■HIP1

*TW*

FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D.

BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO

THE LIBRARY OF

PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

THE

POSTHUMOUS WORKS

OF THE LATE LEARNED AND REVEREND

ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

VOL, I.

THE

SEP 13 1935

POSTHUMOUS WORKS

OF THE LATE LEARNED AND REVEREND

A

ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

COMPILED FROM PAPERS IN POSSESSION OF HIS IMMEDIATE SUCCESSORS:

ADJUSTED AND PUBLISHED

BY A GENTLEMAN

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T. BECKET, ADELPHI, STRAND: AND J. BEW, PATER-KOSTER ROW.

M DCC LXXIX.

CONTENTS.

VOLUME the FIRST,

Pago

Introduction to the Pofthumous Works of the Rev. Ifaac Watt's, D. D. with an Account of his Life and Character i

HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS,

Faith - i

A Sacramental Hymn. From Rev. i. 5, 6, 7. 2

Freedom from Sin, and Mifery in Heaven ib. Repentance and Mortification from the Sight

of a crucified Saviour 3 Delight in God - 4 Diflinguifhing Love 5 On the fame. From Rev. v. ver. 11, 12, 13. 6 The Death, Refurredtion, Afcenfion, and Ex- altation of Chrift 7 The Lord's Day ; or, the Refurredtion of

Chrift - - 8

A Song of Love - p

The Complaint - - n

Complaining of a wandering Heart 14

The everlafting Covenant. 2 Sam. xxiii, 5. 15

Sonnet - - 16 Second Sonnet

Third Sonnet - *

Fourth Sonnet * 20

On

*7 '9

[ vi ]

L Page

On the Death of my Sifter Elizabeth Watts, whodeceafed Nov. n, 1691, aged Two

Years

On Wifdom in great Defigns 24

T^diaVite - " 2J

Thoughts on Death - 7

A Poem by Mr. Ifaac Watts, Senior, when

Fourfcore Years old

Life decaying and Death approaching- 29

Jehovah; 01? an Antidote againft Melancholy 30 A Poem on Life, Death, Judgment, Heaven

and Hell - - \\

Creatures Mutability 3

Falfe and True Happinefs 40

Humble Sincerity - : 45

The Chriftian's Voyage to the Port of Rett 4/

On Ceremonies - &

Immanuel - „ „ ^r a-" a^ ?r

Written in the Seventy-firft Year of his Age 55

The Vifion - ^

The Relief - 8^

The Lark - * g

Eternity . Jj

An Enquiry after Happinefs 91

Fallen Angels and fallen Man 9-

The awakened Sinner's Soliloquy 9b

On the Mind's Contrarieties 9*

On the World's Emptincfs 10*

On Jofeph's Oath - 10~

On the Folly of Man 1U3 The Pleas of Juftice and Mercy, againft and for fallen Man, with Wifdom's Expedient

to reconcile them, fulfilled in Chrift ^ On Contentment -

On the Wheels of Providence ^

[ vii ]

Page

On the ftrange Method of delivering Love 133 Divine Worfhip muft be according to Divine

Rule - - 135 Longing for Heaven - 136 The Soul - - 138 Secrets Forbidden - - 141 On Light - - 146 On the Hypocrite and the Apoftate 147 The Impotency of Man's Word 148 The Efficiency of God's Word ib. On Prayer - - 149 On Moles and Peter - 150 Secrets - - 151 On a Saint's Life - - ib. On Humility - - ib. Formio, or a Time-ferver - 152, On Chrift's Salvation - - 154 Faith's Cordial for a faintingfit 157 On the Life of Man - 159 On Sin - - 162 On Caleb and Jofhna - 163 A Birth-Day Thought - 167 Life decaying and Death approaching 168 The Soul's Defire of Removing 169 Earth's Emptinefs and Heaven's Fullnefs 170 The Shipwreck - - 171 The great Change expected - 377 Redemption by Chrift - 178 Mark the perfedl Man, and behold the Up- right, &c. 179 The Reverfe : or, a Kingdom in a Cottage 180 The Mind - - 184

TRANS*

[ viii ]

TRANSLATIONS.

