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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 (201 - 300 of 419)
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New Hymn and Tune book #193c

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New Hymn and Tune Book #193c

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New Life #154

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New Union Hymns #310

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #238

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #366

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One Hundred Progressive Hymns #78

Original Sacred Harp Denson Revision 1987 Standard Melodies #30b

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Our New Hymnal #238

Our Service of Song #d295

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Parish Hymns #547

Parish Psalmody #d988

Perennial Songs #d240

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Plymouth Collection #a1084

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #1084

Pocket Hymn Book, Designed as a Constant Companion. 25th ed. #d279

Prayers and Hymns for the Church and the Home #d817

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Precious Gems No. 1 #214

Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune book #250

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Primitive Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #250

Primitive Baptist Hymn Book for All Lovers of Sacred Song. 3rd ed. #d215

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d945

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #1171

Psalms and Hymns for Public worship, Containing All the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts ... #d1155

Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God #d938

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.31

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #147

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #H482

Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #d488

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Psalms and Hymns #658

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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected. (14th stereotype ed.) #211

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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected. (7th ed.) #S391

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Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #B211

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Public, Parlour, and Cottage Hymns. A New Selection #I.92

Requiem #d37

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Sacred Hymns and Tunes #361

Sacred Melodies #d290

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Sacred Poetry #297

Sacred Songs and Solos #624

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Sacred Songs for Family and Social Worship #303

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Sacred Songs for Family and Social Worship #345

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Sacred Tunes and Hymns #78

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Sacred Tunes and Hymns #88

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Seamen's Hymns #632

Seamen's Hymns and Devotional Assistant #d710

Select Hymns #d214

Social Hymn and Tune Book #d448

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Social Hymn Book #436

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Social Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #430

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Social Psalmist #632

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Songs for Social and Public Worship #11

Songs for the New Life #d732

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Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #1184

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #1184

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #1184

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Songs for the Sanctuary #1184

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Songs for the Sanctuary #1184

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Songs for the Sanctuary #1184

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Songs for the Service of Prayer #411

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Songs of Devotion for Christian Assocations #332

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Songs of Joy and Gladness with Supplement #318

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Songs of the Church #759

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Songs of Zion Enlarged #403

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Songs of Zion #197

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Temple Melodies #89

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The Advent Harp; designed for believers in the speedy coming of Christ #155a

The African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymn Book #d479

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The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #492

The American Hymn and Tune Book #d909

The American Repository of Sacred Music #d178

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The American Sunday-School Hymn-Book #302

The Army Hymn Book #d86

The Army Hymn Book. 2nd ed. #d117

The Baptist Harmony #d447

The Baptist Harmony #d461

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The Baptist Harp #117

The Baptist Hymn and Praise Book #d554

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #931

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #323.931

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #1084

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The Baptist Hymn Book #931

The Baptist Hymn Book, in Two Parts #d637

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The Baptist Hymn Book #1225

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The Baptist Hymnal, for Use in the Church and Home #620

The Baptist Hymnal #620

The Baptist Hymnal. Shaped notes ed. #d674

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The Baptist Praise Book #1103

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The Baptist Psalmody #1186

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The Baptist Standard Hymnal #588

The Book of Praise #d914

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The Book of Worship #441

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The Brethren Hymnal #506

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The Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs #480

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The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #675

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The Chapel hymn book, with tunes #687

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The Choice #S175

Pages

Exclude 411 pre-1979 instances
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