1 The Lord, the Judge, his churches warns:
Let hypocrites attend and fear,
Who place their hope in rites and forms,
But make not faith nor love their care.
2 They dare rehearse his awful name
With lips of falsehood and deceit;
A friend or brother they defame,
And sooth and flatter those they hate.
3 They watch to do their neighbors wrong,
Yet dare to seek their Maker's face;
They take his cov'nant on their tongue,
But break his laws, abuse his grace.
4 And, while his judgments long delay,
They grow secure and sin the more;
They think he sleeps, as well as they,
And put far off the evil hour.
5 O dreadful hour, when God draws near,
And sets their crimes before their eyes!
Anguish their guilty souls shall tear,
And no deliv'rer dare to rise.
Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #402
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 >
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