Isaac Watts

His Life and Thought

Graham Beynon

• Publisher: Christian Focus Publication
• eBook ISBN:
  9781781912805
• Year: 2013

1

Formative Times

An imprisoned father and a lonely mum

A young mum sat on a step outside a jail with an infant clinging on to her. Her husband was inside the jail and she was now caring for their first child by herself. So began the early life of Isaac Watts.

The place was Southampton on the south coast of England. The date was 1674. Isaac Watts’ dad – who confusingly was also called Isaac – was not in jail for anything that we would have considered illegal, but because of the religious situation in England at the time. Back in 1660 there had been a re-establishment of the monarchy in England after the commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. One of the results of this change of government was a change in the church.

The Church of England was the official church of the country and everyone was supposed to join in – it was called ‘conforming’. If you didn’t attend the established church, you were called a ‘nonconformist’. In Anglican churches there was a set liturgy of what would be said and done. Nonconformists, though, wanted to organize the content of their services themselves, either out of principle, or because they didn’t think the Anglican liturgy was what it should be.

A law was passed in 1662 enforcing the use of the official Anglican liturgy. This resulted in around two thousand ministers choosing to leave the Church of England and becoming ‘nonconformists’. New churches sprang up all over the country. Often congregations followed their minister out of the Anglican Church. They met in barns, fields or private houses. These were now ‘illegal’ congregations.

Such a church started in Southampton, led by Nathaniel Robinson. He had been the Rector of All Saints Church, but now led a group of nonconformists who met near the Bar Gate in the centre of the city. This church eventually became known as ‘Above Bar Congregational Church’.

Nonconformists were regarded as a threat to the Government and a potential cause of civil unrest. So, to keep everyone in line, a series of laws against them was passed. If you failed to attend an Anglican service, you could be fined for each occasion. If you were rebellious enough to actually organize a non-conformist church yourself and run a meeting, then you might be fined or imprisoned. This is why Isaac Watts senior was in jail. He had become one of the leaders (a deacon) at the Above Bar Congregational Church. And for doing so, he was imprisoned. He was later released, but occasional further imprisonments followed.

These hard times tested what one really believed. The prospect of punishment meant that people only went to a nonconformist church out of real conviction. They were convinced that the Anglican Church was still far too Roman Catholic in many of its practices and especially in the liturgy used in the services. Many also believed that they should have the right to organize their own church meetings rather than having to stick to a set liturgy.

This was the time that many famous nonconformist ministers wrote a lot of their works, because they were so often denied the role of pastor. John Bunyan, for example, wrote his famous The Pilgrim’s Progress while in Bedford prison. John Owen was also recognized as one of the leaders of this movement. He was a minister in London, and Isaac Watts would eventually become one of his successors.

It’s worthwhile for those of us who have the freedom to worship as we want today to reflect: are we grateful for such freedom? And do we have convictions about how we should worship which would survive the pressure of persecution?

The influence of godly parents

Young Isaac, then, was brought up in a religious home and a nonconformist church, both of which were to have profound effects on his own life. He heard the gospel at an early age, was taught about living the Christian life, and saw what it was to suffer for your convictions.

Isaac was the eldest of eight children, although, sadly, his youngest two sisters both died in their first years of life. All of the children’s names are written inside a large family Bible which is now kept in the University Library in Southampton. We can assume that Isaac’s father read from that very Bible in their home, teaching the children the good news about Jesus. The children were also taught the basics of the faith by catechisms – a series of questions and answers which were memorized. However, persecution soon interrupted their family life and cast its shadow again. Isaac wrote in a notebook about significant events in his life. ¹ One of the early entries reads like this:

1683: My father persecuted and imprisoned for non-conformity six months. After that forced to leave his family and live privately in London for two years.

Isaac was now nine years old, and his father’s absence would have made life difficult for this young family. We have a letter from Isaac Watts senior to his children during this time. This gives us a feel for both his concerns and his priorities for them. This is how he begins:

My dear children,

Though it has pleased the only wise God to suffer the malice of ungodly men, the enemies of Jesus Christ (and my enemies for his sake), to break out so far against me, as to remove me from you in my personal habitation, thereby at once bereaving me of that comfort, which I might have hoped for in the enjoyment of my family in peace, and you of that education, which my love as a father and duty as a parent required me to give; yet such are the longings of my soul for your good and prosperity, especially in spiritual concernments, that I remember you always with myself in my daily prayers addressed to the throne of grace.

It’s a long sentence – but it is full of tender concern for his children, awareness of his responsibilities to them and confidence in God’s sovereign rule. He later gives some specific instruction. First, about the Bible:

I charge you frequently to read the holy scriptures; and that not as a task or burden laid on you, but get your hearts to delight in them. There are the only pleasant histories which are certainly true, and greatly profitable; there are abundance of precious promises made to sinners, such as you are by nature; there are sweet invitations and counsels of God and Christ, to come in and lay hold of them; there are the choice heavenly sayings and sermons of the Son of God, the blessed prophets and apostles…The sum of all the counsel I can give you, necessary for the regulating of your behaviour towards God and man, in every station, place and condition of your lives, is contained in that blessed word of God.

