I set the Lord before my face,
He bears my courage up;
My heart and tongue their joys express,
My flesh shall rest in hope.
"My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave
Where souls departed are;
Nor quit my body to the grave,
To see corruption there.
"Thou wilt reveal the path of life,
And raise me to thy throne;
Thy courts immortal pleasure give,
Thy presence joys unknown."
[Thus, in the name of Christ, the Lord,
The holy David sung;
And Providence fulfils the word
Of his prophetic tongue.
Jesus, whom ev'ry saint adores,
Was crucified and slain:
Behold, the tomb its prey restores!
Behold, he lives again!
When shall my feet arise and stand
On heav'n's eternal hills?
There sits the Son at God's right hand,
And there the Father smiles.]
Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #Ps.35
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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