Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

God's Condescension to Our Worship

Thy favors, Lord, surprise our souls

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 25 hymnals

Representative Text

Thy favors, Lord, surprise our souls;
Will the Eternal dwell with us?
What canst thou find beneath the poles
To tempt thy chariot downward thus?

Still might he fill his starry throne,
And please his ears with Gabriel's songs;
But th' heav'nly Majesty comes down,
And bows to hearken to our tongues.

Great God! what poor returns we pay
For love so infinite as thine!
Words are but air, and tongues but clay;
But thy compassion's all divine.



Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.45

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 >

Text Information

First Line: Thy favors, Lord, surprise our souls
Title: God's Condescension to Our Worship
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 25 of 25)

A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d779

Page Scan

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #563

Page Scan

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. 16th ed. #563

Page Scan

A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #316

Page Scan

Church Psalmody #189

Page Scan

Hymn Book for Christian Worship #60

Page Scan

Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a60

TextPage Scan

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #II.XLV

Page Scan

Hymns for Christian Melody #4

Hymns of Zion #d213

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.45

Select Hymns #d452

Page Scan

Select Hymns #4

The Christian Psalter #d578

Page Scan

The Columbian Repository #549

Page Scan

The Harp #47

Page Scan

The Harp. 2nd ed. #a47

Page Scan

The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #423

TextPage Scan

The Psalms of David #II.XLV

Page Scan

The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #B45

Page Scan

The Reformed Methodist Pocket Hymnal #II.155

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.