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 Publirtied by 
 J. LUMSDEN & SON. 
 
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ISAAC WATTS, D. D. 
 
DIVINE SONGS, 
 
 IN EASY LANGUAGE, 
 
 FOR. THE U8E OF 
 
 GMILJDREM 
 
 By I. WATTS, D. D, 
 
 Matt, xxi. 1 6. 
 
 Out of the mouths of Babes and 
 Sucklings thou haft perfected Praifc, 
 
 GLASGOW : 
 
 Published by 
 J. LUMSDEN & SON. 
 
 1814. 
 
DIVINE SONGS, &c 
 
 A General Song of Praise to God. 
 
 HOW glorious is our heavenly King 
 who reigns above the fky ! 
 
 How (hall a child prefume to fing 
 his dreadful Majefty ? 
 
 2 How great his pow'risnone can tell, 
 
 nor think how large bis grace : 
 Not men below, nor faints that dwell 
 on high before his face. 
 
 3 Not angels that ftand round the 
 can fearch his fecret will; (Lord, 
 
6 Divine Songs 
 
 But they perform Ms heavenly word ; 
 
 and Hn? his praifcs ftil). 
 4 ''hen let me join this holy train, 
 
 and my fi r ft ofP rings bring; 
 TV eternal God will not difdain 
 
 to hear an infant fjng. 
 J My heart refolve.% my tongue obeys, 
 
 and angels Biafi rejoice, 
 To hear their mighty Maker's praife, 
 
 found from a feeble voice. 
 
 Examples of Ear/i/ Piety. 
 What blcft examples do I find 
 
 writ in the word of truth, 
 Of children that began to mind 
 
 religion in their youth I 
 
 2 Jefus who reigns above the fky, 
 
 and keeps the world in awe, 
 Was once a child as young as I, 
 and kept his Father's law.' 
 
 3 Then why ihould I fo long delay, 
 when others learn fo foon ? 
 
 »I would not pafs another day 
 without this work begun, 
 
1 sing the Almighty pow'r of God 
 that made the mountains rife J 
 
 That fpread the flowing ft as abroad., 
 and built the lofty ikies. 
 
 2 1 leer the wiidom that ordainM 
 the fun to rule the day ; 
 
 The moon mines full at his command, 
 and all the ftars ohey. 
 
 3 I fing the. goodnefs of the Lord, 
 that fill'd the earth with food ; 
 
 He iorm'd the creatures with his word, 
 and then pronounc'd than good. 
 
8 Divine Songs 
 
 4 Lord, how thy wonders are difplay'd, 
 
 Where'er I turn mine eye ! 
 If I furvey the ground I tread, 
 or gaze upon the fky. 
 
 5 There's not a plant or flow'r below 
 but makes thy glories known ; 
 
 And clouds arife and tempefts blow, 
 by order from thy throne- 
 
 6 Creatures, as numerous as they be, 
 are fubjeft to thy Care ; 
 
 There's not a place where we can flee, 
 but God is prefent there. 
 
 7 In heav'n he mines with beams of 
 with wrath in hell beneath ; (love, 
 
 'Tis on his earth I ftand or move, 
 and 'tis his air I breathe. 
 
 8 His hand is my perpetual guard, 
 he keeps me with his eye : 
 
 Why then mould I forget the Lord 
 who is for ever nigh ?. 
 
Great God, with wonder and with 
 on all thy works I look ; (prail'e, 
 
 But ft ill thy wifdom,pow'r and grace, 
 ftiine brighter in thy book. 
 
 2 The ftars that in their courfes roll 
 have much inftruction giv'n ; 
 
 But thy good word informs my foul 
 how 1 may climb to heav'n. 
 
 3 The fields provide me food, and 
 the goodnefs of the Lord ; (fhew 
 
10 Divine So gs 
 
 But fruits of life and glory grow 
 in thy mod holy word. 
 
 4 Here are my choice ft treafures hid, 
 heffe my be ft comfort lies \ 
 
 Hc-e my dc fires are Ektisfy d, 
 and hence my hopes artfe. 
 