So, the authority of the Bible is clear, and the sufficiency of the Bible is clear, but so is the precious nature of the Bible. It’s not only something to be known and obeyed but something to be treasured and rejoiced in.

Secondly, their father said they should reflect on their sinfulness and God’s salvation:

Consider seriously and often the sinful and miserable estate you are in by nature, and that you are liable to eternal wrath thereupon; also think upon the way of fallen man’s recovery by grace, according to the foundational principles of the Christian religion, which you have learned in your catechism; and beg of God by prayer to give you understanding in them, and faith to believe in Jesus Christ, and a heart willing to yield obedience to his gospel commands in all things.

Notice the expectation to remind yourself of these foundational truths ‘seriously and often’. Notice also the need to pray that God would give us understanding and obedience. Watts’ father points here to the essential truth that we can know the gospel in theory but our hearts can remain hard.

Third, he speaks about growth in knowledge of God:

Learn to know God according to the discoveries he has made of himself in and by his word, in all his glorious attributes and infinite perfections; especially learn to know him in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be acquainted with this blessed redeemer of God’s elect.

Then he moves to the duty to worship God:

Remember that God is your Creator, from whom you received life and being; and as such you are bound to worship him; much more when you consider that he is your Benefactor, from the fountain of whose goodness all your mercies come…

Know this, that as you must worship God, so it must be in his own ways, with true worship and in a right manner; that is according to the rules of the gospel, and not according to the inventions or traditions of men.

This last point is, of course, the reason for his previous imprisonment and now his absence. Isaac Watts senior considered the Anglican Church of the day to have many ‘inventions or traditions of men’ which carried over from the Roman Catholic Church. He gives specific warning against these ‘popish doctrines’.

Lastly, he wisely cautions his children against being angry with God because of the persecution they are suffering:

Do not entertain any hard thoughts of God, or of his ways, because his people are persecuted for them. For Jesus Christ himself was persecuted to death by wicked men, for preaching the gospel and doing good, and the holy apostles and prophets were cruelly used for serving God in his own way.

He goes on to speak of contentment in suffering and thanksgiving for every mercy they enjoy.

The letter ends with some lovely words about the children’s mother and how they should act:

Consider, she is left alone to bear all the burden of bringing you up; and is, as it were, a widow. Her time is filled up with many cares, and therefore do not grieve her by any rebellious or disobedient ways, but be willing to learn of her and be ruled by her, that she may have some comfort in seeing your obedient carriage; and that it will rejoice me to hear it.

These things I charge and command you with the authority and love of a father. Now commending you to God, and what I have written to his blessing upon your hearts, through Jesus Christ, with my dear love to your mother … ²

Assuming this letter is a taste of Isaac Watts’ childhood, we can see the wonderful influence of godly parents. It is expressed in the language of the day, but there is great Biblical concern and direction, and great love and warmth. That’s an excellent model for parents to follow.

Formative education

Isaac was a bright boy. He started to learn Latin from his father at age four, Greek at nine, French at ten and Hebrew at thirteen. While that sounds amazing to us, it wasn’t so unusual back then, but he was still obviously very clever. He went to school when he was six to what was simply called the ‘Free School’ in Southampton (now King Edward VI Grammar School). Here he was instructed by John Pinhorne, a local Anglican minister. Isaac took to his headmaster, and from a poem he later dedicated to him we can see that he clearly felt very indebted for his education. The poem ends:

Forgive Rev. Sir, the vain attempt, and

kindly accept this poetical fragment,

though rude and unpolished, as an

expression of that gratitude which has

been so long due to your merit. ³

One particular influence we should note is that Pinhorne helped direct the young Isaac’s poetic interest. He introduced him to the work of a Polish poet, Casimire, many of whose works Watts would later translate into English (Casimire wrote in Latin, so, no, Isaac hadn’t learnt Polish as well!). Pinhorne also impressed on Watts the need for poetry to be used in service to God, which is certainly what Watts eventually did in his hymns.

Watts showed not only early interest but also skill in poetry. When he was six, he wrote a poem called an ‘acrostic’, where each line begins with the successive letter of his name. Here it is:

I am a vile polluted lump of earth,

So I’ve continued ever since my birth;

Although Jehovah grace does daily give me,

As sure this monster Satan will deceive me,

Come, therefore, Lord, from Satan’s claws relieve me.

Wash me in thy blood, O Christ,

And grace divine impart,

Then search and try the corners of my heart,

That I in all things may be fit to do

Service to thee, and sing thy praises too. ⁴

The fact that this was written by a six-year-old shows two things: he’s a budding poet and he knows his theology!

The period of persecution against nonconformists came to an end in 1688 with what was called ‘The Glorious Revolution’. Opposition had grown against King James because of his Catholic leanings, and, more importantly, his Catholic son who would succeed him. He was forced to flee the country, and his sister Mary took the throne with her husband William of Orange, from Holland, both of whom were invited because of their Protestant convictions. Before long an act of ‘toleration’, which allowed nonconformists to meet freely, was passed. The fines and imprisonments were over. Watts’ local church was free to meet and began leasing a ‘meeting house’ for Sunday worship.

