Dead to Sin by the Cross of Christ

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Shall we go on to sin

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: AYLESBURY (Chetham)
Published in 94 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Shall we go on to sin,
Because thy grace abounds?
Or crucify the Lord again,
And open all his wounds?

2 Forbid it, mighty God!
Nor let it e’er be said
That we, whose sins are crucified,
Should raise them from the dead.

3 We will be slaves no more,
Since Christ has made us free;
Has nailed our tyrants to his cross,
And brought us liberty.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #210

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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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First Line:	Shall we go on to sin
Title:	Dead to Sin by the Cross of Christ
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	6.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Shall we go on to sin? I. Watts. [Rom. vi. 1-6.] First published in his Hymns, &c, 1709, Book i., No. 106, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Death to sin by the Cross of Christ." Its use is limited. Original text in modern editions of Watts. In the Draft of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 3745, it was given as "And shall we then go on to sin?" the alterations being confined to the change of metre. In adopting the hymn for the authorized issue of the Translations, in 1781, No. xlvii. (Rom. vi. 1-7), the first line only of the 1745 alterations was retained, the whole hymn being rewritten in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. This recast has very little indeed of Watts, being to a great extent new. This form, according to the markings of the eldest daughter of W. Cameron, was by Cameron. It is given in several modern collections.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Notes

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Tune

Frequency of use

AYLESBURY (Chetham)

Also called: WIRKSWORTH WIRKSWORTH was first published in John Chetham's collection A Book of Psalmody (1718) and gained its present shape in James Green's Book of Psalm Tunes (1724). Set in minor tonality, WIRKSWORTH has a folk-like charm. The tune's name derives from the town Wirksworth in Derbysh…

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