 5 Lord make me underRand thy law, 
 fhow what my faults have been ; 
 
 Alia from thy go 'pel let me draw 
 pardon foi all my firs* 
 
 6 Here I wordd learn how Chrift has 
 to fa ye my foni from hell : (dy'd 
 
 Not all the books on ear th befide, 
 fnch heavmly wonders telL 
 
 7 Then lei me love my Bible more, 
 and take a fresh delight, 
 
 By day to read thofe wonders o'er, 
 and meditate by night. 
 
for Children. 
 The All-Seeing God, 
 
 II 
 
 Almighty God ihy pk-rciwg eye 
 ftrikes through the tirades of Right, 
 
 And our mod fecret a&ions lie ' 
 all open to thy light. 
 
 2 There's not a fm that we commit, 
 nor wicked word we fay, 
 
 But in thy dreadful book ''us wilt, 
 againft the judgment day. 
 
 3 And mud the crimes that I have 
 be read and publilVd there? (done 
 
12 Divine Songs 
 
 Be all expos'd before the fun, 
 while men and angels hear ? 
 
 4 Lord, at, thy foot afhani'd I 3y* 
 upward 1 dare not look ; 
 
 Pardon my fins before I die, 
 and blot them from thy book. 
 
 5 Remember all the dying pains 
 that my Redeemer felt, 
 
 And let his blood wafh out my flams, 
 and anfvver for my guilt. 
 
 6 O nay I now for ever fear 
 V indulge a finful thought ; 
 
 Since the great God can fee and hear* 
 and writes down every fault. 
 
 Praise to God for Learning to ReaJ* 
 
 The oraifes of my tongue 
 
 I offer to the Lord, 
 That I was taught and learnt fo 
 
 to read his holy word. (young 
 
for Children. 13 
 
 % That I am brought to know 
 
 the danger \ was In, 
 By nature and by pra&ioe too, 
 
 a wretched (lave to fin, 
 3 That 1 am led to fee 
 
 I can do nothing well ; 
 And whitSier (hall a firmer flee 
 
 to fave himfelf from hell ; 
 ^ Dear Lord, this book of thine, 
 
 Informs me where to go, 
 For grace to pardon all my fin, 
 
 and make me holy too, 
 
 5 Here can I read and learn 
 how Chrift the Son of God, 
 
 HLs undertook our great concern, 
 our ranfom coft his blood. 
 
 6 And now he reigns above, 
 he feuds his Spirit down. 
 
 To (hew the wonders of his love, 
 and make his gofpel known. 
 
 7 O may thy Spirit teach, 
 and make my heart receive, 
 
 Thofe truths wbich all thy fervants 
 and all thy faints believe, (preach, 
 
♦ 
 
 14 Divine Songs 
 
 8 Then {hall I praife the Lord 
 in a more chearful ftrain, 
 
 That I was taught to read his word, 
 and have not learnt in vain. 
 
 The Danger of Delay. 
 
 Why fhould I fay 'tis yet too foon 
 To feek for heav'n or think of 
 death ? 
 
 A flow c r may fade befor 'tis noon, 
 A nd I this day may lofe my breath. 
 
 2 If this rebellious heart of mine, 
 Defpife the gracious calls of heav'n, 
 
 I may be hard'ned in my fin, 
 
 And never have repentance giVn. 
 
 3 What if the Lord grow wroth and 
 
 fwear, 
 
 While I refufe to read and pray, 
 That he'll refufe to lend an ear 
 
 To all my groans another day ? 
 W -i i if his dreadful anger burn, 
 While I refufe his offered grace, 
 
f&r Children. 15 
 
 And all his love to fury turn, 
 
 And ftrike me dead upon the place? 
 5 'Tis dang'rous to provoke a God, 
 His pow'r and vengeance none can 
 One ftroke of his almighty rod, (tell; 
 {hall fend young finners quick to 
 hell. 
 
 S Then 'twill for ever be In vain 
 to cry for pardon and for grace ; 
 
 To wifh I had my time again, 
 Or hope to fee my Maker's face. 
 