Page The Fight of Mezcntius, affifting Turnus againft ^neas, and his revenging himfelf on his late Subjects, who expelled him Etruria, and engaged for iEneas out of Hatred to him - - 186

AITHS - - 189

To L. Manlius Torquatus - 191

On the Return of King William - 193

To his Mufe Melpomene - 195

The Third Satyr of Juvenal - 197

Ad Poftumum - - 211

To Leuconoe - -213

To Q^Hirpinus - - 214

Mofchus. Idy Ilium V. - 216

To JEWus Lamias - 217

Somni Regia - - 218

The laft Chorus of the Third Aft of Seneca's

Hercules Oeteus - - 220

To Pyrrha - - 222

Of the Shepherd that mourned for the Lofs of

his Kid - - 224

On Lady Sunderland - 225

Iter Vitse - - 226

Reges Regnum, non Capit duos 230

Quod alium filere vis primum file 231

Quidquid Superi Voluere, peractum eft 232

Gloria quantalibet quid erit fi gloria tantum eft 233 Verfio ex Coulero - - 235

Regis Gulielmi iter in Hiberniam. Compofed

1690 - - 236

Quis enim virtutem auplecYitur ipfam, Premai fi tollas - - 237

INTRODUCTION

T O T H E

POSTHUMOUS WORKS

OF THE

REV. ISAAC WATTS, D.D,

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS

LIFE AND CHARACTER,

A HERE is no fubjecT: on which our curiofity is more ftrongly excited, than in that of a great man's memoirs ; and cer- tainly none in which it is fo feldom iri- dulged. One brief defcription generally includes the whole of their unvariegated hiftory. They were born, went to fchool, wrote and died.

a Eminence

( » )

Eminence in literature or in writing, requires an application which can never confift with a life much complicated in action. Important events are not therefore fairly to be expe£ted in fuch a narrative, and yet none other can be admitted with- out incurring the imputation of trifling- nefs or puerility. If this barrennefs of in- cident is the general charafteriftic of a fcholar's hiftory, it is particularly fo in this inftance of Dr. Watts, where ill health, profeffion, and a peculiar propen- sity for an unambitious exercife of the religious and moral duties, contributed materially to that effect. Although, how- ever, our readers will not find in the following particulars of this great man's Life, a relation filled with adventure, or ornamented with the lift of offices and preferments ; yet this improvement

they

( iii )

they will certainly derive from them: they will find how literature may be com- bined with humility; how the pureft faith may co-operate with the moftperfedt prac- tice, and how the unaffe&ed fervour of true religion may be diftinguifhed from the fantaftic effervefcence of blind and igno- rant enthufiafm.

Mr. IsAAe, the father of Dr. Watts, Was originally a gentleman, but had the misfortune to live in a period diftinguifh- ed for every immorality, in which virtue was indeed a kind of crime, becaufe the pra&ice of it was a general infult. The facetious monarch was himfelf the mir- rour of the times — he fet the exam- ple, and was as much diftinguifhed for his precedency in vice as rank. It will not therefore be wondered that under fuch a 2 encourage-

( iv )

encouragement, vice fhould flourifh, or thatthofe qualities, which generally make their way in the beft regulated ftates, grew with particular luxuriancy under the influence of kingly patronage, and almoft legiflative authority.

The integrity of Mr. Watts, however, was fuch as no example could corrupt, and to this inviolable virtue his fortune fell a facrifice. From a ftate of genteel competency, hereditarily derived, he was reduced by religious perfecution to a pri- fon, where he languifhed many years under the fevereft cruelties and misfor- tunes ; cruelties, which to a mind lefs properly tempered than his, muft have extorted many an angry comment on divine difpenfations, or have operated per- haps towards the renunciation of thofe prin- ciples

( v )

ciples to which his calamities owed their origin. But he was differently conftituted, religion had quieted his paffions, and re- duced all his feelings to the calm level of a pious equanimity. He reviled not when he was reviled: when he fuffered he threaten- ed not, but committed himfelf to him that judgeth righteoujly.

The contented patience indeed which he fupported under this fituation, aggra- vated as it was by all the circumftances that affeft the neareft and deareft interefts of men, by the lofs of property, the de- privation of liberty, and the total exclufion from the comforts of focial, domeftic, and conjugal intercourfe, has perhaps fcarcely been equalled.

