The Lord, how glorious is his face

Representative Text

1 The LORD, how glorious is his face
How kind his smiles appear!
And O! what melting words he says,
To ev'ry humble ear!

2 "For you, the children of my love,
"It was for you I dy'd;
"Behold my bleeding hands and feet,
"And look into my side."

3 These are the wounds for you I bore,
The tokens of my pains,
When I came dow to free your souls,
From misery and chains.

4 When hell and all its spiteful pow'rs,
Stood dreadful in the way;
To rescue those dear lives of yours,
I gave my own away.

5 But while I bled, and groan'd, and dy'd,
I ruin'd satan's throne;
High on the cross I hung and spy'd,
The monster tumbling down.

6 Victorious GOD! what can we pay,
For favours so divine?
Here, LORD, we give our souls away,
To be for ever thine.

Source: A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association #CLXXXIV

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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 >

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