The Life and Choice Works of Isaac Watts (eBook)

by Isaac Watts

in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats

A big thanks to Thomas and Colleen Witte for scanning, editing and making this classic work available.

In preparing a series of volumes to be styled the STANDARD LIBRARY or SACRED CLASSICS, containing, in a form adapted for popular use, the best works of eminent divines, with memoirs of their lives, notices of their writings, and estimates of their genius, we believe that we render an acceptable service to the Christian public. For what person, whose heart glows with love and gratitude to the Author of the Christian revelation, does not feel a deep interest in the lives and writings of such venerated divines as Taylor, Howe, Baxter, Owen, Watts, Doddridge, Fuller, Hall, Chalmers, Edwards, Dwight, and others of kindred spirit? Their praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and their lofty genius and fervent piety will excite the admiration of the Christian world in all future ages. It is certainly delightful, as well as profitable, for the Christian in his pilgrimage, frequently to review the lives and study the practical and devotional works of these zealous ambassadors of Christ, who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises.

In addition to the biographical sketches, our selection will comprise many valuable treatises not readily accessible. The principal object, in the present series, will be the collection of such matter only as shall be highly conducive to the mental, moral, and religious improvement and elevation of readers of all evangelical denominations.

This volume, which is the first in the series, contains the life and choice works of ISAAC WATTS.

In the biographical memoir, we have endeavored to present, in a clear, succinct, and chronological order, the leading incidents in his long and useful life. Solicitous to render the memoir as interesting as possible to the Christian reader, we have carefully consulted the best authorities on the subject, such as Milner's Life, Times, and Correspondence of Watts; the Memoirs of Watts by Gibbons, Burder, Johnson, and Southey; and Wilmott’s Lives of the English Sacred Poets.
The “choice works” which have been selected, are the Discourses on Death and Heaven—Discourses on the Love of God, etc.—An Exhortation to Ministers—Select Sermons—Miscellaneous Thoughts—and Poems.

In the opinion of the excellent Dr. Doddridge, these are the most admirable works of their author. “I most admire,” says he, “the first volume of his sermons—Death and Heaven—the Love of God—and Humble Attempt—not to mention his incomparable Lyric Poems, Psalms and Hymns. ”In a letter to a friend, the saintly JAMES HERVEY thus highly commends the small volume of Dr. Watts on The Love of God, and its Influence on the Passions: “This is indeed a most excellent book, happily calculated for usefulness. If you have never seen it, you have a pleasure yet to come, and I would by all means advise you to get it” And the late venerated WILLIAM JAY, of Bath, once remarked, in relation to the sermons of Watts, which he always highly valued: “They are truly beautiful sermons. His ‘Inward Witness to Christianity,’ his ‘Hidden Life of a Christian,’ his ‘Peace in Death,’ his ‘No Night in Heaven,’ and ‘No Pain among the Blessed,’ his ‘Joy at the Resurrection,’ are among the sweetest and most profitable sermons in our language.” Every intelligent, pious, and discriminating person, who is well acquainted with the sermons of our most celebrated divines and those of Dr. Watts, will, we think, readily coincide in this opinion of Mr. Jay.

It is particularly interesting to know that the book on “Death and Heaven” was a favorite with Doddridge while suffering under his fatal disease, in a foreign land; and that it soothed and cheered his spirit within a short period of his death. This single statement of its usefulness to one of the most distinguished and pious servants of Christ should commend it to the careful attention of every Christian pilgrim, steadily approaching the river of death, and expecting an ETERNITY OF GLORY beyond the shores of time.

The believer will find, in the present selection, much to sustain and soothe him while journeying through the sorrows and conflicts of the Christian course, and to enliven his pathway to that better land where there is no night, no pain, no tears, no death,—where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.

In the hope that it may prove acceptable to clergymen, instructive to Christian families, and interesting to all readers, the first volume of the STANDARD LIBRARY OF SACRED CLASSICS is now offered to the public.
 
ARGYLE, N. Y., June, 1857.

