Before the hills in order stood

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Before the hills in order stood

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: THOU ART GOD
Published in 10 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.

2 A thousand ages, in thy sight,
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night,
Before the rising sun.

3 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

4 Like flowery fields the nations stand,
Pleased with the morning light:
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘t is night.

5 Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

Source: Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a644

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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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