POETICAL WORKS

OF

ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

IN SEVEN VOLUMES.

WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

Say, human Seraph! whence that charming force,
That flame, that foul, which animates each line,
And how it runs with fuch a graceful cafe,

Loaded with pond'rous sense? We are here told,
When life its narrow round of years hath roll'd,

What 't is employs the blefs'd, what makes their blifs;
Songs fuch as WATTS's are, and love like his.

Sov'reign of Sacred Verfe! accept the lays

Of a young hard that dares attempt thy praife.---
No vulgar themes thy pious Mufe engage,
No fcenes of luft pollute thy facred page:
You in majeftick numbers mount the skies,

And meet defcending angels as you rife,

Whofe juft applaufes charm the crowded groves,

GROVE.

And Addifon thy tuneful fong approves.

Soft harmony and manly vigour join

To form the beauties of each fprightly line,

For ev'ry grace of ev'ry Mufe is thine.

VOL. III.

2

BRITANNICUS.

EDINBURG:

45 run Apollo Prefs, BY THE MARTINS.
Anno 1782.

POETICAL WORKS

OF

ISAAC WATTS, D. D.

VOL. III.

CONTAINING HIS

HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS.

IN THREE BOOKS.

1. COLLECTED FROM THE SCRIPTURES.
II. COMPOSED ON DIVINE SUBJECTS.

III. PREPARED FOR THE LORD's SUPPER.

Rev, v. 9. And they fung a new fong faying, Thou art worthy, &c. for thou wat lain, and baft redeemed us.

Soliti effent i. e. Chriftiani) convenire, carmenque Chrifto quafi Deo PLIN. in Epift.

dicere.

Hail, heav'n-born Mufe! that with celeftial fiame
And high feraphick numbers durft attempt
To gain thy native fkies.With thought fublime
And high fonorous words thou fweetly fing'it
To thy immortal lyre. Amaz'd we view

The tow'ring height ftupendous, while thou foar'f
Above the reach of vulgar eyes or thought,
Hymning th' Eternal Father.

Seraphick heights I feem to gain

And facred tranfports 'ce!

While WATTS! to thy cgleftial strain

Surpris'd I liften fill.

The gliding ftreams their courte Torbear

When i thy lays repeat,

The bending foreft lends an ear,

The birds their notes forget.

EDINBURG:

STANDEN.

PHILOMELA.

At the Apollo Press, BY THE MARIINS.
Anno 1782.

Leader Family

4-29.32

PREFACE.

อ

WHILE we fing the praises of our God in his church we are employed in that part of worship which of all others is the nearest akin to heaven, and it is pity that this of all others should be performed the worst upon earth. The gofpel brings us nearer to the heavenly state than all the former difpenfations of God amongst men; and in these last days of the gofpel we are brought almoft within fight of the kingdom of our Lord, yet we are very much unacquainted with the fongs of the New Jerufalem, and unpractised in the work of praife. To fee the dull indifference, the negligent and the thoughtless air, that fits upon the faces of a whole affembly while the pfalm is on their lips might tempt even a charitable obferver to suspect the fervency of inward religion, and it is much to be feared that the minds of moft of the worfhippers are abfent or unconcerned. Perhaps the modes of preaching in the best churches ftill want fome degrees of refor

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