Religion

Hymn III.17: Incomparable food; or, The flesh and blood of Christ

by Isaac Watts 1674–1748

From Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book III (1709)

Religion

We sing th' amazing deeds
That grace divine performs;
Th eternal God comes down and bleeds
To nourish dying worms.

This soul-reviving wine,
Dear Savior, is thy blood;
We thank that sacred flesh of thine
For this immortal food.

The banquet that we eat
Is made of heav'nly things;
Earth has no dainties half so sweet
As our Redeemer brings.

In vain had Adam sought
And searched his garden round;
For there was no such blessed fruit
In all that happy ground.

Th' angelic host above
Can never taste this food;
They feast upon their Maker's love,
But not a Savior's blood.

On us th' almighty Lord
Bestows this matchless grace,
And meets us with some cheering word,
With pleasure in his face.

Come, all ye drooping saints,
And banquet with the King;
This wine will drown your sad complaints,
And tune your voice to sing-

Salvation to the name
Of our adored Christ!
Through the wide earth his grace proclaim,
His glory in the high'st.

MLA

Watts, Isaac. “Hymn III.17: Incomparable food; or, The flesh and blood of Christ.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/692/.

Chicago

Watts, Isaac. “Hymn III.17: Incomparable food; or, The flesh and blood of Christ.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/692/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Isaac Watts