Isaac Watts: Hymns & Spiritual Songs :Title Pages to the First (1707) and Second (1709) Editions and Watts's Preface to the Second Edition
[ The Title page of the 1st edition has been transcribed from a facsimile reproduction of a copy in Yale University Library. The Title page and Preface of the 2nd edition have been transcribed from a reprint in Selma Bishop's annotated edition, Faith Press, 1962 ]
[ 1st edition ]
and
Spiritual Songs
In Three BOOKS
- I. Collected from the Scriptures.
- II. Compos'd on Divine Subjects.
- III. Prepar'd for the Lord's Supper.
- Towards the Improvement of Chri-
- stian Psalmody, by the Use of E-
- vangelical Hymns in Worship, as
- well as the Psalms of ®David¯
By I.WATTS
_____________________________________
- And they sung a new Song, saying, Thou art
- worthy, &c. for thou wast slain and hast
- redeemed us, &c. Rev. 5. 9.
- Soliti essent (i.e. Christiani) convenire, car-
- menque Christo quasi Deo dicere. Plinius
- in Epist.
LONDON
Printed by J. Humfreys, for John Lawrence at
the Angel in the Poultrey. 1707.
_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
[ 2nd edition ]
and
Spiritual Songs
In Three BOOKS
- I. Collected from the Scriptures.
- II. Compos'd on Divine Subjects.
- III. Prepar'd for the Lord's Supper.
By I.WATTS
_____________________________________
The Second Edition, Corrected
and much Enlarged.
_____________________________________
- And they sung a new Song, saying, Thou art
- worthy, &c. for thou wast slain and hast
- redeemed us, &c. Rev. 5. 9.
- Soliti essent (i.e. Christiani) convenire,
- carmenque Christo quasi Deo dicere.
- Plinius in Epist.
LONDON
Printed by J.H. for John Lawrence at
the Angel in the Poultrey. 1709.
_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._
[ 2nd edition ]
While we sing the praises of our God in his Church, we are employ'd in that part of Worship which of all others is the nearest a-kin to Heaven; and 'tis pity that this of all others should be perform'd the worst upon Earth. The Gospel brings us nearer to the heavenly State than all the former Dispensations of God amongst Men: And in these last Days of the Gospel we are brought almost within sight of the Kingdom of our Lord; yet we are very much unacquainted with the Songs of the New Jerusalem, and unpractis'd in the Work of Praise. To see the dull Indifference, the negligent and the thoughtless Air that sits upon the Faces of a whole Assembly, while the Psalm is on their Lips, might tempt even a charitable observer to suspect the Fervency of inward Religion; and 'tis much to be fear'd that the Minds of most of the Worshippers are absent or unconcern'd. Perhaps the Modes of Preaching in the best Churches still want some Degrees of Reformation, nor are the Methods of Prayer so perfect as to stand in need of no Correction or Improvement: But of all our Religious Solemnities Psalmodie is the most unhappily manag'd. That very Action which should elevate us to the most delightful and divine Sensations, doth not only flat our Devotion, but too often awakens our Regret, and touches all the Springs of Uneasiness within us.
I have been long convinc'd, that one great Occasion of this Evil arises from the matter and Words to which we confine all our Songs. Some of 'em are almost opposite to the Spirit of the Gospel: Many of them foreign to the State of the New-Testament, and widely different from the present Circumstances of Christians. Hence it comes to pass, that when spiritual Affections are excited within us, and our Souls are raised a little above this Earth in the beginning of a Psalm, we are check'd on a sudden in our Ascent toward Heaven by some Expressions that are more suited to the Days of Carnal Ordinances, and fit only to be sung in the Worldly Sanctuary. When we are just entring into an Evangelical Frame by some of the Glories of the Gospel presented in the brightest Figures of Judaism, yet the very next Line perhaps which the Clerk parcels out unto us, hath something in it so extreamly Jewish and cloudy, that darkens our Sight of God the Saviour: Thus by keeping too close to David in the House of God, the Vail of Moses is thrown over our Hearts. While we are kindling into Divine Love by the Meditations of the loving Kindness of God, and the Multitude of his tender Mercies, within a few Verses some dreadful Curse against Men is propos'd to our Lips; That God would add Iniquity unto their Iniquity, not let 'em come into his Righteousness, but blot 'em out of the Book of the Living, Psal. 69. 16, 27, 28. which is so contrary to the New Commandment, of loving our Enemies; and even under the Old Testament is best accounted for, by referring it to the Spirit of Prophetic Vengeance. Some Sentences of the Psalmist that are expressive of the Temper of our own Hearts and the Circumstances of our Lives may compose our Spirits to Seriousness, and allure us to a sweet Retirement within our selves; but we meet with a following Line which so peculiarly belongs but to one Action or Hour of the Life of David or Asaph, that breaks off our Song in the midst; our Consciences are affrighted lest we should speak a Falsehood unto God: Thus the Powers of our Souls are shock'd on a sudden, and our Spirits ruffled before we have time to reflect that this may be sung only as a History of antient Saints: And perhaps in some Instances that Salvo is hardly sufficient neither. Besides, it almost always spoils the Devotion by breaking the Uniform Thread of it. For while our Lips and our Hearts run on sweetly together, applying the Words to our own Case, there is something of Divine Delight in it: But at once we are forced to turn off the Application abruptly, and our Lips speak nothing but the Heart of David: Thus our own Hearts are as it were forbid the Pursuit of the Song, and then the Harmony and the Worship grow dull of meer necessity.
