Original Sin, or The First and Second Adam

Adam our father and our head

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ALSTONE
Published in 42 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

Adam, our father and our head,
Transgressed, and justice doomed us dead;
The fiery law speaks all despair:
There's no reprieve nor pardon there.

But, O unutterable grace
The Son of God takes Adam's place;
Down to our world the Savior flies,
Stretches his arms, and bleeds, and dies.

Justice was pleased to bruise the God,
And pay its wrongs with heav'nly blood:
What unknown racks and pangs he bore!
Then rose; the law could ask no more.

Amazing work! look down, ye skies,
Wonder and gaze with all your eyes;
Ye heav'nly thrones, stoop from above,
And bow to this mysterious love.

Lo! they adore th' incarnate Son,
And sing the glories he hath won;
Sing how he broke our iron chains,
How deep he suiik, how high he reigns!

Triumph and reign, victorious Lord,
By all the flaming hosts adored;
And say, dear Couqueror, say how long
Ere we shall rise to join their song.

Send down a chariot from above,
With fiery wheels, and paved with love
Raise us beyond th' ethereal blue,
To sing and love as angels do.



Source: The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #234

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: Adam our father and our head
Title: Original Sin, or The First and Second Adam
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Adam, our father and our head. I. Watts. [The Fall.] Appeared in his Horae Lyricae, 1706, in 13 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Jesus the only Saviour." Its use as a complete hymn is unknown. A cento therefrom of 5 stanzas was given in Rippon's Baptist Selection, 1787, No. US, composed of stanzas i., ii., iv., v., and vii. This has passed into common use to a very limited extent.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #204
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 42 of 42)

A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d8

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #11

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #35

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs from the Best Authors #d3

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.XV

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.XV

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #38

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d3

TextPage Scan

A Selection of Hymns #XXXVIII

A Selection of Hymns....3d ed #d3

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Baptist Hymn Book #a46

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Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs #42

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #26

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Evangelical Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #148

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (2nd ed.) #510

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Hymn book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (4th ed.) #510

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d2

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New Select Hymns #19

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Pocket Hymns #27

Primitive Baptist Hymn Book for All Lovers of Sacred Song. 3rd ed. #d2

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #I.43.1

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Psalms and Hymns, for the Use of the German Reformed Church, in the United States of America. (2nd ed.) #62

Supplement to Watts #d3

The Baptist Hymn Book, in Two Parts #d3

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The Baptist Hymn Book #423

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The Baptist Hymn Book #424

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The Baptist Hymn Book #46

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The Choice #H24

The Choice #H24

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #204

TextPage Scan

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

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns #XXVIII

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The Lord's Songs #LVII

TextPage Scan

The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #234

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #756a

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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #52

Exclude 41 pre-1979 instances
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