The voices / 38 fragments

Isaac Watts

1674 AD — 1748 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

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Historical source references

Divine Songs
A Cradle Hymn
The Sluggard
Psalm v
Psalm cxvii
Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Horæ Lyricæ
Doxology
Page 689 · printed citation: Isaac Watts · subject: WORLD
Printed page 767 · quotation 10 · Isaac Watts · Sun, Moon and Stars, Praise Ye the Lord
Complete signed selection 552; printed byline: Isaac Watts; New York: Dodge Publishing Company, 1901

Archive entries

01Undated

Thrice happy world, where gilded toys No more disturb our thoughts, no more pollute our joys! There light or shade no more succeed by turns, There reigns the eternal sun with an unclouded ray, There all is calm as night, yet all immortal day, And truth for ever shines, and love for ever burns.

Isaac Watts / quote

02Undated

Fairest of all the lights above, Thou sun, whose beams adorn the spheres, And with unwearied swiftness move, To form the circles of our years.

Isaac Watts / quote

03Undated

Let not soft slumber close your eyes, Before you’ve recollected thrice The train of action through the day. Where have my feet chose out their way? What have I learnt, where’er I’ve been, From all I’ve heard, from all I’ve seen? What know I more that’s worth the knowing? What have I done that’s worth the doing?

Isaac Watts / quote

04Undated

Once a day, especially in the early years of life and study, call yourselves to an account what new ideas, what new proposition or truth you have gained, what further confirmation of known truths, and what advances you have made in any part of knowledge.

Isaac Watts / quote

05Undated

How shall polluted mortals dare To sing Thy glory or Thy grace Beneath Thy feet we lie afar And see but shadows of Thy face.

Isaac Watts / quote

06Undated

Acquaint yourself with your own ignorance.

Isaac Watts / quote

07Undated

Once a day....call yourselves to an account what new ideas, what new proposition or truth you have gained, what further confirmation of known truths, and what advances you have made in any part of knowledge.

Isaac Watts / quote

08Undated

Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks.

Isaac Watts / quote

09Undated

One glance of Thine creates a day.

Isaac Watts / quote

10Undated

To be angry about trifles is mean and childish to rage and be furious is brutish and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious is manly and divine.

Isaac Watts / quote

11Undated

Let me be dressed fine as I will Flies worms and flowers exceed me still.

Isaac Watts / quote

12Undated

Though reading and conversation may furnish us with many ideas of men and things our own meditation must form our judgement.

Isaac Watts / quote

13Undated

Hush my dear lie still and slumber! Holy angels guard they bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

Isaac Watts / quote

14Undated

I would not change my blest estate for all the world calls good or great.

Isaac Watts / quote