Oft have I sat in secret sighs

Top Media Text Author Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

Oft have I sat in secret sighs

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: HOWARD (Stevenson)
Published in 15 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Oft have I sat in secret Sighs,
To feel my Flesh decay,
Then groan'd aloud with frighted Eyes,
To view the tott'ring Clay.

2 But I forbid my Sorrows now,
Nor dares the Flesh complain;
Diseases bring their Profit too;
The Joy o'ercomes the Pain.

3 My chearful Soul now all the Day
Sits waiting here and sings;
Looks thro' the ruins of her Clay,
And practises her Wings.

4 Faith almost changes into Sight,
While from afar the spies,
Her fair Inheritance, in Light
Above created Skies.

5 Had but the Prison Walls been strong,
And firm without a Flaw,
In Darkness she had dwelt too long,
And less of Glory saw:

6 But now the everlasting Hills
Thro' ev'ry Chink appear,
And something of the Joy she feels
While she's a Prisoner here:

7 The shines of Heav'n rush sweetly in
At all the gaping Flaws:
Visions of endless Bliss are seen
And Native Air the draws.

8 O may these Walls stand tott'ring still,
The Breaches never close!
If I must here in Darkness dwell,
And all this Glory lose!

9 Or rather let this Flesh decay,
The Ruins wider grow,
Till glad to see th' enlarged Way,
I stretch my Pinions through.

Source: The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns: collected from various authors, designed for the worship of God, and for the edification of Christians (1st Ed.) #CCIII

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

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 >

^ top