God's Tender Care of His Church

Representative Text

1 Now shall my inward joys arise,
And burst into a song,
Almighty love inspires my heart
And pleasure tunes my tongue.

2 Oh shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine,
And let the healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

3 Oh for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Savior's praises speak.

4 Angels assist our mighty joys,
Strike all your harps of gold,
And when you raise your highest notes,
This love shall e'er be told.

5 The generous fruits that never fail
On trees immortal grow;
There rocks and hills and brooks and vales
With milk and honey flow.


Source: Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal #233

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: Now shall my inward joys arise, And burst into a song
Title: God's Tender Care of His Church
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Now shall my inward joy arise. i. Watts. [God's care of His Church.] Published in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707, Bk. i., No. 39, in 6 stanza of 4 lines, as a paraphrase of Isaiah xlix. 13, &c. In this form its use is limited. In the Draft of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, No. xvii., is a hymn on the same passage beginning, "Ye heav'ns, send forth your praising song." Of this hymn stanzas i.-iii. are by an unknown hand, and have little or no resemblance to the corresponding stanzas in Watts, whilst stanzas iv.-vi. are from his hymn, as above, with the alteration of a "kind woman," in stanza iv., l. 1, to a "fond mother." In the authorized issue of the Translations and Paraphrases, of 1781 the opening line reads, “Ye heav'ns, send forth your song of praise; " and the text is a recast of the Draft of 1745 throughout. As Watts's text of stanzas iv.-vi. is easily attainable for comparison we add hereto only the text of stanzas i.-iii. from the 1745 Draft:—

"Ye heav'ns, send forth your praising song!
Earth, raise thy Voice below !
Let Hills and Mountains join the Choir,
and joy thro' Nature flow!

“Behold, how gracious is our God!
with what comforting Strains
He cheers the Sorrows of our Heart,
and banishes our Pains.

"Cease ye, when Days of Darkness fall,
with troubled Hearts to mourn;
As if the Lord could leave a Saint
forsaken or forlorn."

The final recast of this hymn in the authorized issue of the Scottish Translations & Paraphrases of 1781 is claimed for W. Cameron by his daughter in her markings of authors and revisers of that issue. In Miss J. E. Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns, 1853, No. li., on the same passage is a hymn of 8 stanzas in two parts: (1) "Sing, 0 ye heavens! Be joyful, earth," and (2) "O Zion, from the stranger's land." This arrangement by Miss Leeson is based on the Scottish Translations & Paraphrases of 1781, as above.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 57 of 57)
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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #48

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #461

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A New Version of the Psalms of David #HIX

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #303

Text

A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #269

A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. #d125

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A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 1st ed. #XCII

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Appendix, Containing a Number of Hymns Taken Chiefly from Dr. Watts's Scriptural Collection #IX

Text

Appendix, Containing a Number of Hymns, Taken Chiefly from Dr. Watts's Scripture Collection #IX

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Christian Hymns #350

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Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns #S92

Cole's Pocket Edition of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Containing Most of the Tunes Used in Different Churches #d94

Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d266

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books #I.XXXIX

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (5th ed.) #13

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected, for the Use of Christians. (8th ed.) #13

Hymns and Spiritual Songs. 1st Canadian ed. #d210

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Hymns #386

Little Way Hymns No. 2 #1

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d581

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d595

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #I.39

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #434

Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #d307

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Psalms and Hymns #450

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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #350

Sacred poetry #d336

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Sacred Poetry #aH.CLXXXVI

Sacred Poetry #d333

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Sacred Poetry #H.CLXXXVI

Seamen's Devotional Assistant and Mariners' Hymns (American Seamen's Friend Society) #d334

The American Tune Book (Carmina Sacra, enlarged) #d262

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The American Vocalist #98a

The Baptist Hymn Book, in Two Parts #d408

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The Baptist Hymn Book #847

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The Choice #H428

The Choice #H428

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The Christian's Duty #S.XIV

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The Columbian Repository #395

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The Middlesex Collection of Church Music #20

The Pocket Harmony #1

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #495

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The Psalms of David #I.XXXIX

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #A39

The Sacred Harp #178

The Universalist Hymn Book #d322

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The Universalist Hymn-Book #283

Text

Worship in Song #233

Exclude 53 pre-1979 instances
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