These Emmets, how little they are in our eyes!

These Emmets, how little they are in our eyes!

Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Published in 7 hymnals

Representative Text

These Emmets, how little they are in our eyes!
We tread them to dust, and a troop of them dies,
Without our regard or concern:
Yet, as wise as we are, if we went to their school,
There’s many a sluggard and many a fool
Some lessons of wisdom might learn.

They wear not their time out in sleeping or play,
But gather up corn in a sunshiny day,
And for winter they lay up their stores:
They manage their work in such regular forms,
One would think they foresaw all the frosts and the storms,
And so brought their food withindoors.

104
But I have less sense than a poor creeping Ant,
If I take not due care for the things I shall want,
Nor provide against dangers in time;
When death or old age shall once stare in my face,
What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days,
If I trifle away all their prime!

Now, now, while my strength and my youth are in bloom,
Let me think what shall serve me when sickness shall come,
And pray that my sins be forgiven.
Let me read in good books, and believe, and obey;
That, when death turns me out of this cottage of clay,
I may dwell in a palace in heaven.



Source: Divine and Moral Songs: attempted in easy language for the use of children with some additional composures #SV

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: These Emmets, how little they are in our eyes!
Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Meter: 11.11.8 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)
TextPage Scan

Divine and Moral Songs #SV

TextPage Scan

Divine Songs for Children #XXVIII

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Divine Songs #M5

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Hymns for Children, Selected and Altered #17

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d220

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d207

Page Scan

Songs, Divine and Moral #154

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