Excerpt from The Posthumous Works of the Late Learned and Reverend Isaac Watts, D.D, Vol. 1 of 2: Compiled From Papers in Possession of His Immediate Successors
There is no fubjee't on which our curiofity is more f'trongly 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 hifiory. They were born, went to fchool, wrote and died.
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Isaac Watts is recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", as he was the first prolific and popular English hymnwriter, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.
His education led him to the pastorate of a large Independent Chapel in London, and he also found himself in the position of helping trainee preachers, despite poor health. Taking work as a private tutor, he lived with the non-conformist Hartopp family at Fleetwood House, Abney Park in Stoke Newington, and later in the household of Sir Thomas Abney and Lady Mary Abney at Theobalds, Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, and at their second residence, Abney House, Stoke Newington.
Though a non-conformist, Sir Thomas practised occasional conformity to the Church of England as necessitated by his being Lord Mayor of London 1700-01. Likewise, Isaac Watts held religious opinions that were more non-denominational or ecumenical than was at that time common for a non-conformist, having a greater interest in promoting education and scholarship, than preaching for any particular ministry.
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