Justification by Faith, not Works

Representative Text

1 Vain are the hopes the sons of men
upon their own works have built;
their hearts by nature are unclean,
their actions full of guilt.
2 Silent let Jew and Gentile stand,
without one vaunting word;
and, humbled low, confess their guilt
before heav'n's righteous Lord.

3 No hope can on the law be built
of justifying grace;
the law, that shows the sinner's guilt,
condemns hi to his face.
4 Jesus! how glorious is thy grace!
when in thy name we trust,
our faith receives a righteousness
that makes the sinner just.


Source: The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #R46

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 >

Text Information

First Line: Vain are the hopes the sons of men
Title: Justification by Faith, not Works
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Vain are the hopes the sons of men. I. Watts. [Justification by Faith.] Published in his Hymns and Sacred Songs, 1709, Bk. i., No. 94, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed “Justification by Faith, not by Works; or, The Law condemns, Grace justifies, Rom. iii. 19-22." In the Draft of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, it was given unaltered; in that of 1751 it was slightly changed; and in the authorised issue of the Translations and Paraphrases, 1781, No. xli., st. i., ii. were rewritten, but began with the original first line as above; st. iii. was taken from the Draft of 1751; and st. iv. unaltered from Watts. In the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron these alterations are attributed to him. The use of the 1781 form of the text is far more extensive than that of the original.

John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

BEDFORD (Wheal)


NAOMI (Nägeli)

NAOMI was a melody that Lowell Mason (PHH 96) brought to the United States from Europe and arranged as a hymn tune; the arrangement was first published in the periodical Occasional Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1836). Some scholars have attributed the original melody to Johann G. Nageli (PHH 315), but there…

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DOWNS (Mason)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (101 - 136 of 136)

The Good Old Songs #d595

The Good Old Songs #d595

The Hymnal of the Reformed Church in the United States #d685

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The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #R46

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The Lyrica #223

The Modern Harp #d290

The National Baptist Hymn Book #d561

The National Baptist Hymn Book #ad561

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The National Baptist Hymnal #237

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The New Baptist Psalmist and Tune Book #162

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The New Congregational Hymn and Tune Book, for Public, Social and Private Worship #333

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The Otterbein Hymnal #185

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The People's Hymnal #185

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The Presbyterian Book of Praise #120

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The Presbyterian Book of Praise #120

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The Primitive Baptist Hymnal #42

The Primitive Hymns #d617

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The Psalmist #494

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The Psalmist #494

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The Psalmody #1209

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #152

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The Psalms and Hymns #2d

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The Psalms of David #I.XCIV

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The Psalms of David #H2

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #A94

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #376

The Southern Psalmist #d891

The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d938

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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #64

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The Voice of Praise #370

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d453

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Worship in the School Room #138

Pages

Exclude 135 pre-1979 instances
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