The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. Containing, besides his Sermons, and Essays on miscellaneous subjects, several additional pieces, Selected from his Manuscripts by the Rev. Dr. Jennings, and the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, in 1753: to which are prefixed, memoirs of the life of the author, compiled by the Rev. George Burder. In six volumes |
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PSALM 51. Second Part. (L. M.) Original and actual Sin confessed.
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 | The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. |  |
PSALM 51. Second Part. (L. M.) Original and actual Sin confessed.
I
Lord, I am vile, conceiv'd in sin;And born unholy and unclean;
Sprung from the man whose guilty fall
Corrupts the race, and taints us all.
II
Soon as we draw our infant breath,The seeds of sin grow up for death;
Thy law demands a perfect heart,
But we're defil'd in every part.
III
Great God, create my heart anew,And form my spirit pure and true:
O make me wise betimes to spy
My danger and my remedy.
IV
Behold I fall before thy face;My only refuge is thy grace:
No outward forms can make me clean;
The leprosy lies deep within.
V
No bleeding bird, nor bleeding beast,Nor hyssop branch, nor sprinkling priest,
Nor running brook, nor flood, nor sea,
Can wash the dismal stain away.
VI
Jesus, my God, thy blood aloneHath power sufficient to atone;
Thy blood can make me white as snow;
No jewish types could cleanse me so.
VII
While guilt disturbs and breaks my peace,Nor flesh nor soul hath rest or ease;
Lord, let me hear thy pardoning voice,
And make my broken bones rejoice.
Since the psalmist seems to refer to the branch of hyssop, sprinkling the blood of the bird, and the running water, Lev. xiv. 51. I have here enlarged upon the insufficiency of all those rites, for the cleansing of sin, which is the leprosy of the soul.
| The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. | |