Distinguishing Love: or, Angels Punished, and Men Saved

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Down headlong from the native skies

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ES KOMMT EIN SCHIFF GELADEN
Published in 13 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

Down headlong from their native skies
The rebel angels fell,
And thunderbolts of flaming wrath
Pursued them deep to hell.

Down from the top of earthly bliss
Rebellious man was hurled,
And Jesus stooped beneath the grave
To reach a sinking world.

O love of infinite degree!
Unmeasurable grace!
Must heav'n's eternal darling die,
To save a trait'rous race?

Must angels sink for ever down,
And burn in quenchless fire,
While God forsakes his shining throne
To raise us wretches higher?

O for this love let earth and skies
With hallelujahs ring,
And the full choir of human tongues
All hallelujahs sing.

Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.96

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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 >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Down headlong from the native skies
Title:	Distinguishing Love: or, Angels Punished, and Men Saved
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

ES KOMMT EIN SCHIFF GELADEN

The tune ES KOMMT EIN SCHIFF GELADEN was originally part of a German Maria-lied, or love song to Mary. The tune became a carol when it was set to a text attributed to the mystic Johannes Tauler (around 1300-1361). It was published with Tauler's text in the Roman Catholic Andernacher Gesangbuch of 16…

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