Born: July 17, 1674, Southampton, England.
Died: November 25, 1748, Stoke Newington, England.
Buried: Bunhill Fields Cemetery, London, England. John Bunyan, Joseph Hart John Rippon, & William Shrubsole lie nearby. |
Watts’ father was Nonconformist imprisoned twice for his religious views. Isaac learned Greek, Latin, and Hebrew under Mr. Pinhorn, Rector of All Saints, and headmaster of the Grammar School in Southampton. Isaac’s taste for verse showed itself in early childhood, and his promise caused a local doctor and other friends to offer him a university education, assuming he would be ordained in the Church of England. However, Isaac declined and instead entered a Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690, under the care of Thomas Rowe, pastor of the Independent congregation at Girdlers’ Hall; Isaac joined this congregation in 1693.
Watts left the Academy at age 20 and spent two years at home; it was during this period that he wrote the bulk of his Hymns and Spiritual Songs. They were sung from manuscripts in the Southampton Chapel, and published 1707-1709.
The next six years of his life were again spent at Stoke Newington, working as tutor to the son of eminent Puritan John Hartopp. The intense study of these years is reflected in the theological and philosophical material he subsequently published.
Watts preached his first sermon at age 24. In the next three years, he preached frequently, and in 1702 was ordained as pastor of the Independent congregation in Mark Lane. At that time he moved into the house of a Mr. Hollis in the Minories. His health began to fail the next year, and Samuel Price was appointed as his assistant in the ministry. In 1712, a fever shattered his constitution, and Price became co-pastor of the congregation, which had moved to a new chapel in Bury Street. It was at this time that Isaac became the guest of Sir Thomas Abney. He lived with Abney (and later Abney’s widow) the rest of his life, mainly at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, then for 13 years at Stoke Newington.
In 1728, the University of Edinburgh awarded Watts a Doctor of Divinity degree. Watts’ works include:
- Speculations on the Human Nature of the Logos
- Horæ Lyricae, 1706-1709
- Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707-9
- The Divine and Moral Songs for the Use of Children, 1715
- The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (London: J. Clark, 1719)
- Sermons, 1721-1727
- Reliquiae Juveniles: Miscellaneous Thoughts in Prose and Verse, on Natural, Moral, and Divine Subjects (London: 1734)
- Remnants of Time (London: 1736)
- The Improvement of the Mind, 1741
- Logic
- The World to Come, 1745
- Catechisms, Scripture History, 1732
Sources
Hymns
- Absent from Flesh! O Blissful Thought!
- Adam, Our Father and Our Head
- Adore and Tremble, for Our God
- Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?
- All Mortal Vanities, Begone
- All Ye That Love the Lord, Rejoice
- Almighty Ruler of the Skies
- Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
- Amidst Thy Wrath Remember Love
- Among th’Assemblies of the Great
- Among the Princes, Earthly Gods
- And Is This Life Prolonged to Me?
- And Will the God of Grace
- Are All the Foes of Sion Fools?
- Are Sinners Now So Senseless Grown
- Arise, My Gracious God
- Arise, My Soul! My Joyful Powers
- As When the Hebrew Prophet Raised
- Awake, My Heart; Arise, My Tongue
- Awake, My Zeal; Awake, My Love
- Awake, Our Souls, Away, Our Fears
- Awake Ye Saints; to Praise Your King
- Backward with Humble Shame We Look
- Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne
- Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Theme
- Behold the Amazing Gift of Love
- Behold the Glories of the Lamb
- Behold, the Grace Appears!
