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)
Page Scan

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

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

Page Scan

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

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

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

Page Scan

A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #331

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CXXXVIII

Page Scan

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CXXXVIII

Page Scan

A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #229

TextPage Scan

A Selection of Hymns #CCXXIX

Page Scan

Baptist Hymn Book #a293

Page Scan

Choice Hymns #76

Page Scan

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

Page Scan

Hymns and Spiritual Songs (New ed.) #60

Page Scan

Hymns for Christian Melody #451

Hymns Selected #d23

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

Sacred poetry #d54

Page Scan

Sacred Poetry #aH.XXXIII

Sacred Poetry #d53

Page Scan

Sacred Poetry #H.XXXIII

Spiritual Melodies #d36

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

Supplement to Watts #d43

Page Scan

The Baptist Hymn Book #293

Page Scan

The Christian's Duty #CCXL

TextPage Scan

The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns #CCXL

TextPage Scan

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

TextPage Scan

The Hartford Selection of Hymns #CXXXVI

Page Scan

The Lexington Collection #133

Page Scan

The New England Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #37

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

Page Scan

The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #947

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

The Young Convert's Companion #d16

Village Hymns #195

Page Scan

Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #195

Page Scan

Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #195

Page Scan

Village Hymns for Social Worship, Selected and Original #195

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

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us