1® Divine Songs 
 
 Praise for Mercies Spiritual and 
 Temporal. 
 
 Wh ene er I take my waiks abroad* 
 
 ho\*' many poor I fee ? 
 What (hall I render to c'he Lord, 
 
 for'all his gifts to me ? 
 
 2 Not more th^n others I deferve, 
 yet God hath giVn me mo r e ; 
 
 For I have food while others ftarvc, 
 or beg from door to door. 
 
 3 How many children in the ftreet, 
 half naked I behold ? 
 
for Children. 17 
 
 While I am clothed from head to feet* 
 and covered from the cold. 
 
 4 While iome poor wretches fcarce 
 
 can tell 
 
 where they may lay their head ? 
 I have a home wherein to dwell, 
 and reft upon my bed . 
 
 5 While others early learn to fwear, 
 and curie, and lie, and fteal ; 
 
 Lord, I am taught thy name to fear, 
 and do thy holy will. 
 
 6 Are thefe thy favours day by day, 
 to me above the reft ? 
 
 Thenlet me love thee more than they, 
 and ftrive to ferve thee beft. 
 
 Against Evil Company* 
 
 Why (hould I join with thofe in play, 
 in whom I've no delight I 
 
 Who curfe and fwear, but never pray; 
 who call ill names and fight. 
 
18 Divine Songs 
 
 2 From one rude boy that's us'd to 
 ten learn the wicked jelt ; (mock, 
 
 One fickly fheep infe&s the flock, 
 and poifons all the reft, 
 
 3 My- God, I hate to walk or dwell, 
 with finful children here ; 
 
 Then let me not be fent to hell, 
 where none but finners are. 
 
 Against Lying* 
 
 O 'Tis a lovely thing for youth 
 to walk betimes in wifdom's way ; 
 
 To fear a lie, to fpeak the truth, 
 that we may trull to all they fay. 
 
 2 But liars we can never truft, 
 
 tho' they fnould fpeak the thing 
 that's true ; 
 And he that does one fault at firft, 
 and lies to hide it, makes it two. 
 
 3 Then let me alwaya watch my lips, 
 left I be ftruck to death and hell, 
 
 Since God a book of reckoning keeps 
 for every lie that children tell. 
 
for Children. 19 
 
 \Love between Brothers and Sisters. 
 
 Whatever brawls difturb the ftreet, 
 there ftiould be peace at home ; 
 
 Where lifters dwell and brothers 
 quarrels fhould never come (meet, 
 
 2 Birds in their little nefts agree ; 
 and 'tis a (hameful fight, 
 
 When children of one family, 
 fall out, and chide, and fight. 
 
 3 Hard names at firft,and threat'ning 
 that are but nolfy breath, ( words, 
 
 May grow to clubs and naked f words, 
 
 to murder and to death. 
 ^ The devil temots one mother's fon, 
 
 to rage againft another ; 
 So wicked Cain was hurried on, 
 
 till he had kill'd his brother. 
 
 5 The wife will make their anger 
 at leaft before 'tis night ; (cool, 
 
 But in the bofom of a fool, 
 it burns till morning light. 
 
 6 Pardon, O Lord, our childim rage, 
 our little brawls remove ; 
 
20 Divine Songs 
 
 That as we grow to riper age 5 
 our hearts may all be love. 
 
 Against Idleness and Mischief. 
 
 How doth the little bufy bee, 
 
 improve each (hinfng hour, 
 And gather honey all the day 
 
 from ev'ry opening flow'r ? 
 2 How fkilfuJly (he build* her cell ; 
 
 how near fhe fpreans the wax ! 
 And labours hard to ftore it well 
 
 with the fweet food fhe makes. 
 
for Children* 21 
 
 In works of labour or of flkill, 
 
 I would be bufy too ; 
 "For Satan finds fome mifchief ftill, 
 
 for idle hands to do 
 3 In books, or work, or healthful 
 | let my firft years be pall, (play? 
 That I may give for ev'ry day 
 fome eood account at laft. 
 
 O 
 
 Against Cursing and Swearing. 
 
