The Evil of Sin Visible in the Fall of Angels and Men

Representative Text

When the great Builder arched the skies,
And formed all nature with a word,
The joyful cherubs tuned his praise,
And every bending throne adored.

High in the midst of all the throng,
Satan, a tall archangel, sat;
Amongst the morning stars he sung,
Till sin destroyed his heav'nly state.

['Twas sin that hurled him from his throne;
Grov'lling in fire the rebel lies:
"How art thou sunk in darkness down,
Son of the morning, from the skies!"]

And thus our two first parents stood,
Till sin defiled the happy place;
They lost their garden and their God,
And ruined all their unborn race.

[So sprung the plague from Adam's bower,
And spread destruction all abroad;
Sin, the cursed name, that in one hour
Spoiled six days' labor of a God!]

Tremble, my soul, and mourn for grief,
That such a foe should seize thy breast;
Fly to thy Lord for quick relief;
Oh may he slay this treach'rous guest!

Then to thy throne, victorious King,
Then to thy throne our shouts shall rise!
Thine everlasting arm we sing;
For sin, the monster, bleeds and dies.

Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.24

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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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First Line:	When the great Builder arched the skies
Title:	The Evil of Sin Visible in the Fall of Angels and Men
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain