As long as life its term extends

How long, eternal God, how long

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 13 hymnals

Representative Text

As long as life its term extends,
Hope’s blest dominion never ends;
For while the lamp holds on to burn,
The greatest sinner may return.

Life is the season God both giv’n
To fly from hell, and rise to heav’n;
That day of grace fleets fast away,
And none its rapid course can stay.

The living know that they must die;
But all the dead forgotten lie:
Their mem’ry and their name is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.

Their hatred and their love is lost,
Their envy buried in the dust;
They have no share in all that’s done
Beneath the circuit of the sun.

Then what thy thoughts design to do,
Still let thy bands with might pursue;
Since no device nor work is found,
Nor wisdom underneath the ground.

In the cold grave, to which we haste,
There are no acts of pardon past:
But fixed the doom of all remains,
And everlasting silence reigns.

Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases

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: How long, eternal God, how long
Title: As long as life its term extends
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship approved by the Presbytery of Charleston #d10

Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God #d319

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #P74.2

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #P74.2

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Psalms and Hymns, for the Use of the German Reformed Church, in the United States of America. (2nd ed.) #P74b

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Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases #R15

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The Psalms and Hymns #P74b

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