Isaac Watts Quotes
1674 - 1748
More Isaac Watts Quotes
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Isaac Watts— 1719 The Psalms of David Imitated, Psalm 72.
Our God, our help in ages past Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast And our eternal home.
Isaac Watts— The Psalms of David Imitated, Psalm 90 (1719). In 1738, John Wesley substituted 'O God' for 'Our God').
Were I so tall to reach the pole,Or grasp the ocean with my span,I must be measured by my soul;The mind's the standard of the man.
Isaac Watts— "False Greatness" in Horae Lyricae Book II (1706). Compare: "I do not distinguish by the eye, but by the mind, which is the proper judge of the man", Seneca, On a Happy Life (L'Estrange's Abstract), chap. i; "It is the mind that makes the man, and our vigour is in our immortal soul", Ovid, Metamorphoses, xiii.
Lord, in the morning thou shalt hearMy voice ascending high.
Isaac Watts— Psalm 5.
Strange that a harp of thousand stringsShould keep in tune so long!
Isaac Watts— Hymn 19, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II.
Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound.
Isaac Watts— Hymn 63, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II.
The tall, the wise, the reverend headMust lie as low as ours.
Isaac Watts— Hymn 63, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II.
When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I'll bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes.
Isaac Watts— Hymn 65 Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II.
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy.
Isaac Watts— "Joy to the World", Stanza 2.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make His blessings flowFar as the curse is found.
Isaac Watts— Stanza 3.
He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Isaac Watts— Stanza 4.
There's not a place where we can flee,But God is present there.
Isaac Watts— Song 2: "Praise for Creation and Providence".
Whene'er I take my walks abroad,How many poor I see!What shall I render to my GodFor all his gifts to me?
Isaac Watts— Song 4.
And he that does one fault at firstAnd lies to hide it, makes it two.
Isaac Watts— Song 15. Compare: "Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most, grows two thereby", George Herbert, The Church Porch.
...but every lyarMust have his portion in the lakeThat burns with brimstone and with fire.
Isaac Watts— Song 15: "Against Lying".
Let dogs delight to bark and bite,For God hath made them so;Let bears and lions growl and fight,For 't is their nature too.
Isaac Watts— Song 16: "Against Quarrelling and Fighting".
But, children, you should never letSuch angry passions rise;Your little hands were never madeTo tear each other's eyes.
Isaac Watts— Song 16: "Against Quarrelling and Fighting".
Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber,Holy angels guard thy bed!Heavenly blessings without numberGently falling on thy head.
Isaac Watts— Song 35: "A Cradle Hymn".
I believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them.
Isaac Watts— P. 261. (Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895))
Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber! Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Cradle Hymn.
Whene'er I take my walks abroad, How many poor I see!
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Praise for Mercies.
But children you should never let Such angry passions rise, Your little hands were never made To tear each other's eyes.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Against Quarrelling.
When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I'll bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, hymn 65.
But, children, you should never let Such angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other's eyes.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Divine Songs, Song XVI.
And while the lamp holds out to burn, The vilest sinner may return.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, Hymn 88.
Were I so tall to reach the pole, Or grasp the ocean with my span, I must be measur'd by my soul: The mind's the standard of the man.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, False Greatness, Horæ Lyricæ, Book II.
Strange that a harp of thousand strings should keep in tune so long.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II. 19.
It is the mind that makes the man, and our vigour is in our immortal soul.
Isaac Watts— XIII. Comparable to: "I must be measured by my soul: The mind's the standard of the man", Isaac Watts, Horæ Lyricæ, Book ii, "False Greatness".
Lord, I ascribe it to Thy grace, And not to chance, as others do, That I was born of Christian race.
Isaac Watts— Isaac Watts, Divine Songs for Children (Jane Taylor's lines are popularly ascribed to Watts).
