Man Mortal, and God Eternal

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Through every age, eternal God

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 163 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Three Hymn Arrangements for Brass & Orga…

Choral
	Through Every Age, Eternal God

Instrumental
	The Cross (A Hymn Medley for Orchestra)

Representative Text

1 Through every age, eternal God,
Thou art our rest, our safe abode:
High was Thy throne ere heaven was made;
Or earth Thy humble footstool laid.

2 Long hadst Thou reigned ere time began,
Or dust was fashioned into man:
And long Thy kingdom shall endure.
When earth and time shall be no more.

3 But man, weak man, is born to die,
Made up of guilt and vanity;
Thy dreadful sentence, Lord, was just--
"Return, ye sinners, to your dust."

4 Death, like an overflowing stream.
Sweeps us away; our life's a dream--
An empty tale--a morning flower.
Cut down and withered in an hour.

5 Teach us, O Lord, how frail is man;
And kindly lengthen out our spar,
Till a wise care of piety
Fit us to die and dwell with Thee.

Source: The Plymouth Sabbath School Collection of Hymns and Tunes #275

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Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

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