Behold the Glories of the Lamb

Representative Text

1 Behold the glories of the Lamb
amidst His Father's throne!
amidst His Father's throne!
Prepare new honors for His name,
and songs before unknown,
and songs before unknown.

2 Let elders worship at His feet,
the church adore around,
the church adore around,
with vials full of odors sweet,
and harps of sweeter sound,
and harps of sweeter sound.

3 "Worthy the Lamb that died," they cry,
"to be exalted thus,
to be exalted thus!"
"Worthy the Lamb," let us reply,
"for He was slain for us,
for He was slain for us."

4 Now to the Lamb that once was slain
be endless blessings paid;
be endless blessings paid;
salvation, glory, joy, remain
forever on Thy head,
forever on Thy head.

5 Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood,
hast set the pris'ners free,
hast set the prisoners free,
hast made us kings and priests to God,
and we shall reign with Thee,
and we shall reign with Thee.

6 To Him who sits upon the throne,
the God whom we adore,
the God whom we adore,
and to the lamb that once was slain,
be glory evermore,
be glory evermore.


Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #298

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 >

Notes

Behold the glories of the Lamb. J. Watts. [Praise.] First published in his Hymns, &c, 1707 (2nd edition, 1709, Book i., No. 1), in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled, “A New Song to the Lamb that was slain." It is a paraphrase of a part of Rev. I. Watts's biographers state that this was his first hymn, and was written in 1696 in answer to a challenge that he could not produce better hymns than those by W. Barton (q. v.) which were sung in the Chapel in Southampton which he attended, and against which he had laid a complaint. In the Hymns, &c, stanzas iv. and v. are bracketed for omission if desired, and in the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858, and others, this is done. In Darling's Hymns, 1886, it is given as "How great the glory of the Lamb." The use of the hymn is extensive, both in Great Britain and America.
In the Draft Scottish Translations and Paraphrases of 1745, a somewhat peculiar cento is given as No. ix. in 12 stanzas of 4 lines. It opens with this first stanza, and is thus composed: stanzas i., ii., iii, iv. corresponding stanzas from this hymn; stanza v. Watts; stanza vi. new; stanza vii. Watts. From this point stanzas viii. to xii. are Watts's "Come let us join our cheerful songs" (q. v.) slightly altered. In the authorized issue of the Translations and Paraphrases in 1781, there is another cento, opening again with the same stanza, but differing from the last. It is thus composed: stanzas i., ii., iii., iv. Watts, as above, with new alterations; stanza v. Watts, "Come let us, &c." as altered in 1745; stanza vi. Watts; vii. Watts altered; stanza viii. Watts, as above; stanza ix. from 1745; stanza x., xi. Watts, "Come let us, &c," slightly altered. This complicated arrangement was made by W. Cameron (q. v.) for the 1781 issue of the Translations &c, and has been in use in the Church of Scotland for 100 years. It is also found in a few modern hymnals. It was given in the Salisbury Hymn Book1857, No. 171, with slight alterations. Full recast text in modern copies of the Scottish Psalms, &c. This, in common with the original, is in use in America. From this arrangement in the Translations & Paraphrases, a cento is given in Stevenson's Hymns for the Church and Home, 1873, No. 92, as "Hark, how the adoring hosts." In this stanzas i.-iv. and x. are omitted.
In Miss J. E. Leeson's Paraphrases and Hymns, &c, 1853, this arrangement of the hymn is given with extensive alterations and additions, as No. 110 in 12 stanzas of 4 lines. Its use is limited, although stanzas ix.-xii. are very fine.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 273)
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Church Psalmist #106

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A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #19

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #I.I

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The Christian's Duty #XVIII

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #I

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #I

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #H.I

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A Handy Book of Old and Familiar Hymns #176

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A Collection of Hymns #133

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A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs #72

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #350

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #188

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints #92

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #67

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A New Version of the Psalms of David #HI

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A Pastor's Selection of Hymns and Tunes #181

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #340

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #990

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American Psalmody #64

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American Psalmody #95a

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Appendix, Containing a Number of Hymns Taken Chiefly from Dr. Watts's Scriptural Collection #I

Text

Appendix, Containing a Number of Hymns, Taken Chiefly from Dr. Watts's Scripture Collection #I

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Carmina Sacra #106a

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Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #238

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Carmina Sanctorum #238

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Christian Melodies #62

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Christian Melodies #62

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Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #418

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Church Choral-Book #262

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #57

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #57

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Church Melodies #19

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #189

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Church Psalmist #106

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Church Psalmist #106

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Church Psalmody #H135

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Church Psalmody #135

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Deutsches Lieder- und Melodienbuch #a258

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Devotional hymns #S54

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S56b

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Gospel Hymn and Tune Book #113

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Hymn and Tune Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Round Note Ed.) #147

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South #147

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Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #123

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Hymnal #123

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Hymnal #123

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Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship #219

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Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship. (Rev. ed.) #219

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #326

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (5th ed.) #1

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Hymns and Tunes #258

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Hymns for All Christians #S11

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Hymns for all Christians #111

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Hymns for Church and Home #132

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Hymns for the Reformed Church in the United States #242

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Hymns of Grace and Truth #12

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Hymns of the "Jubilee Harp" #a775

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Hymns of the Faith #143

Hymns of Truth and Praise #95

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Hymns to the Living God #197

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In Excelsis #338

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In Excelsis #a338

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Manual of Christian Psalmody #135

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #222

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #222

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New Manual of Praise #245

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Philadelphia harmony #14a

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Plymouth Collection #a577

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #577

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Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #I.1

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #298

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #H181

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Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #H4

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Rejoice Hymns #626

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Revival Hymns #120

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Sacred lyrics, or Select hymns #182

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Social Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #507

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Songs for Social and Public Worship #473

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Songs of Zion Enlarged #13

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Songs of Zion #10

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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #201

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The American Vocalist #69a

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #273

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #98.273

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #577

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The Baptist Hymnal, for Use in the Church and Home #191

The Baptist Hymnal #191

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The Baptist Praise Book #447

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The Brethren Hymnal #44

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The Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs #531

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The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #215

Pages

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