 Angels that high in glory dwell, 
 
 adore thy name almightv God ! 
 x\nd devils tremble down »n hell, 
 beneath the terrors of thy rod. 
 2 And yet how vicked children dare, 
 abufe thy dreadful w dorioup name I 
 And when thyVe angry how they 
 fwear, 
 
 and curfe their fellows and blaf- 
 oheme. 
 
 3 My heart mall be in oam to hear 
 wretches affront the Lord above 5 
 
22 Divine Soups 
 
 o 
 
 'Tis that great God whofe pow'r ] 
 fear ; 
 
 that heav'nly Father whom I love, 
 4 If my companions grow profane, 
 
 PI! leave their friendfkip whenlhear 
 Young finners take thy name in vain, 
 
 and learn to curfe & learn to fwear. 
 
 Solemn Thoughts on God and Death. 
 
 TiiERi is a God that raVns above, 
 Lord of the heavens, and earth, 
 and Teas : 
 I fear his wrath, I afk his love, 
 
 and with my lips I fing his praife. 
 2 There is a law which he hath writ, 
 to teach us all what we mult do: 
 My foul to his commands fuhmit, 
 * for they are holy, juft and true. 
 3 There is a gofpel of rich grace, 
 whence finners all their comforts 
 draw : 
 
 Lord I repent, and feek thy face ; 
 for I have often broke thy law* 
 
I for Children. 23 
 
 i There is an hour when I imift die, 
 nor do I know how foon 'twill come; 
 H thoufand children young as I, \ 
 are call'd by death to hear their 
 
 do Din, 
 
 5 Let me improve the hours I have, 
 before the day of grace is fled ; 
 
 There's no iepentance in the grave, 
 nor pardons offered to the (lead. 
 
 6 Juft as a tree cut down, that fell 
 to north or font h ward there it lies; 
 
 ; So man departs to heav'n or hell, 
 fixt m that ttate wherein he dies. 
 
 Heaven and He//. 
 
 There is beyond the (ky 
 
 a heaven of joy and love; 
 And holy children when they die, 
 
 go to that world above. 
 2 There is a dreadful hell, 
 
 and everlading pains, 
 There finners muft with devils dwell 
 
 in darknefs, fire, and chains, 
 
24 Divine Songs 
 
 3 Can {udb a wretch as I 
 efcape this wicked end ? 
 
 And may 1 hope whene'er I die 
 I {hall to heaven aicend ? 
 
 4 Then I will read and pray, 
 while 1 have life and breath ; 
 
 Left f fhould be cut off to day, 
 and fent t 9 eternal death. 
 
 Againft Quarrelling and Fighting. 
 
 Ll ! dogs delight to bark and bite, 
 for Gad has made them io ; 
 
for Children. 25 
 
 et bears nnd lions growl and fight, 
 For 'tis their irature tQQ> 
 I But children you (hould never let 
 
 fuch an<rry passions rise ; 
 Kour little handi were never made 
 
 to tear each other's eves. [run, 
 & Let love tVou^h all your aftions 
 
 and Ml vour word* be mild; 
 |Live like the blessed Virgin's Son, 
 
 thnt fwe t and lovely child. 
 4 His foul vtaa gentle as a lamb.; 
 
 and as his ftature grew, 
 [He grew in favour boih with man 3 
 
 and God his Fa'het toe, 
 ; 5 Now j rord o nil he reigns above, 
 
 and from his heavenly throne 
 He fees what children dwell in love, 
 and marks them for his own. 
 
 The Child's Complaint. 
 
 Wit (houl i I love my fport fo welb 
 fa cooftant at my play ? 
 
26 Divine Songs 
 
 And lofe the thoughts of heaven anr 
 and then forget to pray ? ( htl^ 
 
 2 What do i read my Bible for, 
 but, Lord to learn thy will ; 
 
 And (hall I daily know thee more, 
 and lefs obey thee ftiil ? 
 
 3 How fenfelefs is my heart and wild! 
 how vain are all my thoughts ! 
 
 Pity the weaknefs of a child, 
 and pardon all my faults. 
 
