Breathing after Holiness

Representative Text

1 Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways
to keep his statutes still!
Oh, that my God would grant me grace
to know and do his will!

2 Order my footsteps by your Word
and make my heart sincere;
let sin have no dominion, Lord,
but keep my conscience clear.

3 Assist my soul, too apt to stray,
a stricter watch to keep,
and should I e'er forget your way,
restore your wand'ring sheep.

4 Make me to walk in your commands—
'tis a delightful road—
nor let my head or heart or hands
offend against my God.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #705

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: O that the Lord would guide my ways
Title: Breathing after Holiness
Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

EVAN (Havergal)

This tune is likely the work of the composer named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list.

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5393
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)

Ambassador Hymnal #455

Text

Christian Worship (1993) #462

TextPage Scan

Christian Worship #705

Text

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #441

TextAudio

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #772

Text

In Melody and Songs #82

Text

Lutheran Service Book #707

Text

Lutheran Worship #392

Spurgeon's Own Hymn Book #119b

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #5393

Include 375 pre-1979 instances
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