Humble as fuch a£ts appear, it is to them that our admiration ought juftly to

a 3 be

( vi )

be directed. Which participates moft of true heroifm ; the indulging, or the fup-> preffing of our paffions ? Who would he- fitate to pronounce for the latter ? and yet it is generally to the former, that the ill-judged tribute of human wonder is paid. Stung by refentment, hurried by ferocity, or ftimulated by ambition, a man <ieftroys, conquers, and is revered. He pleafes himfelf, makes thoufands miferable, and at laft receives all the refpe£t which reafonas well as religion teaches is the juft due of a conduft exadly the reyerfe. Is it nothing to have felt refentment, and to have fubdued it ? Is there no merit in hav- ing checked the ambition, which might in its confequences have affedted the peace or intereft of your neighbour or mankind. Is no eulogy to be paid to him, who having had all the irritable pro.-.

pertiea

( vii )

perties which exift in the human com- poiition, rubbed and twitched by the hand of vice or perfecution, yet keeps all thofe various and angry feelings in fub- je&ion, fuffers none fo far to prevail as to induce a retort, and even bears with- out complaint ? Shall every conqueror be adored, but he who conquers him- felf ? This is a mode of judgment which no prefcription can exempt from the imputation of injuftice and abfur- dity. The length of its prevalence by no means proves its propriety, but de- monstrates only the uniform exiftence of this quality, in the compound of man, a dilpofition rather to be caught by the in- fubftantial glare of fplendida&ions, than to be afFe&ed by the honeft value of good ones,

a 4 Mr.

( via )

Mr. Watts languifhed long in this confinement; he was at laft, however, releafed ; but his fortune having fuffered, nay, indeed, having been almoft entirely cxhaufted in his diftreffes, he was re- duced to the neceflity of afterwards teaching a fchool for his fubfiftence ; Id which capacity, though he did not earn the reputation of a brilliant fcholar, he ftill fupported his right to the better appellation of a good man.

Dr. Isaac Watts was born at Southampton, July 17, 1674. The genius, which afterwards fhone with fuch diftinguiflied luftre through all the refined countries of Europe, had with him a very early dawn. He difcovered, in his earlieft infancy, a quicknefs of apprehenfion, which was generally ef-

teemed

( fr )

teemed an aufpicious prefage of his future abilities. Montaigne is faid to have under- ftood Latin almoft before he could fpeak, 2nd Lipfius to have written a book, as it is ludicroufly defcribed by ^n ingenious countryman, which muft have been me- ditated, in utero ; but without the affec- tation of a miracle, it is certain that Dr. Watts commenced a pupil to Mr. Pin- home at the age of four, for the pur- pofe of learning the Latin language, which at that period he acquired with an aftonifhing facility.

He remained with this gentleman till the year 1690, when he was removed to London for academical education, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Rowe.

In

( X )

In this fituation, under the aufpices

of a man, not more diftinguifhed for his literary talents, than his ftrift attention

to religion, he imbibed both thefe qua- lities of his preceptor, with an equal avidity, and became as famous for piety as erudition. He had the more merit for the firft of thefe virtues, as his dif- pofition had a natural tendency to gaiety : nature had amply endowed him with thofe talents, wThich too often prove dangerous excellencies in a young man's poffeffion. The pride of bearing the ef- timation of a wit, makes us forget the confequences attending the exertion of it, and the gratification in the difplay of a good thing frequently palliates or ob- fcures its cruelty or immorality, Ci^ Cero, the wife, the grave, the philo-< fophical Cicero, mourned for the lofs

of

( xi ^

of his Tullia ; no confolation could mitU gate his forrows ; no time foften the feverity of his grief: he wrote, how- ever, to his friend Atticus : he found his talents expand upon the fubjeft, and the vanity attending the difcovery, how eloquent he could be on it, foon operated as a medicine, perhaps the only effectual one which could have been adminiftered ; and he lamented the event, if one may be indulged in the apparent para- dox, till he ceafed to grieve for it. So powerfully does the ambition of genius or literature ad: upon the mind, and fo ftrongly does it blunt the fufceptibility of thofe feelings, conftituted perhaps by nature with the moft genuine poig- nancy.

Mr. Watts, however, though emU jiently endowed with thofe qualities,

which,

( *5 )

which, in the pofleflion of another, might have been the brilliant means of putting worth out of countenance, and making virtue ludicrous, acquired an early aver- fion to fuch an application of his talents; and, by the grace of God, not only avoided thefe pernicious fnares of cri- minal ingenuity, but attained betimes a due and deep fenfe of religious duty.