It was around this time that Watts speaks of coming to faith himself. We know that he had known about the gospel from an early age because of the teaching from his parents; and his poem above clearly showed he knew the doctrines of sin and atonement. In fact, that poem shows clear signs of conviction of sin and trust in Christ. But for children brought up in a Christian family, ownership of such beliefs usually increases with time. So, when Watts was fourteen he wrote in his notebook:

Fell under considerable convictions of sin, 1688.

And was taught to trust in Christ I hope, 1689.

This, of course, is what every parent hopes and prays for: not just knowledge of the gospel but conviction of sin and trust in Jesus for salvation.

New ways of thinking

Isaac finished school two years later at sixteen. Now he had to decide about further education, and here his young convictions came into play. There were still disadvantages to being a nonconformist; they were tolerated but not yet made equal. Nonconformists couldn’t hold any public office and, significantly for Isaac, they couldn’t go to either of the universities (there were only two in the country at the time). So, when Isaac left school and someone offered to arrange for him to study at Oxford or Cambridge, he had to decide what to do. Since going would have meant having to conform, Watts declined.

Instead of going to university, Isaac went to the non-conformist equivalent. These were called ‘dissenting academies’ (nonconformists were also called dissenters, because they dissented from the established church). Watts went to one in Stoke Newington, which is now in north London but back then was a village just outside London. Watts studied there for four years under the main tutor, Thomas Rowe. If you think this might have been the soft option compared to university, think again! Isaac writes in his notebook:

1690. Left the grammar-school, and came to London to Mr Rowe’s, to study philosophy, etc.

Those last two words cover more than you might think. The academy studied philosophy and a lot more. The curriculum included Latin, Greek, Hebrew, maths, history, geography, natural science, logic, rhetoric, ethics, metaphysics, anatomy, law and theology. Watts applied himself to his studies with vigour and was clearly an able student. However, he probably worked too hard, usually late into the night. This may have caused some permanent health problems, as he later said:

Midnight studies are prejudicial to nature, and painful experience calls me to repent of the faults of my younger years. ⁵

Watts had a couple of study techniques which he later recommended in his works on education. They show us how serious he was about really understanding the topic he was studying. When reading a book, he wrote his own summary of its contents. This, he said, took time, but meant that you remembered what you had read and made further reading on the same topic much easier. Secondly, he interleaved books with blank sheets of paper so that he could write notes, make additional comments and cross-reference other works. One of these interleaved books is still in existence, and its contents show how much attention he paid to what he was reading. ⁶

There was something of a revolution going on in education at the end of the seventeenth century, and Watts was on the cutting edge of it. In previous years, education had had a very traditional basis. There were accepted maxims and truths, and education then worked out from these, trying to apply them logically to different areas. But the Enlightenment had brought a new approach: rather than working from accepted principles, there was new investigation which assumed nothing.

Watts later wrote a poem that captured these different approaches and shows us how he felt about them. The poem is called ‘Free Philosophy’, which was the name given to the new approach because it emphasized a sense of freedom from tradition. The poem begins by criticizing the traditional forms of education:

Custom, that tyranness of fools,

That leads the learned round the schools,

In magic chains of forms and rules!

It later praises Watts’ tutor Thomas Rowe:

I love thy gentle influence, Rowe,

Thy gentle influence like the sun,

Only dissolves the frozen snow,

Then bids our thoughts like rivers flow,

And choose the channels where they run. ⁷

Here is the freedom to think new thoughts. Rowe was well known for allowing and encouraging this new investigation. However, this raised a tension: what happens if this new freedom means you start thinking that tradition is wrong in matters of faith?

Watts wrote a letter while at the academy that gives us an example of exactly this problem. He says that we should be subject only to what God says in the Scriptures, as his father taught him, and comments on the part our reason should play:

In matters of the Christian faith, I would make the Scripture my guide … My reason should be used as a necessary instrument to compare the several parts of revelation together, to discover their mutual explication, as well as to judge whether they run counter to any dictates of natural light.

So, reason is a helpful instrument in understanding Scripture. But then Watts comments on what happens if reason is let loose in free thinking:

But if an inquisitive mind overleaps the bounds of faith, and give the reins to all our reasonings upon divine themes in so wide and open a field as that of all possibles and probables, it is no easy matter to guess where they will stop their career.

So, if you let your reason run where it likes, it could tak...

Table of contents

• Testimonials
• Title
• Indicia
• Contents
• Dedication
• Preface
• 1 Formative Times
• 2 Watts the Pastor
• 3 Reasonable Faith
• 4 Defending the Faith
• 5 Ministry to All
• 6 Promoting the Heart
• 7 Humbly Working for Revival
• 8 Singing God’s Praise
• 9 Facing Suffering
• 10 Living to See Revival
• 11 Life Drawing to a Close
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