Many Ministers and many private Christians have long groan'd under this Inconvenience, and have wish'd rather than attempted a Reformation: At their importunate and repeated Requests I have for some Years past devoted many Hours of leisure to this Service. Far be it from my Thoughts to lay aside the Book of Psalms in public Worship few can pretend so great a Value for 'em as my self: It is the most artful, most Devotional and Divine Collection of Poesy; and nothing can be suppos'd more proper to raise a pious Soul to Heaven than some parts of that Book; never was a piece of Experimental Divinity so nobly written, and so justly reverenced and admired: But it must be acknowledged still, that there are a thousand Lines in it which were not made for a Church in our Days, to assume as its own: There are also many Deficiences of Light and Glory, which our Lord Jesus and his Apostles have supply'd in the Writings of the New Testament; and with this Advantage I have compos'd these spiritual Songs which are now presented to the World. Nor is the Attempt vain-glorious or presuming; for in respect of clear Evangelic Knowledge, The least in the Kingdom of Heav'n is greater than all the Jewish Prophets, Mat. 11.11.
Now let me give a short Account of the following Composures.
The greatest Part of 'em are suited to the general State of the Gospel, and the most common Affairs of Christians: I hope there will be very few found but what may properly be used in a religious Assembly, and not one of 'em but may well be adapted to some Seasons, either of private or of public Worship. The most frequent Tempers and Changes of our Spirit, and Conditions of our Life are here copied, and the Breathings of our Piety exprest according to the variety of our Passions, our Love, our Fear, our Hope, our Desire, our Sorrow, our Wonder and our Joy, as they are refin'd into Devotion, and act under the Influence and Conduct of the Blessed Spirit; all conversing with God the Father by the new and living Way of Access to the Throne, even the Person and the Mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him also, even to the Lamb that was slain and now lives, I have address'd many a Song; for thus doth the Holy Scriture instruct and teach us to Worship in the various short Patterns of Christian Psalmodie described in the Revelations. I have avoided the more obscure and controverted Points of Christianity, that we might all obey the Direction of the Word of God, and sing his Praises with Understanding, Psal. 47. 7. The Contentions and Distinguishing Words of Sects and Parties are secluded, that whole Assemblies might assist at the Harmony, and different Churches join in the same Worship without Offence.
If any Expressions occur to the Reader that savour of an Opinion different from his own, yet he may observe these are generally such as are capable of an extensive Sense, and may be used with a charitable Latitude. Tho' I don't pretend this is the properest Method to write Treatises of Divinity which are to be read in private; yet I think 'tis most agreeable, that what is provided for publick Worship shou'd give to sincere Consciences as little Vexation and Disturbance as possible. However, where any unpleasing Word is found, he that leads the Worship may substitute a better; for (Blessed be God) we are not confin'd to the Words of any Man in our Public Solemnities.
The whole Book is written in four sorts of Metre, and fitted to the most common Tunes. I have seldom permitted a Stop in the middle of a Line, and seldom left the end of a Line without one, to comport a little with the unhappy Mixture of Reading and Singing, which cannot presently be reformed. The Metaphors are generally sunk to the level of vulgar Capacities. I have aimed at ease of Numbers and smoothness of Sound, and endeavour'd to make the Sense plain and obvious. In the Verse appears so gentle and flowing as to incur the Censure of Feebleness, I may honestly affirm, that sometimes it cost me Labour to make it so: Some of the Beauties of Poesy are neglected, and some wilfully defac'd: I have thrown out the Lines that were too sonorous, and have given an Allay to the Verse, lest a more exalted Turn of Thought or Language should darken or disturb the Devotion of the weakest Souls. But hence it comes to pass that I have been forc'd to lay aside many Hymns after they were finish'd, and utterly exclude 'em from this Volume, because of the bolder Figures of Speech that crouded themselves into the Verse, and a more unconfin'd Variety of Number which I could not easily restrain.
These, with many other Divine and Moral Composures, are now printed in a second Edition of the Poems entitled Hora Lyrica; for as in that Book I have endeavour'd to please and profit the politer part of Mankind without offending the plainer sort of Christians, so in this it has been my Labour to promote the pious Entertainment of Souls truly serious even of the meanest Capacity, and at the same time (if possible) not to give Disgust to Persons of richer Sense and nicer Education; and I hope in the present Volume this End will appear to be pursu'd with much greater Happiness than in the former Impression of it, tho' the World assures me the former has not much Reason to complain.
