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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
Watts, Isaac (1674-1748)

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VOL. IV.
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HORÆ LYRICÆ.
  
ON READING DR. WATTS'S POEMS SACRED TO PIETY AND DEVOTION.
  
TO DR. WATTS, On his Poems sacred to Devotion.
  
TO DR. WATTS, On reading his Horæ Lyricæ.
  
TO DR. WATTS, On his Divine Poems.
  
TO DR. WATTS, On the Fifth Edition of his Horæ Lyricæ.
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BOOK I. SACRED TO DEVOTION AND PIETY.
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BOOK II. SACRED TO VIRTUE, HONOUR AND FRIENDSHIP.
  
TO HER MAJESTY.
  
PALINODIA.
  
TO JOHN LOCKE, ESQ.
  
TO JOHN SHUTE, ESQ. (NOW LORD BARRINGTON.)
  
TO MR. WILLIAM NOKES.
  
TO NATHANIEL GOULD, ESQ. (NOW SIR NATHANIEL GOULD.)
  
TO DR. THOMAS GIBSON.
  
False Greatness.
  
TO SARISSA.
  
TO MR. T. BRADBURY.
  
Strict Religion very rare.
  
TO MR. C. AND S. FLEETWOOD.
  
TO WILLIAM BLACKBOURN, ESQ.
  
True Monarchy.
  
True Courage.
  
TO THE MUCH HONOURED MR. THOMAS ROWE, THE DIRECTOR OF MY YOUTHFUL STUDIES.
  
TO THE REV. MR. BENONI ROWE.
  
TO THE REV. MR. JOHN HOWE.
  
The Disappointment and Relief.
  
The Hero's School of Morality.
  
Freedom.
  
On Mr. Locke's Annotations upon several Parts of the New Testament, left behind him at his Death.
  
True Riches.
  
The Adventurous Muse.
  
TO MR. NICHOLAS CLARK.
  
The Afflictions of a Friend.
  
The Reverse; or, the Comforts of a Friend.
  
TO THE RIGHT HON. JOHN LORD CUTS, At the Siege of Namur.
  
Burning several Poems of Ovid, Martial, Oldham, Dryden, &c.
  
TO MRS. B. BENDISH.
  
Few Happy Matches.
  
TO DAVID POLHILL, ESQ.
  
The celebrated Victory of the Poles over Osman, the Turkish Emperor, in the Dacian Battle.
  
The Indian Philosopher.
  
The happy Man.
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TO DAVID POLHILL, ESQ.
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PART I.
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PART II.
  
To the Discontented and Unquiet.
  
TO JOHN HARTOPP, ESQ. (NOW SIR JOHN HARTOPP, BART.)
  
TO THOMAS GUNSTON, ESQ.
  
TO JOHN HARTOPP, ESQ. (NOW SIR JOHN HARTOPP, BART.)
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TO MITIO, MY FRIEND.
  
ON THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, Just after Mr. Dryden. 1700.
  
AN EPIGRAM OF MARTIAL TO CIRINUS.
  
TO MRS. SINGER. (NOW MRS. ROWE.)
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BOOK III. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD.
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RELIQUIÆ JUVENILES.
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REMNANTS OF TIME EMPLOYED, IN PROSE AND VERSE;

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PSALM 35. v. 1–9. First Part. (C. M.) Prayer and Faith of persecuted Saints; or, Imprecations mixed with Charity.

I

Now plead my cause, almighty God,
With all the sons of strife;
And fight against the men of blood
Who fight against my life.

II

Draw out thy spear and stop their way,
Lift thine avenging rod;
But to my soul in mercy say,
‘I am thy Saviour God.’

III

They plant their snares to catch my feet,
And nets of mischief spread;
Plunge the destroyers in the pit
That their own hands have made.

IV

Let fogs and darkness hide their way,
And slippery be their ground;
Thy wrath shall make their lives a prey,
And all their rage confound.

V

They fly like chaff before the wind,
Before thine angry breath;
The angel of the Lord behind
Pursues them down to death.

VI

They love the road that leads to hell;
Then let the rebels die,
Whose malice is implacable
Against the Lord on high.
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VII

But if thou hast a chosen few
Amongst that impious race,
Divide them from the bloody crew
By thy surprising grace.

VIII

Then will I raise my tuneful voice
To make thy wonders known;
In their salvation I'll rejoice,
And bless thee for my own.
 

Among the imprecations that David uses against his adversaries in this psalm, I have endeavoured to turn the edge of some of them away from personal enemies against the implacable enemies of God in the world.

Agreeably to the spirit of the gospel, I have here further molified these imprecations by a charitable distinction and petition for their souls; which spirit of evangelic charity appears so conspicuous in the 12, 13, and 14th verses of the psalm, that I could not forbear to form them into a short distinct hymn, enlarging on that glorious character of a christian, love to our enemies, commanded so particularly, and so divinely exemplified by Christ himself.

Agreeably to the spirit of the gospel, I have here further molified these imprecations by a charitable distinction and petition for their souls; which spirit of evangelic charity appears so conspicuous in the 12, 13, and 14th verses of the psalm, that I could not forbear to form them into a short distinct hymn, enlarging on that glorious character of a christian, love to our enemies, commanded so particularly, and so divinely exemplified by Christ himself.

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