- Behold, the Lofty Sky
- Behold the Love, the Generous Love
- Behold, the Morning Sun
- Behold the Rose of Sharon Here
- Behold the Sure Foundation Stone
- Behold Thy Waiting Servant, Lord
- Behold What Wondrous Grace
- Bless, O My Soul! the Living God
- Blessed Redeemer, How Divine
- Blest Are the Humble Souls That See
- Blest Are the Pure, Whose Hearts Are Clean
- Blest Are the Sons of Peace
- Blest Are the Souls That Hear and Know
- Blest Are the Undefiled in Heart
- Blest Be the Everlasting God
- Blest Is the Man, Forever Blest
- Blest Is the Man Who Shuns the Place
- Blest Is the Man Whose Bowels Move
- Blest Is the Nation Where the Lord
- Blest Morning, Whose Young Dawning Rays
- Broad Is the Road
- Children, in Years and Knowledge Young
- Come, Children, Learn to Fear the Lord
- Come, Dearest Lord
- Come, Gracious Lord, Descend and Dwell
- Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
- Come, Let Our Voices Join to Raise
- Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs
- Come, Let Us Lift Our Joyful Eyes
- Come, Sound His Praise Abroad
- Consider All My Sorrows, Lord
- David Rejoiced in God His Strength
- Dearest of All the Names Above
- Death May Dissolve My Body Now
- Deep in Our Hearts Let Us Record
- Do I Believe What Jesus Saith
- Early, My God, Without Delay
- Earth Forever is the Lord’s, The
- Ere the Blue Heav’ns Were Stretched Abroad
- Eternal Power, Whose High Abode
- Eternal Spirit! We Confess
- Exalt the Lord Our God
- Far as Thy Name Is Known
- Far from My Thoughts
- Father, How Wide Thy Glory Shines
- Father, I Bless Thy Gentle Hand
- Father, I Sing Thy Wondrous Grace
- Father of Glory, to Thy Name
- Firm and Unmoved Are They
- Firm Was My Health, My Day Was Bright
- Fools in Their Heart Believe and Say
- Forever Blessèd Be the Lord
- Forever Shall My Song Record
- From Age to Age Exalt His Name
- From All That Dwell Below the Skies
- From Deep Distress and Troubled Thoughts
- Give Me the Wings of Faith
- Give Thanks to God, He Reigns Above
- Give Thanks to God, Invoke His Name
- Give Thanks to God Most High
- Give Thanks to God the Sovereign Lord
- Give to Our God Immortal Praise
- Give to the Lord, Ye Sons of Fame
- Go, Preach My Gospel
- God in His Earthly Temple Lays
- God Is the Name My Soul Adores
- God Is the Refuge of His Saints
- God Jehovah Reigns, The
- God, My Supporter and My Hope
- God of Eternal Love
- God of Glory Sends His Summons Forth, The
- God of My Childhood and My Youth
- God of My Life, Look Gently Down
- God of My Mercy and My Praise
- God of Our Salvation Hears, The
- God of the Morning, at Whose Voice
- God, Who in Various Methods Told
- Good Is the Lord, the Heav’nly King
- Great God! Attend while Zion Sings
- Great God, How Infinite Art Thou!
- Great God, How Oft Did Israel Prove
- Great God, I Own Thy Sentence Just
- Great God, Indulge My Humble Claim
- Great God, the Heav’ns’ Well Ordered Frame
- Great God, Whose Universal Sway
- Great Is the Lord, Exalted High
- Great Is the Lord; His Works of Might
- Great Is the Lord Our God
- Great Shepherd of Thine Israel
- Had Not the Lord, May Israel Say
- Happy Is He That Fears the Lord
- Happy the City Where Their Sons
- Happy the Man to Whom His God
- Happy the Man Whose Cautious Feet
- Hark! from the Tombs a Doleful Sound
- Hark! The Redeemer from on High
- Have You Not Known, Have You Not Heard
- He Dies! The Friend of Sinners Dies
- He Reigns! The Lord, the Savior, Reigns
- He That Hath Made His Refuge God
- Hear Me, O God, Nor Hide Thy Face
- Hear What the Lord in Vision Said
- Hear What the Voice from Heav’n Proclaims
- Heavens Declare Thy Glory, The
- Help, Lord, for Men of Virtue Fail
- High in the Heavens, Eternal God
- High on a Hill of Dazzling Light
- Hosannah to the Royal Son
- How Awful Is Thy Chastening Rod
- How Beauteous Are Their Feet
- How Condescending and How Kind
- How Did My Heart Rejoice to Hear
- How Fast Their Guilt and Sorrows Rise
- How Glorious Sion’s Courts Appear
- How Honorable Is the Place
- How is Our Nature Spoiled by Sin!
