The Humble Inquiry

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Grace rules below, and sits enthroned above

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: YORKSHIRE
Published in 1 hymnal

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Representative Text

1 Grace rules below, and sits enthroned above,
How few the sparks of wrath! how slow they move,
And drop and die in boundless seas of love!

2 But me, vile wretch! should pitying love embrace
Deep in its ocean, hell itself would blaze,
And flash and burn me through the boundless seas.

3 Yea, Lord, my guilt to such a vastness grown
Seems to confine my choice to wrath alone,
And calls Thy power to vindicate Thy throne.

4 Thine honor bids, "Avenge Thy injured name,"
Thy slighted loves a dreadful glory claim,
While my moist tears might but incense Thy flame.

5 Should heav’n grow black, almighty thunder roar,
And vengeance blast me, I could plead no more,
But own Thy justice, dying, and adore.

6 Yet can those bolts of death that cleave the flood
To reach a rebel, pierce this sacred shroud,
Tinged in the vital stream of my Redeemer’s blood?

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12050

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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:	Grace rules below, and sits enthroned above
Title:	The Humble Inquiry
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	10.10.10.10.10.10
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

YORKSHIRE

John Wainwright (b. Stockport, England, 1723; d. Stockport, 1768) wrote YORKSHIRE for [the] text [Christian's awake, salute the happy morn, by John Byrom] in 1750. The tune was first sung on Christmas Day, 1750, in the parish church of Stockport; it was first published in Caleb Ashworth's Collection…

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