So peculiarly exemplary was his con- duc% while he remained under the tuition of Mr. Rowe, that this reverend gentleman frequently declared, that he never, in any circumftance, during the whole of this period, incurred the leaft of his difpleafure, nor gave the flighteft occafion for rebuke.

In the year 1693, he joined in com- munion with the church, of which his worthy tutor was paftor.

When

( xiii )

When he had entirely completed the courfe of academical education, he re- turned to his father's houfe, where he devoted himfelf with a moll: extraor- dinary and indefatigable perfeverence to ftudy in general, and to the meditation of the holy Scriptures in particular.

During the laft year of his refidence with Mr. Rowe, he had begun to imbibe a very Strong propensity to the profeffion of the church, and being powerfully im- preffed with the awful importance of the Subject, he from that time applied him- felf to the acquifition of it in all its ex- tent, with unremitting labour.

Dr. Watts very well understood, that it requires a very different degree of attention to a Subject, to be convinced concerning it, than to convince.

No

( xiv )

No reading was neceffary, after his removal from the academy, for the im- provement of his own faith ; but he wimed, from a true fpirit of religion, as well as from the motive of a general philanthropy, to endeavour at extending a ipecies of knowledge, in wrhich mankind are fo intimately interested, and to difFufe, as much as poffible, a proper intelligence in that literature, which to underftand well, conftitutes, undoubt- edly, the firft bufinefs that can fall un- der the cognizance of man.

He fpent two years in this learned re- tirement with his father, from whence, in the year 1696, he was invited by Sir John Hartopp, Bart, to refide in his houfe at Stoke-Newington, as tutor to his fon. He continued in this fituation four years, and fo well did he blend the

learned

( xv )

learned tutor with the good and amiable man, that he won the refpect, love and efteem of the whole family, and laid the foundation of a friendfhip with his pupil, which was afterwards mutually cultivated with peculiar affection, and fubfifted till death put an end to the con- nection.

In the execution of this duty, how- ever, he did not neglect his own im- provement, but continued to profecute his ftudies in fcriptural knowledge, and to read and compare the facred writings in the original languages, with the beft commentators, critical and practical.

He commenced his clerical duty on his birth-day, in the year 1698, with a fermon which did him great credit as a preacher, and carried with it a pleafing intimation to the religious part of his 1 auditors,

( xvi )

auditors, that a man had arifen amongft them, who was neither fo ignorant as to mifconceive Scripture, nor fo vainly learned as to negledt it, which are too frequently the melancholy extremes, which equally difgrace the profeflbrs of the Chriftian Dodtrine.

During the courfe of this fame year he was chofen affiftant to Dr. Ifaac Chauncey, who at that time had the fpiritual care of the church of Bury-ftreet, St. Mary Axe. His exertion, however, in this facred duty, proved too much for a frame not conftituted for any intenfenefs of cor- poreal labour, and he was foon after at- tacked with a fevere diforder, which produced a fufpenfion of his religious exercifes for near five months. This was generally afcribed to his extraordi- nary attention to his fun&ion, as he was

3 not

( xvii )

frot content with merely executing what fuch an office, from the prefcriptive prac- tice of fome of his predeceflbrs, feemed to require, but conduced himfelf, in- deed, like a perfon who had the cure of fouls, and who was interested in the eternal welfare of thofe, over whofe fpi- ritual concerns he prefided. He prayed with the tendereft, ftri6left attention with the fick, condoled the defpairing, ex* horted the wicked, argued with the doubtful, and recommended the gofpel in his public difcourfes, with a zeal and fervor perfectly peculiar. As foon, how- ever, as he was reftored to his health, he proceeded on the fame indefati- gable principle, and would not fuffer himfelf to be intimidated, by the appre- henfion of any perfonal confequences, from the due execution of fo important a truft. Vol. I. . h In

( xviii )

In January, 1701, he fucceeded Dr. Chauncey in his church, to which fitua- tion he was invited by the urgent and unanimous folicitation of the pa- rifhioners.

It was a remarkable and difcouraging circumftance, that on the very day on which he fignified his acceptance of this preferment, the great patron of the dif- fenters, King William III, died. So infecurely, at that time, was religious toleration eftablifhed, that an event of this kind was of the utmoft confequence to all the fedts in the kingdom. Their exiflence depended on the mereft cafu- alties: thefpiritual impartiality and religi- ous policy of the late king was their fup- port ; the caprice, the obftinacy, the bigotry, or, perhaps, what was equally

dangerous,

( xix )

dangerous, the folly of a fucceflbr might prove their destruction.

