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A Blessed Gospel

Blest are the souls that hear and know

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 200 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Blest are the souls that hear and know
The gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the path they go,
And light their steps surround.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor Satan dares condemn.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Israel! thy King for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.

Source: Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs ancient & modern (Abr. ed.) #111

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: Blest are the souls that hear and know
Title: A Blessed Gospel
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Blest are the souls that [who] hear and know. I. Watts. [Ps. lxxxix.] Pt. jii. of his C.M. rendering of Psalm 89, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, which appeared in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, with the heading "The Blessed Gospel." Whitefield included it in his Collection in 1753, No. 72; and Toplady in his Psalms & Hymns, 1776, No. 32. It thus came into general use, and is still found in numerous collections in Great Britain and America.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #551
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Instances

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The Cyber Hymnal #551

Include 199 pre-1979 instances
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