The whole is divided into Three Books.
In the first I have borrow'd the Sense, and much of the Form of the Song from some particular Portions of Scripture, and have paraphras'd most of the Doxologies in the New Testament that contain any thing in 'em peculiarly Evangelical, and many parts of the Old Testament also that have reference to the Times of the Messiah. In these I expect to be often censur'd for a too religious Observance of the Words of Scripture, whereby the Verse is weaken'd and debas'd according to the Judgment of the Criticks: But as my whole Design was to aid the Devotion of Christians, so more especially in this Part: and I am satisfy'd I shall hereby attain Two Ends, (viz.) assist the Worship of all serious Minds, to whom the Expressions of Scripture are ever dear and delightful, and gratify the Taste and Inclination of those who think nothing must be sung unto God but the Translations of his own Word. Yet you will always find in this Paraphrase dark Expressions enlighten'd, and the Levitical Ceremonies and Hebrew Forms of Speech chang'd into the Worship of the Gospel, and explain'd in the Language of our Time and Nation; and what would not bear such an Alteration is omitted and laid aside. After this manner should I rejoyce to see a good part of the Book of Psalms fitted for the Use of our Churches, and David converted into a Christian: But because I cannot persuade others to attempt this glorious Work, I have suffer'd my self to be persuaded to begin it, and have, thro' divine Goodness, already proceeded half way thro'.
The Second Part consists of Hymns, whose Form is of meer Human Composure, but I hope the Sense and Materials will always appear Divine. I might have brought some Text or other, and apply'd it to the Margin of every Verse, if this Method had been as useful as it was easy. If there be any Poems in the Book that are capable of giving Delight to Persons of a more refin'd Taste and polite Education, perhaps they may be found in this Part; but except they lay aside the Humour of Criticism, and enter into a devout Frame, every Ode here already despairs of pleasing. I confess my self to have been too often tempted away from the more Spiritual Designs I propos'd, by some gay and flowry Expressions that gratify'd the Fancy; the bright Images too often prevail'd above the Fire of Divine Affection; and the Light exceeded the Heat: Yet I hope, in many of them the Reader will find that Devotion dictated the Song, and the Head and Hand were nothing but Interpreters and Secretaries to the Heart: Nor is the Magnificence or Boldness of the Figures comparable to that Divine License which is found in the Eighteenth and Sixty Eighth Psalms, several Chapters of Job, and other Poetical Parts of Scripture: and in this Respect I may hope to escape the Reproof of those who pay a Sacred Reverence to the Holy Bible.
I have prepar'd the Third Part only for the Celebration of the Lord's Supper, that, in Imitation of our blessed Saviour we might sing a Hymn after we have partaken of the Bread and Wine. Here you will find some Paraphrases of Scripture, and some other Compositions. There are above an Hundred Hymns in the Two former Parts that may very properly be used in this Ordinance, and sometimes perhaps appear more suitable than any of these last: But there are Expressions generally us'd in these which confine 'em only to the Table of the Lord, and therefore I have distinguish'd and set 'em by themselves.
If the Lord who inhabits the Praises of Israel shall refuse to smile upon this Attempt for the Reformation of Psalmody amongst the Churches, yet I humbly hope that his blessed Spirit will make these Composures useful to private Christians; and if they may but attain the Honour of being esteem'd pious Meditations, to assist the devout and the retir'd Soul in the Exercises of Love, Faith and Joy, 'twill be a valuable Compensation of my Labours; my Heart shall rejoice at the Notice of it, and my God shall receive the Glory. This was my Hope and Vow in the first Publication, and 'tis now my Duty to acknowledge to him with Thankfulness how useful he has made these Compositions already, to the comfort and Edification of Societies and of private Persons; and upon the same Grounds I have a better prospect and a bigger Hope of much more Service to the Church by the large Improvements of this Edition, if the Lord who dwells in Zion shall favour it with his continu'd Blessing.
1. There are almost 150 new Hymns added, and one or more suited to every Theme and Subject in Divinity. Having found by Converse with Christians what Words or Lines in the former made them less useful, I have not only made various Corrections in them, but have endeavour'd to avoid the same Mistakes in all the new Composures. And whereas many of the former were too particularly adapted to special Frames and Seasons of the Christian Life, almost all that are added have a more general and extensive Sense, and may be assum'd and sung by most Persons in a worshipping Congregation.
2. About 14 or 15 Psalms that were translated in the first Edition are left out in this, because I intend, (if God afford Life and Assistance) to convert the biggest part of the Book of Psalms into Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians; yet the same Numbers are still apply'd to the Hymns, that there might be no Confusion between the 1st and 2nd Edition.
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