Gravity and Decency

Behold the sons, the heirs of God

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 44 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Behold the sons, the heirs of God,
So dearly bought with Jesu's blood!
Are they not born to heav'nly joys,
And shall they stoop to earthly toys?

2 Can laughter feed th' immortal mind?
Were spirits of celestial kind
Made for a jest, for sport and play,
To wear out time and waste the day?

3 Doth vain discourse, or empty mirth,
Well suit the honors of their birth?
Shall they be fond of gay attire,
Which children love, and fools admire?

4 Lord, with a heav'n-directed eye,
We'll pass these glittering trifles by.
Oh, raise our hearts and passions higher;
Touch our vain souls with sacred fire;

6 Then we will look on toys below
With such disdain as angels do;
And wait the call that bids us rise
To mansions promis'd in the skies.

Source: The Hartford Selection of Hymns: from the most approved authors: to which are added a number never before published (2nd ed.) #CXXXVI

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: Behold the sons, the heirs of God
Title: Gravity and Decency
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 44 of 44)
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The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns #CCXL

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A Selection of Hymns #CCXXIX

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Sacred Poetry #H.XXXIII

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship approved by the Presbytery of Charleston #d24

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Sacred Poetry #aH.XXXIII

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the Most Approved Authors #CXXXVI

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The Christian's Duty #CCXL

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns #CXXXVI

Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge and Various Other Writers #d23

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A Choice Selection of Evangelical Hymns, from various authors #302

The Young Convert's Companion #d16

Hymns Selected #d23

The Psalms of David ... New ed. #d24

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CXXXVIII

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The Lexington Collection #133

Sacred Poetry #d53

A Collection of Hymns & Spiritual Songs, for Public and Family Worship #d17

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs (New ed.) #60

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CXXXVIII

Sacred poetry #d54

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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #600

The Providence Selection of Hymns, Supplementary to Dr. Watts. #d35

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #195

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Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns #240

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #229

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Village Hymns for Social Worship, Selected and Original #195

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The New England Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #37

Supplement to Watts #d43

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Hymns for Christian Melody #451

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #947

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #195

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Choice Hymns #76

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The Baptist Hymn Book #293

A Choice Selection of Hymns. 6th ed. #d213

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Baptist Hymn Book #a293

Village Hymns #195

Zion's Hymns, for the Use of the Original Free-Will Baptist Church of North Carolina #d35

Spiritual Melodies #d36

Spiritual Melodies. Enl. & impr. ed. #d39

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #331

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