Come, let us search our ways, and try

Come, let us search our ways, and try

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ELIZABETHTOWN (Kingsley)
Published in 51 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Come, let us search our ways and try;
Have they been just and right?
Is the great rule of equity
Our practice and delight?

2 What we would have our neighbor do,
Have we still done the same?
From others ne'er withheld the due,
Which we from others claim?

3 Have we ne'er envied others' good,
Nor envied others' praise?
In no man's path malignant stood,
Nor us'd detraction's ways?

4 Have we not, deaf to his request,
Turn'd from another's woe?
The scorn, which wrings the suff'rer's heart,
Have we abhorr'd to whew?

5 Then may we raise our modest pray'r
To God, the just and kind;
May humbly cast on him our care,
And hope his grace to find.

6 Religion's path they never trod,
Who equity contemn;
Nor ever are they just to God,
Who prove unjust to men.

Source: A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches; to which are added prayers for families and individuals #338

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: Come, let us search our ways, and try
Author: Isaac Watts
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Come, let us search our [hearts] ways and try. I. Watts. [Truthfulness.] First published in his Sermons, 1721-24, vol. ii. in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. In this form it is seldom found in any hymn-book, either old or new. It was rewritten as "Come, let us search our hearts and try" (i.-iii. Watts; iv. original), by E. Osier for Hall's Mitre Hymn Book, 1836, No. 171. Osier made further alterations in the text for his Church and King, June, 1837, p. 138, where it is appended to an essay on the Church Service for the 4th S. after Trinity. The Church and King text is usually followed. It is in Windle's Collection, No. 67 (stanza iii., line 1, speak for talk), the Harrow School Hymns, 1855-57.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 51 of 51)
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The Psalms of David #H42

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Publick Worship #LXIV

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A Collection of Hymns, More Particularly Designed for the Use of the West Society in Boston. (2nd ed. with Additions) #LII

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns, Embracing all the Varieties of Subjects #H94

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #368

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Publick Worship (2nd ed.) #LXIV

TextPage Scan

A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #338

A Collection of Hymns from Various Authors. New ed. #d64

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #338

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #368

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #154

Hymns for Children and Young Persons. First Am. from the London ed. #d26

Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #d100

The Pocket Selection of Hymns for the Use of Evangelical Churches and Religious Assemblies in the U. S. lst ed. #d50

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms for Social and Private Worship (2nd ed. Enl. and Imp.) #176

Selection from Tate and Brady's Version of the Psalms; with Hymns by Various Authors, for the Church in Brattle-Square #d45

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms #176

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms for Social and Private Worship (6th ed.) #183

A New Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the Most Approved Authors, Adapted to Public and Private Worship. 2nd ed. #d95

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms, for Social and Private Worship. (11th ed.) #183

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Selection of Hymns for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church #115

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #338

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Hymns for Christian Melody #443

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Selection of Hymns for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church #155

Hymns, Collects, Anthems and Selections #d45

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The Christian Psalmist #370

The Christian Psalter #d87

The Chapel Hymn Book (4th ed.) #d74

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship (Rev. ed. with supplement) #154

The Chapel Hymn Book. 5th ed. #d71

The Modern Harp #d46

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A Liturgy and Hymns for Church Sunday Schools #93

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New Union Hymns #202

Familiar Hymns, Alphabetically Arranged. #d43

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The Psalmody #757

Hymns for Children and Young Persons #d82

The Church Hymn Book #d165

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Hymns for Sunday Schools #112

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The Psalms and Hymns, with the Doctrinal Standards and Liturgy of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America #H449

Hymns and Psalms, Original and Modern, Selected and Revised #d93

Spiritual Melodies #d61

Spiritual Melodies. Enl. & impr. ed. #d70

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #363

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion #d40

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A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs #508

Missionary Hymns #d18

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The Brethren Hymnal #383

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