The praises of my tongue
I offer to the Lord,
That I was taught and learnt so young
To read his holy Word.
40
That I am taught to know
The danger I was in;
By nature, and by practice too,
A wretched slave to sin.
That I am led to see
I can do nothing well;
And whither shall a sinner flee,
To save himself from hell?
Dear Lord, this book of thine
Informs me where to go,
For grace to pardon all my sin,
And make me holy too.
41
Here I can read and learn
How Christ, the Son of God,
Did undertake our great concern;
Our ransom cost his blood.
And now he reigns above,
He sends his Spirit down,
To show the wonders of his love,
And make his Gospel known.
O may that Spirit teach,
And make my heart receive
Those truths which all thy servants preach,
And all thy saints believe.
42
Then shall I praise the Lord
In a more cheerful strain,
That I was taught to read his Word,
And have not learnt in vain.
Divine and Moral Songs, 1866
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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