- How Long, O Lord, Shall I Complain?
- How Long Wilt Thou Conceal Thy Face?
- How Pleasant, How Divinely Fair
- How Pleasant ’Tis to See
- How Pleased and Blest Was I
- How Sad Our State by Nature Is!
- How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts
- How Strong Thine Arm Is, Mighty God!
- How Sweet and Awesome Is This Place
- How Vast the Treasure We Possess!
- Hush, My Dear
- I Give Immortal Praise
- I Lift My Banner, Saith the Lord
- I Lift My Soul to God
- I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cries
- I Love the Volumes of Thy Word
- I Send the Joys of Earth Away
- I Set the Lord Before My Face
- I Sing the Mighty Power of God
- I Waited Patient for the Lord
- I Will Extol Thee, Lord, on High
- If God Succeed Not, All the Cost
- If God to Build the House Deny
- I’ll Bless the Lord from Day to Day
- I’ll Praise My Maker
- I’ll Speak the Honors of My King
- I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord
- In All My Vast Concerns with Thee
- In Anger, Lord, Rebuke Me Not
- In Gabriel’s Hand a Mighty Stone
- In God’s Own House Pronounce His Praise
- In Judah God of Old Was Known
- In Thine Own Ways, O God of Love
- In Vain the Wealthy Mortals Toil
- In Vain We Lavish Out Our Lives
- Into Thine Hand, O God of Truth
- Is There Ambition in My Heart?
- Is the Kind Return?
- It Is the Lord Our Savior’s Hand
- Jehovah Reigns—He Dwells in Light
- Jesus! Dear Name, How Sweet It Sounds!
- Jesus, in Thee Our Eyes Behold
- Jesus Invites His Saints
- Jesus, Our Lord, Ascend Thy Throne
- Jesus, Our Savior and Our God
- Jesus Shall Reign
- Jesus, the Man of Constant Grief
- Jesus, Thou Everlasting King
- Jesus, Thy Blessings Are Not Few
- Jesus, We Bless Thy Father’s Name
- Join All the Glorious Names
- Joy to the World
- Judge Me, O Lord, and Prove My Ways
- Judges, Who Rule the World by Laws
- Just Are Thy Ways
- Keep Silence, All Created Things
- King, O Lord, with Songs of Praise, The
- King of Saints, How Fair His Face, The
- Laden with Guilt, and Full of Fears
- Lands That Long in Darkness Lay, The
- Law Commands and Makes Us Know, The
- Let All the Earth Their Voices Raise
- Let All the Heathen Writers Join
- Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds
- Let Everlasting Glories Crown
- Let Every Creature Join
- Let Every Mortal Ear Attend
- Let Every Tongue Thy Goodness Speak
- Let God Arise in All His Might
- Let Him Embrace My Soul, and Prove
- Let Me but Hear My Savior Say
- Let Mortal Tongues Attempt to Sing
- Let Sinners Take Their Course
- Let the Seventh Angel Sound on High
- Let Those Who Bear the Christian Name
- Let Sion and Her Sons Rejoice
- Let Zion in Her King Rejoice
- Life Is the Time to Serve the Lord
- Like Sheep We Went Astray
- Lo! What a Glorious Cornerstone
- Lo! What a Glorious Sight Appears
- Lo! What an Entervtainving Sight
- Long as I Live I’ll Bless Thy Name
- Long Have I Sat Beneath the Sound
- Lord, All I Am Is Known to Thee
- Lord Appears My Helper Now, The
- Lord, at Thy Temple We Appear
- Lord, Hast Thou Cast the Nation Off?
