07/22/23 Weekend Grif.Net - Isaac Watts (part 1)
b...@grif.net
Isaac Watts, Sr., was a tailor and deacon of a “Dissenter” church (non-Anglican, what we would call an evangelical born-again church) in Southampton in 1674 when his first son was born – Isaac Watts, Jr. Watts was arrested for preaching the Gospel and his wife Sarah nursed the newborn while seated on a rock by the prison gate so his father could see him.
Watts Sr was later released, and the couple soon recognized their young boy as precocious. Before age 2 he was reading English and by age 4 learned Latin. He mastered Greek at 9 and Hebrew at 13. He loved rhyme and verse and, most importantly, came to know himself as a sinner and the Lord as his personal savior at age 7.
At 7, he wrote this acrostic on his name ISAAC –
I am a vile polluted lump of earth
So I’ve continued ever since my birth
Although Jehovah grace does give me
As sure this monster Satan will deceive me
Come, therefore, Lord, from Satan’s claws relieve me
Watts finished school but could not attend Oxford unless he would convert to Anglicanism. He attended a small college for Dissenters and earned his degree by age 19. He complained to his father about the singing in church (only psalms were sung), arguing that Luther had written hymns in German for his followers. Watts was challenged to write a hymn and it was so well received that the church asked him to compose a new hymn each Sunday for the next two years. In 1707 these were published and “the Father of English Hymnody” had begun to change modern worship.
Here is that very first hymn written by Isaac Watts, Jr (based on Revelation 5). Hopefully in days to come we will share more about Watts as a ‘guiding light’ of our musical heritage.
Behold the glories of the Lamb
Amidst His Father’s throne
Prepare new honors for His Name
And songs before unknown
Eternal Father, Who shall look
Into Thy secret will?
Who but the Son should take that Book
And open every seal?
Now to the Lamb that once was slain
Be endless blessings paid
Salvation, glory, joy remain
For ever on Thy head
Thou hast redeemed out souls with blood
Has set the prisoner free
Has made us kings and priests to God
And we shall reign with Thee
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
"Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!"
