Isaac Watts

“ And shall I learn to know thee more,
and less obey thee still?
3How senseless is my heart and wild!
how vain are all my thoughts!
Pity the weakness of a child,
and pardon all my faults.
4Make me thy heav'nly voice to hear,
and let me love to pray,
Since God will lend a gracious ear
to what a child can say. ”

“ A nobler prize lies in any hand
than East, or Western Indies hold.
4How do I pity those that dwell
where ignorance and darkness reign;
They know no heaven they fear no hell,
the endless joy, the endless pain! ”

“ And all his love to fury turn,
and strike me dead upon the place,
4⁠Tis dangerous to provoke our God!
his power and vengeance none can tell;
One stroke of his Almighty rod
shall send young sinners down to hell. ”

“ That I was taught and learn'd so young
to read his holy word.
2That I am brought to know
the danger I was in,
By nature, and by practice too,
a wedded slave to sin:
3That I am led to see
I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee
to save himself from hell? ”

“ Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
the road that leads to hell.
2When we devote our youth to God,
'tis pleasing in his eyes;
A flower, when offer'd in the bud,
is no vain sacrifice.
3'Tis easier work, if we begin
to fear the Lord betimes;
While sinners, who grow old in sin,
are hardened in their crimes. ”

“ And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from thy throne.
6⁠Creatures (as numerous as they be)
are subject to thy care;
There's not a place where we can flee,
but God is present there.
7⁠In heaven he shines with beams of love,
with wrath in hell beneath ”

“ XVII.—Against Idleness and Mischief.
1⁠How doth the little busy bee
improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
from every opening flower.
2⁠How skilfully she builds her cell!
how neat she spreads her wax! ”

“ That joined in counsel to restore
and save our ruin'd race.
2⁠Our father ate forbidden fruit,
and from his glory fell;
And we, his children, thus were brought
to death, and near to hell.
3⁠Blest be the Lord that sent his Son
to take our flesh and blood;
He for our lives gave up his own,
to make our peace with God. ”

“ But thy good word informs my soul
how I may climb to heaven.
3The fields provide me food, and show
the goodness of the Lord;
But fruits of life and glory grow
in thy most holy Word.
4Here are choicest treasures hid ”

“ A flower may fade before 'tis noon,
and I this day may lose my breath. ”

“ But in thy dreadful book 'tis writ
against the judgment day,
3And must the crimes that I have done
be read and publish'd there?
Be all exposed before thy Son,
while men and angels hear?
4Lord, at thy feet asham'd I lie,
upward I dare not look ”

“ XXIV.—For the Lord's Day Morning.
1This is the day when Christ arose
so early from the dead;
Why should I keep my eyelids close,
and waste my hours in bed?
2This is the day when Jesus broke
the powers of death and hell ”

“ While I am clothed from head to feet,
and covered from the cold!
4While some poor wretches scarce can tell
where they may lay their head,
I have a house wherein to dwell,
and rest upon my bed.
5While others early learn to swear,
and curse, and lie, and steal. ”

“ XIV.—Against Lying.
1O 'tis a lovely thing for youth
to walk betimes in wisdom's way:
To fear a lie, to speak the truth,
that we may trust to all they say!
2But liars we can never trust,
tho' they should speak the thing that's true ”

“ XV.—Against Quarrelling and Fighting.
1Let dogs delight to bark and bite
for God hath made them so;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
for 'tis their nature too;
2But children, you should never let
such angry passions rise ”

“ XXV.—For the Lord's Day Evening.
1Lord, how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee!
At once they sing, at once they pray,
They hear of heaven and learn the way.
2I have been there, and still would go,
'Tis like a little heaven below ”

“ If they the book of God had seen,
or Jesus and his gospel known!
4⁠Then if this gospel I refuse,
how shall I e'er lift up mine eyes?
For all the Gentiles and the Jews
against me will in judgment rise. ”

“ When children of one family
fall out, and chide, and fight.
3Hard names at first, & threat'ning words,
that are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
to murder and to death.
4The devil tempts one mother's son
to rage against another ”

“ XIII.—Against Evil Company.
1Why should I join with those in play
in whom I've no delight,
Who curse and swear, but never pray
who call ill names, and fight.
2I hate to hear a wanton song;
their words offend my ears ”