- Lord, How Secure and Blest Are They
- Lord, How Wondrous Are His Ways, The
- Lord, I Am Thine
- Lord, I Am Vile, Conceived in Sin
- Lord, I Can Suffer Thy Rebukes
- Lord, I Esteem Thy Judgments Right
- Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice
- Lord, I Will Bless Thee All My Days
- Lord, I Would Spread My Sore Distress
- Lord, if Thine Eye Surveys Our Faults
- Lord, if Thou Dost Not Soon Appear
- Lord, in the Morning Thou Shalt Hear
- Lord Is Come, The
- Lord Jehovah Reigns, The
- Lord My Shepherd Is, The
- Lord of Glory Is My Light, The
- Lord of Glory Reigns, The
- Lord of the Worlds Above
- Lord, the Judge, Before His Throne, The
- Lord, the Judge, His Churches Warns, The
- Lord, the Sovereign King, The
- Lord, the Sovereign, Sends His Summons Forth, The
- Lord, Thou Hast Called Thy Grace to Mind
- Lord, Thou Hast Heard Thy Servant Cry
- Lord, Thou Hast Searched and Seen Me Through
- Lord, Thou Hast Seen My Soul Sincere
- Lord, Thou Wilt Hear Me When I Pray
- Lord, ’Tis a Pleasant Thing to Stand
- Lord, We Are Blind
- Lord, We Confess Our Numerous Faults
- Lord, We Have Heard Thy Works of Old
- Lord, What a Feeble Piece
- Lord, What a Thoughtless Wretch Was I
- Lord, What Is Man, Poor Feeble Man
- Lord, What Was Man?
- Lord, When I Count Thy Mercies O’er
- Lord, When Thou Didst Ascend on High
- Loud Hallelujahs to the Lord
- Maker and Sov’reign Lord
- Man Is Ever Bless’d, The
- Marching to Zion
- Mercy and Judgment Are My Song
- Mighty Frame of Glorious Grace, The
- Mine Eyes and My Desire
- Must All the Charms of Nature, Then
- Must Friends and Kindred Droop and Die
- My Dear Redeemer and My Lord
- My God, Accept My Early Vows
- My God, Consider My Distress
- My God, How Endless Is Thy Love
- My God, How Many Are My Fears
- My God, in Whom Are All the Springs
- My God, My Everlasting Hope
- My God, My King, Thy Various Praise
- My God, My Portion, and My Love
- My God, Permit Me Not to Be
- My God! Permit My Tongue
- My God, the Spring of All My Joys
- My God, the Steps of Pious Men
- My God, What Inward Grief I Feel
- My Heart Rejoices in Thy Name
- My Never Ceasing Songs Shall Show
- My Refuge Is the God of Love
- My Righteous Judge, My Gracious God
- My Savior and My King
- My Savior, My Almighty Friend
- My Shepherd Is the Living Lord
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
- My Soul, How Lovely Is the Place
- My Soul Lies Cleaving to the Dust
- My Soul, Repeat His Praise
- My Soul, Thy Great Creator Praise
- My Spirit Looks to God Alone
- My Spirit Sinks Within Me, Lord
- My Trust Is in My Heavenly Friend
- Naked as from the Earth We Came
- Nature with Open Volume Stands
- No More, Dear Savior, Will I Boast
- No Sleep Nor Slumber to His Eyes
- Not All the Blood of Beasts
- Not by the Laws of Innocence
- Not to Our Names, Thou Only Just and True
- Not to Ourselves, Who Are But Dust
- Not to the Terrors of the Lord
- Now Be My Heart Inspired to Sing
- Now Be the God of Israel Blessed
- Now from the Roaring Lion’s Rage
- Now I’m Convinced the Lord Is Kind
- Now Let Our Lips with Holy Fear
- Now Let Our Mournful Songs Record
- Now May the God of Power and Grace
- Now Plead My Cause, Almighty God
- Now Shall My Inward Joys Arise
- Now Shall My Solemn Vows Be Paid
- Now to the Lord a Noble Song
- Now to the Lord, Who Makes Us Know
- O All Ye Nations, Praise the Lord
