Thus saith the Ruler of the Skies,
Awake my dreadful Sword;
Awake my Wrath, and smite the Man
My fellow, saith the Lord.
Vengeance receiv'd the dread command,
And armed down she flies,
Jesus submits to his Father's hand,
And bows his head and dies.
But oh! the Wisdom and the Grace
That join with Vengeance now!
He dies to save our Guilty Race,
And yet he rises too.
A Person so divine was he
Who yielded to be slain,
That he could give his Soul away,
And take his Life again.
Live, glorious Lord, and reign on high,
Let every Nation sing,
And Angels sound with endless joy
The Saviour and the King.
Be the first to react on this!
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.