Children, to your Creator, God

Children, to your Creator, God

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ST. PAUL (Chalmers' Collection)
Published in 26 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

I Children to your creator God,
Your early honors pay,
While vanity and youthful blood
Would tempt your thoughts astray.

II The memory of his mighty name,
Demands your first regard;
Nor dare indulge a meaner flame,
'Till you have lov'd the Lord.

III Be wise, and make his favour sure,
Before the mournful days,
When youth and mirth are known no more,
And life and strength decays.

IV No more the blessings of a feast
Shall relish on the tongue.
The heavy ear forgets the taste
And pleasure of a song.

V Old age with all her dismal train,
Invades your golden years
With sighs and groans, and raging pain,
And death that never spares.

VI What will you do when light departs,
And leaves your withering eyes,
Without one beam to chear your hearts,
From the superior skies?

VII How will you meet God's frowning brow,
Or stand before his seat,
While nature's old supporters bow,
Nor bear their tott'ring weight?

VIII Can you expect your feeble arms
Shall make a strong defence,
When death with terrible alarms,
Summons the pris'ner hence?

IX The silver bands of nature burst;
And let the building fall;
The flesh goes down to mix with dust,
Its vile original.

X Laden with guilt, (a heavy load)
Uncleans'd and unforgiv'n,
The soul returns t' an angry God,
To be shut out from heav'n.



Source: Select Psalms and Hymns for the use of Mr. Adgate's pupils: and proper for all singing-schools #XVI

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: Children, to your Creator, God
Author: Isaac Watts
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #10162
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

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The Cyber Hymnal #10162

Include 25 pre-1979 instances
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