Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Why Should I Say

Why should I say, 'Tis yet too soon

Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Tune: HULL (Pollock)
Published in 31 hymnals

Representative Text

Why should I say, “‘Tis yet too soon
“To seek for heaven or think of death?”
A flower may fade before ‘tis noon,
And I this day may lose my breath.

If this rebellious heart of mine
Despise the gracious calls of Heaven,
I may be harden’d in my sin,
And never have repentance given.

What if the Lord grow wroth, and swear,
While I refuse to read and pray,
That he’ll refuse to lend an ear
To all my groans another day!

52
What if his dreadful anger burn,
While I refuse his offer’d grace,
And all his love to anger turn,
And strike me dead upon the place!

’Tis dangerous to provoke a God!
His power and vengeance none can tell:
One stroke of his almighty rod
Shall send young sinners quick to hell.

Then ‘twill for ever be in vain
To cry for pardon or for grace;
To wish I had my time again,
Or hope to see my Maker’s face.



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

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: Why should I say, 'Tis yet too soon
Title: Why Should I Say
Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 31 of 31)

A Selection of Hymns for the Use of Church of England Sunday Schools, Bible Classes ... New ed. #d316

Canadian Sabbath-School Hymn Book #d280

TextPage Scan

Divine and Moral Songs #HXIII

TextPage Scan

Divine Songs for Children #XIII

Page Scan

Divine Songs #13

Family Hymns #d289

Hymns for Children and Young Persons. First Am. from the London ed. #d157

Hymns for Schools and Families #d572

Page Scan

Hymns for Schools and Families, Specailly Designed for the Children of the Church #345

Page Scan

Hymns for Social Worship #470

Hymns for Sunday Schools, Selected from Various Authoors #d254

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Sunday Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church #d527

Page Scan

New Union Hymns #520

Sabbath School and Social Hymns of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the U.S.A. #d320

Page Scan

Selection of Hymns for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church #68

Page Scan

Selection of Hymns for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church #95

Page Scan

Songs, Divine and Moral #80

Page Scan

Sunday School Hymn Book. (19th ed) #154

Page Scan

The Advent Harp; designed for believers in the speedy coming of Christ #154a

Page Scan

The American Baptist Sabbath-School Hymn-Book #237

The Baptist Sabbath School Hymn Book #d499

Page Scan

The Child's Hymn Book #154

The Sacred Lute #d404

Page Scan

The Songs of Zion #562

The Sunday School Child's Hymn Book. Rev. #d50

Union Hymns. Rev. #d496

Union Hymns. Rev. #d512

Page Scan

Watt's Divine Songs For the use of Children #13

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.