Dr. Watts was, perhaps, the only proteflant dlffenter in the kingdom un- affected by thefe general apprehenfions. He had affumed the exercife of a great truft, and was determined not to be de- ficient in the execution of it. To ufe his own expreffion, he had " Set his " hand to the plough and would not go " back;" and under the fupport of this refolution, he defpifed the expected dan- gers, and was ordained to the paftoral office on the 18th of March following.

Dr. Watts, however, exalted as he was in various qualities, above the ge- neral tenor of mankind, found in com- mon, with the worft of his fellow- creatures, that imperfection of fome fort b 2 is

( xx )

is the infeparable appendage of huma- nity. Exempt almoft in every fenfe of the term from mental infirmity, he was the perpetual victim of corporal weak- nefs, and found his belt fchemes and moft favourite exercifes perpetually in- terrupted by it.

To the great grief of the church, to which he had been fo recently elected, he was now attacked by a painful and threatening illnefs, which again pro- duced a fufpenfion of his religious la- bours. He recovered by very flow de- grees from this diforder ; and his church, that no improper exertion might impede fo defired an end, thought proper to chufe him an affiftant, to relieve him in his duty. As his health returned, however, he renewed his diligence in his miniftry, and with more effec\ perhaps,

than

( xxl )

than ever accompanied the induftry of any other man ; he became the delight of his followers, and the object of general efteem with mankind. His eafy and unreferved, but ferious and folid communication with the former, mix- ed perfonal affection, with the regard naturally paid, to his abilities as paf- tor, and led them to confider the in- ftructor as the friend ; and the variety of his writings, and the profundity of his erudition, had fecured him a high and extenfive reputation with the world.

It was in this feafon of more con- firmed health, that he formed a fo- ciety of the younger members of the church, for prayer and conference. Here he himfelf prefided, and incul- cated, with a truly paternal intereft and affection, a variety of precepts, and b 3 directions

( xxii )

directions for their particular conduct in their miniftry, and likewife for their ge- neral deportment in their habits and in- tercourfe with mankind. He delivered to them, amongft other things, the fub- ftance of that excellent book which he afterwards published under the title of " A Guide to Prayer." From this time we meet with no incident of a peculiar kind in his life till 17 12. It is not from hence to be inferred, that this portion of time was flept away unprofitably, or that this vi- gilant minifter had caught the unfor- tunate infection of clerical indolence. The fadt is quite the reverfe ; it was an interval of unremitted induftry, ofin- duftry fo fimilarly and unvariably exerted, that the defcription of one day includes the hiftory of the whole nine years. If

we

( xxiii )

we fay that he was induftrious beyond ex- ample in all the public and other exercifes annexed to his employment, and indefa- tigable in various voluntary private ones ; we fhall by fuch a fhort narrative explain all the tranfadtions of that period. This bleffed labour was, however, at this time again interrupted by another return of illnefs.

In the month of September he was vifited with a violent fever, which fhook his constitution exceedingly, and left a weaknefs of nerves behind it, which he never afterwards entirely recovered.

The efteem and affe&ion, which he was univerfally held in, appeared confpi- cuoufly on this alarming occafion. Prayers were made during the whole continuance of his illnefs, through feveral churches ; b 4 nay,

( xxiv )

nay, of fuch peculiar confequcnce was his prefervation confidered, that particu- lar days were fet apart by his pariftiioners, to petition the Deity for his recovery. Several of the miniftry affifted in thefe pious meetings. There was, indeed, all the form, in a lefler degree only, and with the farther difference of infinitely more zeal and fincerity ufed for the fal- vation of this particular individual, than is fometimes obferved on the occur- rence of ftate emergencies by royal in* junction throughout the nation; of fuch fimilar eftimation did his religi- ous cotemporaries confider the life of Dr. Watts, and the welfare of the kingdom. It pleafed God to liften to prayers fo ardently put, and by flow de- grees he recovered into a ftate that could not fo well be called health, as an exemp- tion from any particular diforder. From this time a general habitual debility per- vaded

( XXV )

vaded his frame, and he was never well, though feldom fo l^ as to incapacitate him from the due execution of his func- tion.

