Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts ( born July 17, 1674 Southampton, England; † November 25, 1748 in London, England ) was a British hymn writer. Watts is known for the many by himself composed hymns ( 750).

Life

Watts grew up as the eldest son of nine children of Dissenters. His grandfather, Thomas Watts was a commander in a war in 1656 and died in an explosion on board his ship. Watts enjoyed an excellent education at the Gymnasium John Pinhorne. Since the age of 20, he wrote hymns for a church in Southampton. 1702 he became pastor of a Kongregationalistenkirche in Mark Lane, but was forced for health reasons to give up the place in the year 1712. In 1728 he received his doctorate at the University of Edinburgh.

Watts designed a dispensationalistisches scheme of salvation history. The epochs were called Innocence, adamitisch ( after the Fall ), noahisch, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Christian.

Watts ' book "The Improvement of the Mind" (1741 ) was aimed at readers who want to expand their knowledge and intellectual skills independently. The author put in his remarks importance not only to impart knowledge passively but actively deal with it. Watts recommended, inter alia, to take notes to articles to make transcripts for lectures and to seek the exchange of ideas with peers. This book was crucial for the personal development of the English experimental physicist Michael Faraday.

Hymns (selection)

A small selection of hymns Isaac Watts wrote.

• Am I a Soldier of the Cross?
• Joy to the World
• We did Come Love the Lord
• Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
• Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun
• Our God our Help in Ages Past
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
• Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed
• This is the day the Lord Has Made

Importance

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Anglican Communion remember a Remembrance Day on November 25 to Isaac Watts as an important songwriter.