Our Days, Alas! Our Mortal Days
This sermon emphasizes the shortness and wretchedness of human life, the importance of preparation for eternity through Heavenly Love, and the glory of Jesus Christ's birth.
Isaac Watts reflects on the brevity and challenges of mortal life, acknowledging the presence of pain and sin throughout our limited days on earth. He urges for a quick passage through the struggles of life, longing for Heavenly Love to prepare the soul for eternal salvation and glory. Watts then shifts the focus to the miraculous birth of Jesus, emphasizing the divine nature of the young Redeemer and the recognition of his significance by various individuals, including the eastern sages, Simeon, and Anna. Despite the blasphemy and scorn from others, believers are called to adore the eternal God who humbly entered the world as a child.
Text
Our days, alas! our mortal days
Are short and wretched too;
Evil and few, the patriarch says,
And well the patriarch knew.
'Tis but at best a narrow bound
That Heaven allows to men,
And pains and sins run through the round
Of threescore years and ten.
Well, if ye must be sad and few,
Run on, my days, in haste.
Moments of sin, and months of woe,
Ye cannot fly too fast.
Let Heavenly Love prepare my soul
And call her to the skies,
Where years of long salvation roll,
And glory never dies.
The King of Glory sends his Son
To make his entrance on this earth;
Behold the midnight bright as noon,
And heavenly hosts declare his birth.
About the young Redeemer's head
What wonders and what glories meet!
An unknown star arose, and led
The eastern sages to his feet.
Simeon and Anna both conspire
The infant-Saviour to proclaim;
Inward they felt the sacred fire,
And blessed the babe, and owned his name.
Let Jews and Greeks blaspheme aloud,
And treat the holy child with scorn;
Our souls adore the eternal God
Who condescended to be born.
Sermon Outline
- The Shortness and Wretchedness of Human Life
- The Importance of Preparation for Eternity
- The Birth and Glory of Jesus Christ
- The King of Glory sends his Son to earth
- Behold the midnight bright as noon
- Heavenly hosts declare his birth
Key Quotes
“Our days, alas! our mortal days Are short and wretched too;” — Isaac Watts
“Let Heavenly Love prepare my soul And call her to the skies,” — Isaac Watts
“The King of Glory sends his Son To make his entrance on this earth;” — Isaac Watts
Application Points
- We should let Heavenly Love prepare our souls for eternity.
- We should call out to the skies where salvation rolls.
- We should adore the eternal God who condescended to be born as Jesus Christ.