There was a confequence attending this ficknefs, which in the opinion of Dr. Watts, was a fufficient compenfation for all the miferies he endured under it; it was the means of introducing him to the family of a very excellent perfon Sir Tho- mas Abney, knight, and alderman of London ; who, on a principle of the mod: generous friendship, received him in a very languifhing ftate of health to his houfe, and cherifhed him there with every thing that affluence, dire&ed by the bell: feelings, could beftow.

A remarkable attachment fubfifted from this time between Dr. Watts and this

good

( xxvi )

good man till his death, which happened in the year 1722 ; the friendfhip was however afterwards continued with his relidt with equal regard ; and fuch was the fatisfa£tion which their reverend gueft received under fuch a connection, that he has often declared, that his apparent misfortunes had been pofitive bleffings, and that his ficknefs was an event of that kind which is only denominated an evil from the weaknefs of human difcern- ment, but which had been in reality, the dark but happy means, in the hands of a gracious Providence, of effecting confequent good, and fubliantial felicity.

In the year 1728, he was prefented with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Univerfities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen ; this honour was accompanied with a tranfcript of the reafons that had in- fluenced

( xxvii )

fiuenced them id conferring it, replete with refpect and compliment to the merits of Dr. Watts.

Proceeding in the fame uniform tenour of uninterrupted duty to his neighbour and his God, this good man, notwithftanding the many flrokes his originally infirm frame had received, continued in his earthly pilgrimage, probably the moil hallowed traveller in it, for twenty years from this time. His laft ficknefs was rather a decay of nature exhaufted with age and labours, than any particular diforder. The de- cline in thefe fituations is always gra- dual and lingering. The fprings of life, when affected by no extraordinary im- pulfe, unbend flowly, and the foul feems reluctantly to depart when it is not driven from its receptacle by the compullion

of

( xxviii )

of diforder ; this was the cafe with Dr. Watts, he fuffered long under this kind of intermediate exiftence, and at laft, on the 25th of November, 1748, was re- ceived into the bofom of his God.

The two following letters, as being defcriptive of the manner in which this laft great event affe&ed him, may not be unacceptable to our readers. The zeal and attachment which pervades them, will alone plead our apology for their in- fertion, as their is nothing perhaps which refle&s more peculiar credit on a great man, than the circumftance of his pof- feffing the love and veneration of his domeftics. It frequently happens that they are every where admired but at home, and revered by all but thofe who know them beft. To be the obje&s of affedtioa to thofe who accompany you

in

( xxix )

in all your familiar habits and latent prac- tices, when the awe of the world cannot adtuate, when the cover of political con- ftraint is off, and a man {talks no longer on the ftilts of authorfhip, or public cha- racter, always and neceflarily implies the adtual pofleffion of unaffedted amiablenefs, and proves the exiftence of the beft qualities, the excellences of heart and temper.

SIR, Stoke-Newington, Nov. 24, 1748.

I WROTE to you by the laft poft, that we apprehended my matter very near his end, and that we thought it not poflible he mould be alive when the letter reached your hands; and it will, no doubt, greatly furprize you to hear, thac he ftill lives. We, ourfelves, are amazed at it. He paft through the laft night, in the main, quiet and eafy, but for five hours would receive nothing within his lips. I was down in his chamber early in the morning, and found him quite fenfible.

I begged

( XXX )

I begged he would he pleafed to take a little liquid to moiften his mouth, and he received at my hands three teafpoons full, and has done the like feveral times this day. Upon enquiry, he told me he lay eafy, and his mind peaceful and ferene. I faid to him this morning, that he had taught us how to live, and was now teaching us how to die, by his patience and compofure (for he has been re- markably in this frame for feveral days pall). He replied, " Yes." I told him, I hoped he experienced the comfort of thefe words : I will never leave thee, nor for fake thee. He anfwered, " I do fo." The eafe of body, and calmnefs of mind, which he enjoys, is a great mercy to him, and to us. His fick chamber has nothing terrifying in it. He is an upright man, and I doubt not his end will be peace. We are ready to ufe the words of Job and fay, We fhall feek him in the morning, but he fhall not be. But God only knows, by whofe power he is upheld in life, and for wife purpofes no doubt. He told me, he liked I mould be with him. All other bufmefs is put off, and I am in the houfe night and day. I would adminifter all relief that is in my

power j

( xxxi )

power ; fie is worthy of all that can be done for him. My lady fends her compliments, and am your very faithful and truly afflicted fervant,

JOS. PARKER.

