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 |
IV. |
The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. | ||
A Song to creating Wisdom.
PART I.
I
Eternal Wisdom, thee we praise,Thee the creation sings:
With thy loud name, rocks, hills, and seas,
And heav'n's high palace rings.
II
Place me on the bright wings of dayTo travel with the sun;
With what amaze shall I survey
The wonders thou hast done?
III
Thy hand how wide it spread the sky!How glorious to behold?
Ting'd with a blue of heav'nly dye,
And starr'd with sparkling gold.
IV
There thou hast bid the globes of lightTheir endless circles run;
There the pale planet rules the night,
And day obeys the sun.
PART II.
V
Downward I turn my wondering eyesOn clouds and storms below,
Those under-regions of the skies
Thy num'rous glories show.
436
VI
The noisy winds stand ready thereThy orders to obey,
With sounding wings they sweep the air,
To make thy chariot way.
VII
There, like a trumpet, loud and strong,Thy thunder shakes our coast:
While the red lightnings wave along,
The banners of thine host.
VIII
On the thin air, without a prop,Hang fruitful show'rs around:
At thy command they sink, and drop
Their fatness on the ground.
PART III.
IX
Now to the earth I bend my song,And cast my eyes abroad,
Glancing the British isles along;
Blest isles, confess your God.
X
How did his wondrous skill arrayYour fields in charming green;
A thousand herbs his art display,
A thousand flowers between!
XI
Tall oaks for future navies grow,Fair Albion's best defence,
While corn and vines rejoice below,
Those luxuries of sense.
XII
The bleating flocks his pasture feeds:And herds of larger size,
That bellow thro' the Lindian meads,
His bounteous hand supplies.
PART IV.
XIII
We see the Thames caress the shores,He guides her silver flood:
While angry Severn swells and roars,
Yet hears her ruler God.
XIV
The rolling mountains of the deepObserve his strong command;
His breath can raise the billows steep,
Or sink them to the sand.
XV
Amidst thy wat'ry kingdoms, Lord,The finny nations play,
And scaly monsters, at thy word,
Rush thro' the northern sea.
PART V.
XVI
Thy glories blaze all nature round,And strike the gazing sight,
Thro' skies, and seas, and solid ground,
With terror and delight.
XVII
Infinite strength, and equal skill,Shine thro' the worlds abroad,
Our souls with vast amazement fill,
And speak the builder God.
XVIII
But the sweet beauties of thy graceOur softer passions move;
Pity divine in Jesus' face
We see, adore, and love.
The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. | ||