Glory to God that walks the sky,
And sends his blessings through;
That tells his saints of joys on high,
And gives a taste below.
[Glory to God that stoops his throne
That dust and worms may see
And brings a glimpse of glory down
Around his sacred feet.
When Christ, with all his graces crowned,
Sheds his kind beams abroad,
'Tis a young heav'n on earthly ground,
And glory in the bud.
A blooming paradise of joy
In this wild desert springs;
And every sense I straight employ
On sweet celestial things.
White lilies all around appear,
And each his glory shows:
The Rose of Sharon blossoms here,
The fairest flower that blows.
Cheerful I feast on heav'nly fruit,
And drink the pleasures down;
Pleasures that flow hard by the foot
Of the eternal throne.]
But ah! how soon my joys decay!
How soon my sins arise,
And snatch the heav'nly scene away
From these lamenting eyes!
When shall the time, dear Jesus, when
The shining day appear,
That I shall leave those clouds of sin,
And guilt and darkness here?
Up to the fields above the skies
My hasty feet would go,
There everlasting flowers arise,
And joys unwith'ring grow.
Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.59
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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