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Note: We recognize that Watts has some erroneous theology in his views of the Trinity  Posting this book is, therefore, not a blanket endorsement of Watts' theology.

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Contents

PREFACE

LIFE OF ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

DEATH AND HEAVEN

DISCOURSE I. The conquest over death, described in a funeral discourse in memory of the Lady Hartopp.

THE INTRODUCTION.

SECTION I. DEATH AN ENEMY EVEN TO GOOD MEN.

SECTION II. DEATH IS THE LAST ENEMY

SECTION III. THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH.

SECTION IV. BLESSINGS GAINED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH.

DISCOURSE II. The happiness of separate spirits, &c. Attempted in a funeral discourse in memory of Sir John Hartopp.

THE INTRODUCTION.

SECTION I. OF THE SPIRITS OF THE JUST.

SECTION II. OF THEIR PERFECTION IN KNOWLEDGE, HOLINESS, AND JOY.

SECTION III. OF THE VARIOUS KINDS AND DEGREES OF THE EMPLOYMENTS AND PLEASURES OF HEAVEN.

SECTION IV. OF THE INCREASE OF THE SAINTS ABOVE IN KNOWLEDGE, HOLINESS, AND JOY.

SECTION V. OF THE MEANS OF ATTAINING THIS PERFECTION.

SECTION VI. REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING DISCOURSE.

SECTION VII. THE CHARACTER OF THE DECEASED.

SECTION VIII. AN ADDRESS TO THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED.

DISCOURSES OF THE LOVE OF GOD, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ALL THE PASSIONS: With A Discovery Of The Right Use And Abuse Of Them In Matters Of Religion. A Devout Meditation Is Annexed To Each Discourse.

PREFACE

DISCOURSE I. THE AFFECTIONATE AND SUPREME LOVE OF GOD.

DISCOURSE II. DIVINE LOVE IS THE COMMANDING PASSION.

DISCOURSE III. THE USE OF THE PASSIONS IN RELIGION.

DISCOURSE IV. INFERENCES FROM THE USEFULNESS OF THE PASSIONS.

DISCOURSE V. THE ABUSE OF THE PASSIONS IN RELIGION.

DISCOURSE VI. THE AFFECTIONATE CHRISTIAN VINDICATED, AND THE SINCERE SOUL COMFORTED UNDER HIS COMPLAINTS OF DEADNESS, &c.

DISCOURSE VII. MEANS OF EXCITING THE DEVOUT AFFECTIONS.

AN EXHORTATION TO MINISTERS.

SECTION I. or A MINISTER'S PERSONAL RELIGION.

SECTION II. OF A MINISTER'S PRIVATE STUDIES.

SECTION III. OF PUBLIC MINISTRATIONS.

SECTION IV. OF THE CONVERSATION OF A MINISTER.

SECTION V. A SOLEMN ENFORCEMENT OF THESE EXHORTATIONS ON THE CONSCIENCE.

SELECT SERMONS.

SERMON I. THE END OF TIME.

SERMON II. NO PAIN AMONG THE BLESSED.

SERMON III. NO NIGHT IN HEAVEN.

SERMON IV. SAFETY IN THE GRAVE, AND JOY AT THE RESURRECTION.

SERMON V. THE DEATH OF KINDRED IMPROVED.

SERMON VI. DEATH A BLESSING TO THE SAINTS.

SERMON VII. THE HIDDEN LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN.

SERMON VIII. THE HIDDEN LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN.

MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS.

A MEDITATION FOR THE FIRST OF MAY.

DIVINE GOODNESS IN THE CREATION.

DISTANT THUNDER.

VANITY INSCRIBED ON ALL THINGS.

THE RAKE REFORMED IN THE HOUSE OF MOURNING.

THOU HAST RECEIVED GIFTS FOR MEN.

BILLS OF EXCHANGE. 1705.

PRAISE WAITETH FOR THEE O GOD, IN ZION.

O THAT I KNEW WHERE I MIGHT FIND HIM!

POEMS.

DIVINE JUDGMENTS.

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

BREATHING TOWARD THE HEAVENLY COUNTRY.

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