- O Bless the Lord, My Soul
- O Blessèd Souls Are They
- O Britain, Praise Thy Mighty God
- O for a Shout of Sacred Joy
- O for an Overcoming Faith
- O God, My Refuge, Hear My Cries
- O God of Grace and Righteousness
- O God of Mercy, Hear My Call
- O God, to Whom Revenge Belongs
- O Happy Man, Whose Soul Is Filled
- O Happy Nation, Where the Lord
- O Happy Soul That Lives on High
- O How I Love Thy Holy Law
- O Lord, How Many Are My Foes
- O Lord, Our Heav’nly King
- O Lord, Our Lord, How Wondrous Great
- O That I Knew the Secret Place
- O That the Lord Would Guide My Ways
- O That Thy Statues Every Hour
- O Thou That Hear’st When Sinners Cry
- O Thou Whose Grace and Justice Reign
- O Thou Whose Justice Reigns on High
- O ’Tis a Lovely Thing to See
- O What a Stiff Rebellious House
- Of Justice and of Grace I Sing
- Often I Seek My Lord by Night
- Once More, My Soul, the Rising Day
- Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
- Our Souls Shall Magnify the Lord
- Out of the Deeps of Long Distress
- Plunged in a Gulf of Dark Despair
- Praise of Zion Waits for Thee, The
- Praise Waits in Zion, Lord, for Thee
- Praise Ye the Lord, Exalt His Name
- Praise Ye the Lord, My Heart Shall Join
- Praise Ye the Lord, ’Tis Good to Raise
- Preserve Me, Lord
- Questions and Doubts Be Heard No More
- Rejoice, Ye Righteous, in the Lord
- Remember, Lord, Our Mortal State
- Return, O God of Love, Return
- Salvation Is Forever Nigh
- Salvation! O the Joyful Sound!
- Save Me, O God, the Swelling Floods
- Save Me, O Lord, from Every Foe
- See What a Living Stone
- See Where the Great Incarnate God
- Shall Atheists Dare Insult the Cross
- Shall Wisdom Cry Aloud?
- Shepherds, Rejoice! Lift Up Your Eyes
- Shine, Mighty God, on Britain Shine
- Show Pity, Lord, O Lord, Forgive
- Sin Has a Thousand Treacherous Arts
- Sin, Like a Venomous Disease
- Sing, All Ye Nations, to the Lord
- Sing to the Lord Aloud
- Sing to the Lord Jehovah’s Name
- Sing to the Lord with Joyful Voice
- Sing to the Lord, Ye Distant Lands
- Sing to the Lord, Ye Heav’nly Hosts
- So Let Our Lips and Lives Express
- Songs of Immortal Praise Belong
- Soon as I Heard My Father Say
- Stand Up, My Soul
- Sure There’s a Righteous God
- Sweet Is the Memory of Thy Grace
- Sweet Is the Work, My God, My King
- Teach Me the Measure of My Days
- Terrible God, That Reign’st on High
- Th’Almighty Reigns Exalted High
- That Awful Day Will Surely Come
- That Man Is Blessèd Who Stands in Awe
- Thee Will I Love, O Lord, My Strength
- There Is a Land of Pure Delight
- There Was an Hour When Christ Rejoiced
- These Glorious Minds, How Bright They Shine
- Think, Mighty God, on Feeble Man
- This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made
- This Spacious Earth Is All the Lord’s
- Thou Art My Portion, O My God
- Thou God of Love, Thou Ever Blest
- Thou Whom My Soul Admires Above
- Thrice Happy Man Who Fears the Lord
- Through Every Age, Eternal God
- Thus Far the Lord Hath Led Me On
- Thus I Resolved Before the Lord
- Thus Saith the Lord, “The Spacious Fields”
- Thus Saith the Lord, “Your Work Is Vain”
- Thus the Eternal Father Spake
- Thus the Great Lord of Earth and Sea
- Thy Mercies Fill the Earth, O Lord
- Thy Name, Almighty Lord
- Thy Works of Glory, Mighty Lord
- ’Tis by the Faith of Joys to Come