 4 Make me thy heavenly voice to hear, 
 and let me love to pray ; 
 
 Since Godwill lend ?. gracious can, 
 to what a chiid can fay. 
 
for Children. 27 
 
 A Morning Song. 
 
 Mr God who makes the fun to know 
 
 his proper hour to rife, 
 And to give light to all below, 
 
 doth fend him round the flues. 
 
 2 When from the chambers of the 
 his morning race begins, (eaft 
 
 He never tires nor ftops to reft 3 
 but round the world he ftunes. 
 
 3 So hke the fun I would fulfil 
 the bufinefa of the day j 
 
28 Divine Songs 
 
 Begin my work betimes, and ftill I 
 march on my ruav'nly way. 
 
 4 Give me, Lord, thine early grace, 
 nor let my foul complain, 
 
 That the young morning of my dayJ 
 has all been fpent in vain. J 
 
 An Evening Song* 
 
 And now another day is gone, 
 I'll ling my Maker's praiie ; I 
 
 My comforts every hour make known 
 his providence and grace. 
 
 2 But how my childhood runs td 
 
 wafte, I 
 my fins how great their furn ! 
 Lord give me pardon for the paft, 
 and ftrength for days to eome. I 
 
 3 I lay my body down to fleep, 
 
 let angels guard my head ; I 
 And thro' the hours of "dark nefs keep] 
 
 their watch around my bed 
 With chearful heart, I clofe my eyesJ 
 
 fince thou wilt not remove ; 
 
for Children. 20 
 
 And in the morning let me rife 
 rejoicing in thy love. 
 
 For the Lord's day Morning* 
 
 This is the day when Chrift arofe 
 
 fo early from the dead ; 
 Why ftould I keep my eye-lids clofe, 
 
 and waftc my hours in bed ? 
 2 This is the day when jefus broke 
 
 the bands of death and hell ; 
 And {hail I ft ill wear Satan's yoke, 
 
 and love my fin fo well. 
 To day, with pleafure, Chriftians 
 
 to pray and hear the word : (meet, 
 And i will go with chearful feet, 
 
 to learn thy will, O L,ord. 
 4 I'll leave my fport to read and pray f 
 
 and fo prepare for heaven : 
 O may I love this hlelTed day, 
 
 the be a of all the fever. I 
 
30 Divine So/j^s* 
 
 Fqi* the Lord's day Evening* 
 
 Lord, how delightful 'tis to fee, 
 A whole affembly worfhip thee ! 
 ,At once they fmg, at once they 
 pray, 
 
 They hear of heav'n, ind learn the 
 way ; [go ; 
 
 2 I have been there, and ftill would 
 ' fis like a little heav'n below ; 
 Not all my pleaiure's and my play 
 Shall tempt me to forget this day. 
 
 3 O write upon my mem'ry, Lord, 
 The texts and doctrines of thy word ; 
 That I may break thy laws no more, 
 But love thee better than before. 
 
 4 With thoughts of Chrxft,and things 
 
 ivme, 
 
 Fill up this foolifh heart of mine ; 
 That hoping pardon through his 
 blood, 
 
 I may ly dewn and wake with Godo 
 
Obedience to Farcnt±\ 
 Let children that would fear the 
 hear what their teachers fay; (Lord, 
 With reverence meet their parents 
 and with delight obey. (word, 
 
 2 Have you not heard what dreadful 
 arethreaten'dby the Lord, (plagues 
 
 To him that breaks his father's law, 
 or mock's his mother's word ? 
 
 3 What heavy guilt upon him lies ! 
 how curfed is his name ! 
 
 The ravens fha!l pick out Ins eyes, 
 and eagles eat the lame. 
 
 4 But those who worship God, and 
 their parents honour due, (gi ve 
 
 Here on this earth they long (hall 
 and live hereacter too. (live, 
 
 Our Saviour's Golden Ru!e% 
 Be you to others kind and true, 
 As you'd have others be to you ; 
 And neither fay nor do to men, 
 Whatever you would not take agaia. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 3 3 n (o ^