Lord, I am thine; but thou wilt prove

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Lord, I am thine; but thou wilt prove

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 102 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 Lord, I am Thine, but You will prove
My faith, my patience, and my love;
When men of spite against me join,
They are the sword, the hand is Thine.

2 Their hope and portion lie below;
’Tis all the happiness they know,
’Tis all they seek; they take their shares,
And leave the rest among their heirs.

3 What sinners value I resign;
LORD, ’tis enough that You are mine:
I shall behold Thy blissful face,
And stand complete in righteousness.

4 This life’s a dream, an empty show,
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake and find me there?

5 O glorious hour! O bless'd abode!
I shall be near and like my God!
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of my soul.

6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet’s joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in my Savior’s image rise.

Source: Psalms of Grace #17c

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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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First Line:	Lord, I am thine; but thou wilt prove
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

Lord, I am Thine, but Thou wilt prove. I. Watts. [Psalms xvii.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed “The Sinner's Portion and the Saint's Hope; or, The Heaven of separate Souls and the Resurrection." It is given in its original form in the Hymnal Companion and a few other hymnbooks. In addition there are also the following abbreviations in common use:—
1. All, all is vanity below. This is an altered form of stanzas iii.-vi. It appeared in the first edition of Cotterill's Selection, 1810; and is found in several modern collections, including that for the Harrow School Chapel, and others.
2. What sinners value, I resign. This is the most popular form of the hymn, and is in extensive use in Great Britain and America. It appeared in A. M. Toplady's Psalms & Hymns, 1776, No. 154.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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