- ’Tis by Thy Strength the Mountains Stand
- To God I Cried with Mournful Voice
- To God I Made My Sorrows Known
- To God the Great, the Ever Blest
- To God the Only Wise
- To Heav’n I Lift My Waiting Eyes
- To Our Almighty Maker, God
- To Thee, Before the Dawning Light
- To Thee, Most Holy and Most high
- To Thine Almighty Arm We Owe
- True Messiah Now Appears, The
- ’Twas from Thy Hand, My God, I Came
- ’Twas in the Watches of the Night
- ’Twas for Thy Sake, Eternal God
- ’Twas on That Dark, That Doleful Night
- ’Twas the Commission of Our Lord
- Unshaken as the Sacred Hill
- Up from My Youth, May Israel Say
- Up to the Hills I Lift Mine Eyes
- Upward I Lift Mine Eyes
- Vain Man, on Foolish Pleasures Bent
- Voice of My Beloved Sounds, The
- We Are a Garden Walled Around
- We Bless the Lord, the Just, the Good
- We Give Immortal Praise
- We Love Thee, Lord, and We Adore
- We Sing the Glories of Thy Love
- Welcome, Sweet Day of Rest
- What Equal Honors Shall We Bring
- What Happy Men, or Angels, These?
- What Mighty Man, or Mighty God
- What Shall I Render to My God
- What Shall the Dying Sinner Do
- What Vain Desires and Passions Vain
- When Christ to Judgment Shall Descend
- When God Is Nigh
- When God, Provoked with Daring Crimes
- When God Restored Our Captive State
- When God Revealed His Gracious Name
- When I Can Read My Title Clear
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
- When I with Pleasing Wonder Stand
- When Israel, Freed from Pharaoh’s Hand
- When Israel’s Sins, the Lord Reproves
- When Man Grows Bold in Sin
- When, Overwhelmed with Grief
- When Pain and Anguish Seize Me Lord
- When Shall Thy Lovely Face Be Seen?
- When the Eternal Bows the Skies
- When the Great Judge
- When We Are Raised from Deep Distress
- Whence Do Our Mournful Thoughts Arise
- Where Shall the Man Be Found?
- Where Shall We Go to Seek and Find
- While I Keep Silence, and Conceal
- Who Is This Fair One in Distress?
- While Men Grow Bold in Wicked Ways
- Who Shall Ascend Thy Heav’nly Place?
- Who Shall Inhabit in Thy Hill?
- Who Shall the Lord’s Elect Condemn?
- Who Will Arise and Plead My Right
- Why Did the Jews Proclaim Their Rage?
- Why Did the Nations Join to Slay
- Why Do the Proud Insult the Poor
- Why Do the Wealthy Wicked Boast
- Why Do We Mourn Departing Friends?
- Why Does Your Face, Ye Humble Souls
- Why Doth the Lord Stand Off So Far?
- Why Doth the Man of Riches Grow?
- Why Has My God My Soul Forsook?
- Why Should I Vex My Soul?
- Why Should the Children of a King
- Why Should We Start, and Fear to Die?
- Will God Forever Cast Us Off?
- With All My Powers of Heart and Tongue
- With Earnest Longings of the Mind
- With Joy We Meditate the Grace
- With My Whole Heart I’ll Raise My Song
- With My Whole Heart I’ve Sought Thy Face
- With Reverence Let the Saints Appear
- With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud
- Wonders, Lord, Thy Love Has Wrought, The
- Wond’ring World Inquires to Know, The
- Would You Behold the Works of God
- Ye Holy Souls, in God Rejoice
- Ye Islands of the Northern Sea
- Ye Nations Round the Earth, Rejoice
- Ye Servants of th’Almighty King
- Ye Sons of Adam, Vain and Young
- Ye Sons of Men, a Feeble Race
- Ye Sons of Pride, That Hate the Just
- Ye That Delight to Serve the Lord
- Ye That Obey th’Immortal King
- Ye Tribes of Adam, Join
- “Yet,” Saith the Lord