Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts Poems

Why should I join with those in Play,
In whom I've no delight,
Who curse and swear, but never pray,
Who call ill Names, and fight.
...

Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God hath made them so:
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For 'tis their nature, too.
...

How doth the little busy Bee
Improve each shining Hour,
And gather Honey all the day
From every opening Flower!
...

What blest examples do I find
Writ in the Word of Truth
Of children that began to mind
Religion in their youth!
...

Our tongues were made to bless the Lord,
And not speak ill of men:
When others give a railing word,
We must not rail again.
...

O 'tis a lovely thing for youth
To early walk in wisdom's way;
To fear a lie, to speak the truth,
That we may trust to all they say!
...

Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber;
Holy angels guard thy bed;
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
...

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
...

Believe and be saved.

John 3:16-18.
...

Christ unseen and beloved.

1 Pet. 1:5.
...

The Beatitudes.

Mt. 5:3-12.
...

Dead to sin by the cross of Christ.

Rom. 6:1,2,6.
...

The value of Christ, and his righteousness.

Phil. 3:7-9.
...

14.

A new song to the Lamb that was slain.

Rev. 5:6-12
...

The fall and recovery of man; or, Christ and Satan at enmity.

Gen. 3:1,15,17; Gal. 4:4; Col. 2:15.
...

Joy in heaven for a repenting sinner.

Luke 15:7,10.
...

The blessedness of gospel times.

Isa. 52:2,7-10; Mt. 13:16,17.
...

Heaven invisible and holy.

1 Cor. 2:9,10; Rev. 21:27.
...

Death and immediate glory.

2 Cor. 5:1,5-8.
...

The humble enlightened, and carnal reason humbled.

Luke 10:21,22.
...

Isaac Watts Biography

Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 650 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in use today, and have been translated into many languages. Born in Southampton, England, in 1674, Watts was brought up in the home of a committed religious Nonconformist — his father, also Isaac Watts, had been incarcerated twice for his controversial views. At King Edward VI School (where one of the houses is now named "Watts" in his honour), Watts learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. From an early age, Watts displayed a propensity for rhyme. Watts, unable to go to either Oxford or Cambridge on account of his non-conformity, went to the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690, and much of his life centred around that village, which is now part of Inner London. His education led him to the pastorate of a large independent chapel in London, where he found himself in the position of helping trainee preachers, despite his poor health. Taking work as a private tutor, Watts lived with the Nonconformist Hartopp family at Fleetwood House, on Church Street in Stoke Newington, and later in the household of their immediate neighbours Sir Thomas Abney and Lady Mary. Though a Nonconformist, Sir Thomas practised occasional conformity to the Church of England, as necessitated by his being Lord Mayor of London between 1700 and 1701. Likewise, Isaac Watts held religious opinions that were more non-denominational or ecumenical than was at that time common for a Nonconformist; he had a greater interest in promoting education and scholarship than preaching for any particular ministry. On the death of Sir Thomas Abney, Watts moved permanently with his widow and her remaining unmarried daughter, Elizabeth, to Abney House in Stoke Newington, a property that Mary had inherited from her brother. He lived there from 1748 to his death. The grounds at Abney Park led down to an island heronry in the Hackney Brook, where he sought inspiration for the many books and hymns he wrote. Watts died in Stoke Newington in 1748, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, having left an extensive legacy of hymns, treatises, educational works and essays. His work was influential amongst Nonconformist independents and early religious revivalists, such as Philip Doddridge, who dedicated his best known work to Watts. On his death, Isaac Watts' papers were given to Yale University in then-colonial Connecticut.)

The Best Poem Of Isaac Watts

Against Evil Company

Why should I join with those in Play,
In whom I've no delight,
Who curse and swear, but never pray,
Who call ill Names, and fight.

I hate to hear a wanton Song,
Their Words offend my Ears:
I should not dare defile my Tongue
With Language such as theirs.

Away from Fools I'll turn my Eyes,
Nor with the Scoffers go;
I would be walking with the Wise,
That wiser I may grow.

From one rude Boy that's us'd to mock
Ten learn the wicked Jest;
One sickly Sheep infects the Flock,
And poysons all the rest.

Isaac Watts Comments

Jean Leblanc 29 December 2009

I like Isaac Watts´poems because they have rhyme, which makes them fun to read, and yet they convey messages that make you think about the path you are taking in life. Is it to everlasting life, or eternal destruction?

24 18 Reply

It's really astonishing that Watts has written so may good poems,

20 13 Reply
Naomi Burdett 05 May 2005

i just wanted to say WOW so many poems. how do you do it. serch for mine Naomi Burdett

8 17 Reply
Flora Forbes 27 June 2016

Sir Isaac Watts was gifted by God. Sir Isaac Watts wrote 600 hymns and 52 books including a book on logic used in the Universities. He also wrote books on ethics, psychology, astronomy and geography. He wrote a book on the Psalms in poetic form. Benjamin Franklin had Sir Isaac Watts book on the Psalms published in the United States. When Sir Isaac Watts died a monument was placed in Westminster Abbey to honour him. I am eternally grateful fo my rich heritage of Christian hymns dedicated to the glory of God by Sir Isaac Watts. Flora Forbes

9 4 Reply
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1 0 Reply
Sue Parsons 03 May 2020

Did he write the poem entitled “Speak Softly”?

1 0 Reply
felicity 22 October 2019

never heard of him! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

1 0 Reply
M Asim Nehal 18 March 2019

Indeed he was " Father of English Hymnody................

1 0 Reply
Greg Endebrock 27 February 2017

Do you know the poems listed under Isaac Watts have been composed into songs, and if so, which ones. How would one go about getting permission to use a poem to compose a song.

3 4 Reply

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