Isaac Watts wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” in preparation for a communion service in 1707. Originally, the hymn was named “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ,” following the practice of the day to summarize a hymn’s theme in the title. It was first published in […]
Isaac Watts
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The lyrics of the hymn “Joy to the World” are by English writer Isaac Watts, inspired by Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18. The hymn was originally printed in 1719 in Watts’ collection The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and […]
Isaac Watts wrote “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” as a paraphrase of Psalm 90. His desire to write the hymn was born, in part, out of his dissatisfaction with the church music of his day. At 20 years of age, he complained that the metrical psalms they had to sing […]
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,And did my Sovereign die!Would He devote that sacred headFor sinners such as I? At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,And the burden of my heart rolled away,It was there by faith I received my sight –And now I am […]
When I survey the wondrous crossOn which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss,And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boastSave in the death of Christ, my God!All the vain things that charm me most,I sacrifice them through His blood. […]
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King!Let every heart prepare Him room,And heav’n and nature sing,And heav’n and nature sing,And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!Let men their songs employ,While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plainsRepeat the […]
O God, our Help in ages past,Our Hope for years to come,Our Shelter from the stormy blast,And our eternal Home. Under the shadow of Thy throneThy saints have dwelt secure;Sufficient is Thine arm alone,And our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood,Or earth received its frame,From everlasting Thou […]