SIR* Stoke-Newington, Nov. 26, 1748,

ten o'clock in the evening.

AT length the fatal news is come. The fpirit of the good man, my dear mafter, took its flight from the body to worlds unfeen, and joys unknown, yefterday in the afternoon, about three o'clock, without a fcruggle or a groan. *

My lady and Mrs. Abney are fupported as well as we can reafonably expect. It is a houfe of mourning and tears -, for I have told you before now, that we all attended upon him and ferved from a principle of love and efteem. May God forgive us all that we have improved no more by him, whilft we enjoyed him.

Mr. Neal has been here this day. The will

has been opened, but as he intends to write

to you to-night, it would be impertinent in

1 me

( xxxii )

me to interfere in things which he, no doubt, will acquaint you with. I am, Sir, your very obliged and mod obedient fervant, un- der much concern,

JOS. PARKER.

In attempting to convey the character of Dr. Watts, a man muft be always liable to the imputation of partiality or injuftice. His qualities, if fairly told, will give the portrait the appearance of the firft, and a curtailed reprefentation would be the worft of injuftice, injuftice to merit. Which ever of thefe alternatives may ber here incurred, repugnant as they each are to the honeft fincerity of biography, this confolation will always be in the pofleflion of the editor, that it was his defign, at leaft, to have given the figure exactly as it was, neither darkened by unjuft /ombre V nor heightened by un- neceffary blaze.

There

( xxxiii )

There have been few men, perhaps, though the moft diftinguifhed in the annals of writing or erudition, who have excelled or equalled Pr. Watts in the extent, variety and value of his endow- ments. Superior literature tranfmits the name of one man to pofterity, his poeti- cal effufions that? of another -? a third is made immortal by his profe, and a fourth is handed down by the rare re- commendation of eminent piety. All thefe different properties which are indivi- dually fufficient to fave the pofleflor from oblivion, were combined in him with confiderable eclat. In literature he was the profoundeft and moft general adept of his day ; no Ipecies of it efcapedhim : his refearches were deep, and his fubjects various. He was perfectly converfant in the deac} languages, of which he was a great admirer, as well as an elegant

Vol. I, c imitator.

( XXXIV )

imitator, and very fufficiently intelligent in almoft all the living ones. Mathema- tics, divinity, and philofophy were at different times the objefl: of his purfuit, and in the two laft particularly he was very eminently learned. If he had left no other teft behind him, by which a judgment might be formed of his erudi- tion and abilities, his Treatife on Logic would have been a convincing criterion of each. He was the firft man who re- duced this complicated fubjecl to intelli- gibility, and mixed plain fenfe with the fcience. It was he took the lead in the honourable apoftacy from the dominion of Suarez and Aquinas, who had fo long kept meaning under the tyranny of words, and had feparated language from idea. It was he firft difcovered to the world, that logic and reafon were not in fact in- compatible, and inftru&ed them in the

wonderful

( XXXV )

Wonderful truths that the one, indeed* was but a modification of the other ; and that logic, properly fo called, in all its forms, was but meaning methodized.

Literature and judgment were not the only endowments which diftinguifhed Dr. Watts, variety and fublimity of fancy were qualities which fhone with equal luftre in him ; and he is* perhaps, the only inftance where thefe repugnant talents were found blended in fo particular a degree in the fame object. His poetry if judged of with a due allowance to the theme, certainly entitles him to a very high character in that ftyle of compofition. The verfe muft flow fweetly^ indeed, which makes precept palatable or religion entertaining. Eccen- tric imagery, fictitious defcription, and all the other pleafing, though alien effu- c a Cons

( xxxvi )

{ions of a warmed fancy, can never be admitted in a fubjecl:, the greateft ex- cellence and the brighteft ornament of which is truth.

With thofe, however, who can admire genius tho' combined with morality, the poetical efforts of this Author muft fbr ever be held in very high eftimation. We find in his lyric poems all that luxuriancy and variety of idea, which are the true characleriftics of that fpecies of writing, and which have fo j lift ly lifted the father of it to the pinnacle of poetical re- putation : and, in his pfiilms, there is a well-mixed compound of fenfe and fubli- mity, of enthufiafm and judgment, which is every way fuited to the dignity of in-, fpiration.

