Isaac Watts; His Life and Writings, His Homes and Friends

by E. Paxton Hood

Publisher:

Religious Tract Society

, 1875

Overview

Known as the “Father of English Hymnody,” Isaac Watts is one of England’s most influential hymnists. Credited with over 500 hymns—including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Joy to the World”—he left behind a massive legacy. He paved the way to the inclusion of “original songs of Christian experience” in worship. His introduction of extrabiblical poetry opened doors to new forms of worship in the Protestant Church.

Isaac Watts; His Life and Writings, His Home and Friends is a readable biography that includes drawings, excerpts of Watts’ works, and an autobiographical table of key events in Watts’ life.

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Key Features

• Offers a readable biography of the “Father of English Hymnody”
• Includes drawings and excerpts of Watts’ works
• Provides an autobiographical table of key events in Watts’ life

Contents

• Birth and Childhood of Isaac Watts
• In the Academy at Stoke Newington
• In the Hartopp Family
• Pastor of a London Church
• First Publication as a Sacred Poet
• Residence in the Abney Family
• Hymns
• A Circle of Friends
• The Countess of Hertford and Mrs. Rowe
• Shimei Bradbury
• His Times
• Return to Stoke Newington
• The World to Come
• The Man
• Death and Burial
• Summary and Estimate of Prose Writings
• Table of Coincidents

Product Details

• Title: Isaac Watts; His Life and Writings, His Homes and Friends
• Author: Edwin Paxton Hood
• Publisher: The Religious Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1875
• Pages: 348

About E. Paxton Hood

Edwin Paxton Hood (1820–1885) was a congregational minister and writer.

Isaac Watts (1674–1748), was an English hymn-writer, theologian, and logician. He is recognized as the “Father of English Hymnody” and is credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today.

As a young boy, Watts began to write poems and hymns to please his mother. He received an excellent education as a child and studied at the nonconformist academy at Stoke Newington as a youth. After he completed his education, Watts began to write hymns and also tutored the family of Sir John Hartopp. At age 26, Watts became a pastor, but his poor health kept him from his duties. In 1712, Isaac Watts went to live with the Abney family in Stoke Newington for a short time, and ended up staying there permanently. During his stay, he would occasionally preach, but mostly devoted his time to writing hymns, sermons for publications, essays, discourses, and poems. He died peacefully at the age of 74.