Scituate (William Billings)

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• (Posted 2014-12-24)  CPDL #33831: 

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-12-24).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 32 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Oval note edition. I chose lyrics from Isaac Watts, 1709, Hymn 146 of Book 2.

• (Posted 2014-12-24)  CPDL #33832: 

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-12-24).   Score information: 7 x 10 in (landscape), 1 page, 59 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape). I chose lyrics from Isaac Watts, 1709, Hymn 146 of Book 2.

General Information

Title: Scituate
Composer: William Billings
Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: 88. 88 (L.M.)

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1770

Description: Tune published in The New-England Psalm-Singer, 1770, p. 9, without any indication of lyrics, meter L. M. (88.88). Kroeger (1981) chose Isaac Watts' Hymn 116 of Book 1, which begins Thus saith the first, the great command.

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Original text and translations

English text Book 2, Hymn 146 Man has a soul of vast desires, He burns within with restless fires; Tossed to and fro, his passions fly From vanity to vanity. In vain on earth we hope to find Some solid good to fill the mind; We try new pleasures, but we feel The inward thirst and torment still. So when a raging fever burns, We shift from side to side by turns, And 'tis a poor relief we gain, To change the place, but keep the pain. Great God, subdue this vicious thirst, This love to vanity and dust; Cure the vile fever of the mind, And feed our souls with joys refined.

Book 1, Hymn 116 Thus saith the first, the great command, "Let all thy inward powers unite To love thy Maker and thy God With utmost vigor and delight. "Then shall thy neighbor next in place Share thine affections and esteem, And let thy kindness to thyself Measure and rule thy love to him." This is the sense that Moses spoke, This did the prophets preach and prove; For want of this the law is broke, And the whole law's fulfilled by love. But O! how base our passions are! How cold our charity and zeal! Lord, fill our souls with heav'nly fire, Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.