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Why Should We Start, and Fear to Die?

Representative Text

1 Why should we start and fear to die?
What tim’rous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate to endless joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.

2 The pains, the groans, the dying strife,
Fright our approaching souls away;
And we shrink back again to life,
Fond of our prison and our clay.

3 O if my Lord would come and meet,
My soul would stretch her wings in haste,
Fly fearless through death’s iron gate,
Nor feel the terrors as she passed.

4 Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are;
While on His breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there.

Source: The Sacred Harp: the best collection of sacred songs, hymns, odes, and anthems ever offered the singing public for general use (1991 rev.) #30b

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 we start, and fear to die?
Title: Why Should We Start, and Fear to Die?
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 419)

A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d891

A Choice Selection of Hymns. 6th ed. #d276

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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #616

A Collection of Choral Hymns for the ... Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal Congregation #d214

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A Collection of Hymns #409

A Collection of Hymns Adapted to the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #d638

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A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #373

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Pious of All Denominations #d106

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A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #XLIX

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d985

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d991

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #d992

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A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #679

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America #d391

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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #1070

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A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #562

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A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #562

A Collection of Hymns for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. with a Supplement #d674

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the United Brethren in Christ #d371

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #950

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America. #687

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A Collection of Hymns #562

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families 16ed. #467

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship #d371

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #83

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #214

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #214

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #214

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #589

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #209

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints #89

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #417

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A Collection of Spiritual Songs and Hymns #XLIX

A Compilation of Genuine Church Music. 4th ed. #d338

A New Book of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal and Other Churches #d274

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A New Selection of Hymns #XIII

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #496

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A Pastor's Selection of Hymns and Tunes #98

A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book . 27th ed. #d574

A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book. 5th ed. #d342

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #31

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #393

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CCCCXII

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CCCCXII

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A Selection of Hymns for the use of social religious meetings, and for private devotions 2d ed. #99

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A Selection of Hymns for Worship (2nd ed.) #358

A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. #d169

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d443

A Selection of Hymns....3d ed #d270

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #CCXXVI

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #226

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #941

Additional Hymns, Designed as a Supplement to Dwight's Psalms & Hymns #d213

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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #492

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Allgemeine Lieder-Sammlung #P16

American Sunday School Hymn Book. 2nd ed. #a302

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American Sunday School Hymn Book. New ed. #aa302

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Baptist Chorals #95

Baptist Harmony #d257

Bells of Heaven #d470

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Book of Worship (Rev. ed.) #477

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Book of Worship #477

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d1034

Chapel Hymns #d669

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Choral Echoes from the Church of God in All Ages #302

Choral Harp for Sunday Schools #d174

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #507

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Christian Melodies #342

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Christian Melodies #342

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Christian Praise #82

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d1078

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Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns #S137

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Church Choral-Book #107

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Church Chorals and Choir Studies #53

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Church Harmonies #667

Church Hymn Book . 3rd ed. #d632

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Church Hymn Book #CCXII

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d1186

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #893

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Church Psalmist #632

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Church Psalmist #632

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Church Psalmist #632

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Church Psalmody #H611

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Church Psalmody #611

Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship. 4th ed. #d334

Pages

Exclude 411 pre-1979 instances
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