Devotional

Isaac Watts

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 and 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 Herts, 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, 1707-1709
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

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
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 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, Sound His Praise Abroad
Consider All My Sorrows, Lord
David Rejoiced in God His Strength
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
Exalt the Lord Our God
Far as Thy Name Is Known
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, 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 God, I Own Thy Sentence Just
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
- Friend of Sinners Dies, The
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
Hosannah to the Royal Son
How Awful Is Thy Chastening Rod
How Beauteous Are Their Feet
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
- We 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
- How Precious, Lord, Thy Sacred Word
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
- Lord, All I Am Is Known to 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?
It Is the Lord Our Savior’s Hand
Jehovah Reigns; He Dwells in Light
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, and True Thy Word
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 Zion and Her Sons Rejoice
Let Zion in Her King Rejoice
Lo! What a Glorious Cornerstone
Lo! What a Glorious Sight Appears
Lo! What an Entertaining Sight
Long as I Live I’ll Bless Thy Name
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 Wondrous Are His Ways, The
Lord, I Am Thine; But Thou Wilt Prove
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 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, When Made at First
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 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 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
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 Blessed Souls Are They
O Britain, Praise Thy Mighty God
O for a Shout of Sacred Joy
O for an Overcoming Faith
- When the Last Trumpet's Awful Voice
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 Heavenly 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
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
Our Souls Shall Magnify the Lord
Out of the Deeps of Long Distress
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, in Time of Need
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
Shepherds, Rejoice! Lift Up Your Eyes
Shine, Mighty God, on Britain Shine
Show Pity, Lord, O Lord, Forgive
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
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 Bless'd 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 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
’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, My Faith Is Strong
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 the Eternal Bows the Skies
When the Great Judge, Supreme and Just
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
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 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?
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
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 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