Great as Dr. Watts merit flands as an author, it is infinitely outfhone

by

( xxxvii )

by his pre-eminent excellence as a mail. If fuperftition, mixed any where with his chara&er, it was the nice and cau- tious exercife of a moft rigorous ho- nefty. His integrity was inviolable— his preferments and merited honours were all retarded, and fome loft by it. So far from condefcending to accept favours from the great, under the precarious tenour of their choice, or the difgraceful condition of making his principles the premium, he made it his maxim never to receive any material obligation at all from them. He was confcious of the effedt which perfonal kindnefs has upon a generous heart, and would not fubje£l himfelf to the chance of becoming virtuoufly wicked by performing bad a£tions under the influence and fan£tion of private gra- titude. Example fpeaks more ftrongly than affertion ; and the two brief inftan- , ces which follow, will be the beft demon- 3 fixation

( xxxviii )

ftration of this part of his character. He was ftrongly folicited to the deanery of Sa- lifbury, which was an advancement much beyond any thing he at that time poffef- fed; but refufed it, fince the accep- tance involved in it a dereliction of the principles to which he had been bred, and which i from ferious and weighed refle&ion, he had preferred to every other ipecies of religious do£trine or profefiion. Our fecond example records, that within a few years of his death, a gentleman, whofe name, refpect to his fucceflor induces us to fupprefs, offered to leave him his whole fortune, which was very confiderable, under the fimple condition only, that he would dedicate his next publication to him. Dr. Watts alfo reje&ed this propofal, obferving to his friends, that fince the gentleman's merits had not encouraged him to fuch a public

declaration

( xxxix )

declaration of diftinction and efteem, I113 money mould never bribe him to it. It is hard to decide where our wonder in this tranfaction ought moft properly to be directed; whether to the vanity of the gentleman, or the integrity of the author. We have had frequent occafions to obferve in the courfe of this life, that active and habitual piety was the general drefs of this good man's mind. We mall not therefore make the eulogium irkfome by repetition, but conclude with obferving, that, as Dr. Watts was juflly cele- brated for thofe greater talents which ex- act efteem, fo he was no lefs poffeiTed of thofe gentler inferior qualifications which fatten the ties of human connections, and make friendfhip a pleafure as well as a duty.

HYMNS

AND

SPIRITUAL SONGS.

FAITH.

KJ What wretched fouls are we !

How black our guilty {tains ! And Satan binds our captive minds

Fall: in his flavifh chains.

Hark, there's a voice of fovereign grace

Sounds from the facred word ! Come defpairing finners, come,

And truft upon the Lord,

Well, I'll obey th> Almighty call,

Accept of this relief; •—Yes, gracious God, I would believe,

Lord help my unbelief.

To the dear crimfon of thy veins

Incarnate Lord I fly ; Here will I waih my fpotted foul

From crimes of blacked dye. Vol. I. B Stretch

[ * ]

Stretch out thine arm, victorious King, Thefe trait'rous fins fubdue;

Drive the old dragon from his throne, With all his hellifh crew.

A guilty, weak, and heiplefs worm,

On thee my God I fall, Be thou my pardon and my itrength,

My Jefus and my all.

A Sacramental Hymn. From Rev. i. 5, 6, 7.

JNlOW to the Lord, that makes us know The wonders of his dying love ;

Be humble honours paid below,

And {trains of noble praife above.

'Twas he that cleans'd our blackeft fins, And wafti'd us in his deareft blood ;

'Tis he that makes us priefts and kings Unto his Father and our God.

Freedom from Sin, and Mifery in Heaven.

\J U R 8ns, alas ! how ftrong they are !

And like a violent fea, Break our obedience to our God,

And hurry us away.

The

t 3 ]

The waves of trouble, how they rife !

Well, 'twill be quickly o'er, And death fliall land our weary minds

Safe on the heavenly more.

How fweetly we'll obey him there,

How quick, how quick we'll move ;

No fin to clog our winged fouls, Or cool our blazing love,

O how we'll fit and fing, and tell

The wonders of his grace, Till boundlefs raptures fire our hearts,

And mine in every face.

For ever his dear name fhall dwell

Upon our tuneful tongue, And Jefus, and Hofannah be

The clofe of every fons;.

Repentance and Mortification from the Sight of a crucified Saviour.

VJ That my foul were form'd of grief,

How quick I'd vent my fighs ! Yes, I would gum whole floods of tears,

Whole oceans from mine eyes.