors.h.i.+p in the various patterns of Christian psalmody described in the Revelation.

"I have aimed at ease of numbers, and smoothness of sound, and endeavoured to make the sense plain and obvious. If the verse appears so gentle and flowing as to incur the censure of feebleness, I may honestly affirm, that sometimes it cost me labour to make it so.

"In the first part I have borrowed the sense and much of the form of the song from some particular portions of scripture, and have paraphrased most of the doxologies in the New Testament, that contain any thing in them peculiarly evangelical: and many parts of the Old Testament also, that have a reference to the times of the Messiah.

"The second part consists of hymns whose form is mere human composure; but I hope the sense and materials will always appear divine. I might have brought some text or other, and applied it to the margin of every verse, if this method had been as useful as it was easy. If there be any poems in the book that are capable of giving delight to persons of a more refined taste and polite education, perhaps they may be found in this part; but except they lay aside the humour of criticism, and enter into a devout frame, every ode here already despairs of pleasing.

"I have prepared the third part only for the celebration of the Lord's Supper, that, in imitation of our blessed Saviour, we may sing an hymn after we have partaken of the Bread and Wine."

Hymns.

Book 1.

Collected from the Holy Scriptures.

Hymn 1:1.

A new song to the Lamb that was slain.

Rev. 5. 6 8 9 10 12.

1 Behold the glories of the Lamb Amidst his Father's throne Prepare new honours for his name, And songs before unknown.

2 Let elders wors.h.i.+p at his feet, The church adore around, With vials full of odours sweet, And harps of sweeter sound.

3 Those are the prayers of the saints, And these the hymns they raise: Jesus is kind to our complaints, He loves to hear our praise.

4 [Eternal Father, who shall look Into thy secret will?

Who but the Son shall take that book And open every seal?

5 He shall fulfil thy great decrees, The Son deserves it well; Lo, in his hand the sovereign keys Of heaven, and death, and h.e.l.l!]

6 Now to the Lamb that once was slain Be endless blessings paid; Salvation, glory, joy remain For ever on thy head.

7 Thou hast redeem'd our souls with blood, Hast set the pris'ners free, Hast made us kings and priests to G.o.d, And we shall reign with thee.

8 The worlds of nature and of grace Are put beneath thy power; Then shorten these delaying days, And bring the promis'd hour.

Hymn 1:2.

The deity and humanity of Christ, John 1. 1-3 14.

Col. 9. 16. Eph. 3, 9 10.

1 Ere the blue heavens were stretch'd abroad, From everlasting was the Word; With G.o.d he was; the Word was G.o.d, And must divinely be ador'd.

2 By his own power were all things made; By him supported all things stand; He is the whole creation's head, And angels fly at his command.

3 Ere sin was born, or Satan fell, He led the host of morning stars; (Thy generation who can tell, Or count the number of thy years?)

4 But lo, he leaves those heavenly forms, The Word descends and dwells in clay, That he may hold converse with worms, Dress'd in such feeble flesh as they.

5 Mortals with joy beheld his face, Th' eternal Father's only Son; How full of truth! how full of grace!

When thro' his eyes the G.o.dhead shone!

6 Archangels leave their high abode To learn new mysteries here, and tell The loves of our descending G.o.d, The glories of Imannuel.

Hymn 1:3.

The nativity of Christ, Luke 1. 30 &c. Luke 2, 10 &c.

1 Behold, the grace appears, The promise is fulfill'd; Mary the wondrous virgin bears, And Jesus is the child.

2 [The Lord, the highest G.o.d, Calls him his only Son; He bids him rule the lands abroad, And gives, him David's throne.

3 O'er Jacob shall he reign With a peculiar sway; The nations shall his grace obtain, His kingdom ne'er decay.]

4 To bring the glorious news A heavenly form appears; He tells the shepherds of their joys, And banishes their fears.

5 "Go, humble swains," said he, "To David's city fly; "The promis'd infant born to-day, "Doth in a manger lie.

6 "With looks and heart serene, "Go visit Christ your King;"

And straight, a flaming troop was seen; The shepherds heard them sing:

7 "Glory to G.o.d on high, "And heavenly peace on earth, "Good-will to men, to angels joy, "At the Redeemer's birth!"

8 [In wors.h.i.+p so divine Let saints employ their tongues, With the celestial host we join, And loud repeat their songs:

9 "Glory to G.o.d on high, "And heavenly peace on earth, "Good-will to men, to angels joy, "At our Redeemer's Birth."]

Hymn 1:4. [Supplement]

The inward witness to Christianity, 1 John 5. 10.

1 Questions and doubts be heard no more; Let Christ and joy be all our theme; His Spirit seals his gospel sure, To every soul that trusts in him.