The Vanity of Creatures

Man has a soul of vast desires

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 63 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Man has a soul of vast desires;
He burns within with restless fires.
Tost to and fro, his passions fly
From vanity to vanity.

2 In vain on earth we hope to find
Some solid good to fill the mind;
We try new pleasures, but we feel
The inward thirst and torment still.

3 So, when a raging fever burns,
We shift from side to side by turns;
And 'tis a poor relief we gain,
To change the place, but keep the pain.

4 Great God! subdue this vicious thirst,
This love to vanity and dust;
Cure the vile fever of the mind,
And feed our soul with joys refin'd.

Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #166

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: Man has a soul of vast desires
Title: The Vanity of Creatures
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 63 of 63)
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A Choice Selection of Evangelical Hymns, from various authors #208

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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #599

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #225

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #225

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #225

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A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #166

A Collection of Hymns and Psalms for the Use of Singing School and Musical Societies #d95

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Social and Private Worship #CCLXV

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #427

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #907

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #298

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #427

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #427

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Church Poetry #201

Familiar Hymns, Alphabetically Arranged. #d158

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs (New ed.) #28

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #II.CXLVI

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Hymns for Christian Melody #76

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Hymns for the Sanctuary #490

Hymns Selected #d127

Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge and Various Other Writers #d127

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Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #225

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Hymns, Selected and Original #225

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Hymns #225

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Hymns #225

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Hymns #225

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Hymns #225

Parish Psalmody #d463

Parish Psalmody #d475

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Plymouth Collection #a315

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #315

Psalms and Hymns for Public worship, Containing All the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts ... #d552

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Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.146

Seamen's Devotional Assistant and Mariners' Hymns (American Seamen's Friend Society) #d293

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #315

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The Baptist Praise Book #551

The Christian Psalter #d327

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The Columbian Repository #650

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The Congregational Hymn Book #410

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the Most Approved Authors #CCXCIX

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns #CCXCIX

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The Middlesex Collection of Church Music #15

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The Musical Olio #40

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The New Congregational Hymn and Tune Book, for Public, Social and Private Worship #165

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #455

The Psalms of David ... New ed. #d133

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The Psalms of David #II.CXLVI

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #B146

The Southern Psalmist #d505

The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d528

The Vestry Hymn Book #d288

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Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music #70b

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