POETICAL WORKS OF ISAAC WATTS, D.D. IN SEVEN VOLUMES. WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. Say, human Seraph! whence that charming force, Loaded with pond'rous sense? We are here told, What 't is employs the blefs'd, what makes their blifs; Sov'reign of Sacred Verfe! accept the lays Of a young hard that dares attempt thy praife.--- And meet defcending angels as you rife, Whofe juft applaufes charm the crowded groves, GROVE. And Addifon thy tuneful fong approves. Soft harmony and manly vigour join To form the beauties of each fprightly line, For ev'ry grace of ev'ry Mufe is thine. VOL. III. 2 BRITANNICUS. EDINBURG: 45 run Apollo Prefs, BY THE MARTINS. POETICAL WORKS OF ISAAC WATTS, D. D. VOL. III. CONTAINING HIS HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS. IN THREE BOOKS. 1. COLLECTED FROM THE SCRIPTURES. III. PREPARED FOR THE LORD's SUPPER. Rev, v. 9. And they fung a new fong faying, Thou art worthy, &c. for thou wat lain, and baft redeemed us. Soliti effent i. e. Chriftiani) convenire, carmenque Chrifto quafi Deo PLIN. in Epift. dicere. Hail, heav'n-born Mufe! that with celeftial fiame The tow'ring height ftupendous, while thou foar'f Seraphick heights I feem to gain And facred tranfports 'ce! While WATTS! to thy cgleftial strain Surpris'd I liften fill. The gliding ftreams their courte Torbear When i thy lays repeat, The bending foreft lends an ear, The birds their notes forget. EDINBURG: STANDEN. PHILOMELA. At the Apollo Press, BY THE MARIINS. Leader Family 4-29.32 PREFACE. อ WHILE we fing the praises of our God in his church we are employed in that part of worship which of all others is the nearest akin to heaven, and it is pity that this of all others should be performed the worst upon earth. The gofpel brings us nearer to the heavenly state than all the former difpenfations of God amongst men; and in these last days of the gofpel we are brought almoft within fight of the kingdom of our Lord, yet we are very much unacquainted with the fongs of the New Jerufalem, and unpractised in the work of praife. To fee the dull indifference, the negligent and the thoughtless air, that fits upon the faces of a whole affembly while the pfalm is on their lips might tempt even a charitable obferver to suspect the fervency of inward religion, and it is much to be feared that the minds of moft of the worfhippers are abfent or unconcerned. Perhaps the modes of preaching in the best churches ftill want fome degrees of refor A iij |