Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

THE

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1832.

AUTO-BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORANDA

OF

THE REV. DR. WATTS,

WITH SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.

THE name of Isaac Watts has long shone as one of the brightest stars in the constellation of Congregational Nonconformity, which has, by its benign yet brilliant light, called forth the admiration not only of the Dissenting Churches, but of all candid and enlightened men of every communion.

"Of WATTS," says the Rev. Dr. Dibdin, "the companion of our younger and later years, it is impossible to speak without reverence and respect. His Hymns are the charm of our early youth; his Logic, the well-known theme of school-boy study; and his Sermons, Essays, and other theological compositions, are a source of never-failing gratification in the advance, maturity, and decline of life. The man, at four-score may remember, with gratitude, the advantage of having committed the hymns of this pious man to his infantile memory. What Dr. Johnson has said of him* me

* "Happy will be that reader, whose mind is disposed by his verses or his prose, to imitate him in all but his nonconformity; to copy his benevolence to man, and his reverence to God." Lives of the Poets, article Life of Watts.

VOL. XV. N. S. No. 86.

[blocks in formation]

Every thing that relates to such a man must therefore be interesting, and we greatly regret that there does not exist any memoirs that are worthy of his admirable and holy character. In the prefatory account of his life and character, published with the first edition of his works, in quarto, 1753, under the superintendance of Dr. D. Jennings, the writer, most probably the Doctor himself, remarks, "It is not because there is no surviving friend of the Doctor's who would not willingly pay that respect to his memory as to write the history of his life, that the reader is not gratified in this respect with so large a narrative as he would probably desire; but it is because the Doctor himself, while living, disapproved of it. For when he has been desired to leave some memoirs that might furnish out such a history, he absolutely declined it, and desired that his character might stand in the world merely as it would appear in his works." The preface gives a second reason,

* The Library Companion, &c. p. 65.

K

which is, that the Doctor's feeble state of health and literary habits did not supply much variety of incident, as his life "was, for the most part, led on in one even track." Now it is certain, that his illustrious friend, Dr. Doddridge, at the united request of Lady Abney, and Nathaniel Neal, Esq. did undertake, early in the year 1749, to write his life, provided he could be furnished with any materials proper for the purpose, and the rather, as he had been solicited on that head by some of his friends in foreign countries.*

It was not, therefore, deference to Dr. Watts's wishes that prevented Dr. Doddridge from undertaking that work, but either the want of adequate materials, or the rapid progress of disease which, in two short years, translated that angelic man from the labours of earth to the society of heaven.

That there existed sufficient materials for "an entertaining and useful narrative," is admitted by the preface already referred to; and the church of Christ must deplore that he who has supplied the words of elevated praise, which on each returning Sabbath are sung by many million tongues, should not live before them in a well-drawn portrait of his laborious, patient, candid, useful life.

The most considerable account of Dr. Watts appeared in 1780, from the pen of his friend, Dr. Thomas Gibbons, entitled, "Memoirs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D.D." This octavo volume contains information enough to have secured a most interesting memorial; but biography was certainly not Dr. Gibbons's forte, for he has thrown into his notes what should

* Doddridge's Diary and Correspondence, vol. v. p. 111.

have formed the text, and burdened his narrative with long papers and dry criticisms which, if published at all, should have formed an appendix, or appeared in the notes.

The life of Watts by the great Dr. Johnson, which, considering the prepossessions of the author, is written with unusual candour, and in his most beautiful and finished style, is better adapted to his poetical than his ministerial character.

In 1791, the Rev. S. Palmer, of Hackney, published Dr. Johnson's life, "with notes, containing animadversions and additions, relating to Dr. Watts's character, writings, and sentiments, particularly on the Trinity."

This also was an unhappy effort, as the notes were occasionally extremely fastidious, and were written in a style which caused them to appear to great disadvantage beneath the brilliant Johnsonian pages they were penned to censure.

*

At a later period, Mr. Palmer did the memory of Dr. Watts more justice by the publication of a pamphlet entitled, "Dr. Watts no Socinian: a refutation of the testimony of Dr. Lardner, as brought forward in the Rev. T. Belsham's Memoirs of the late Rev. T. Lindsay;" and which for ever sets at rest the question respecting Dr. Watts's opinion on that momentous controversy.

Perhaps it may be desirable to notice the only other biographical sketches of Dr. Watts of which we have any knowledge.

About 1779, there appeared two octavo volumes, entitled, "The Posthumous Works of the late reverend and learned Isaac Watts, D.D.: compiled from papers in possession of his immediate suc

* Vide Memoir of Rev, S. Palmer, Cong. Mag. vol. ii. p. 705.

cessors, and adjusted and published by a gentleman of the University of Cambridge." This work, Dr. Gibbons says, is principally made up of pieces written by the Doctor's father, and here attributed to his more gifted son, merely to answer the purposes of trade, and may be, therefore, regarded as "a shameful attempt to impose upon the public."

The Protestant Dissenters' Magazine for February, 1795, contains a brief sketch of the Doctor's life, which does not, however, supply much additional information to that previously known. It is now time that we should refer to that document which has suggested these prefatory remarks. There exists a small relic, in Dr. Watts's own hand-writing, of ten pages, in a small pocketbook size, entitled, "Memorable affairs in my life," and which is brought down to 1710, which was the thirty-eighth year of his age.

This MS consists of "Memoranda," concerning himself, on the right page, and "Coincidents," relating to ecclesiastical, national, or family affairs, on the opposite page.

Having been permitted to copy this fragment, we present it to our readers, persuaded, that though it does not extend above half through the useful years of Dr. Watts, that it will be perused with interest by many of our readers. We add a few explanatory notes at the foot of the page, and venture to suggest, that the life and times of Dr. Watts, written in a style worthy of the subject, is a desideratum in our literature, and while we express our persuasion, that abundant materials may be found for the work, we are convinced that the churches of Britain and America would hail such a compilation as no trifling accession to the library of Evangelical Biography.

MEMORABLE AFFAIRS IN MY LIFE.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

1698-9 Cousin John Chapma. of Portsm. Began to preach after I had pur

died

1699-1700 Feb. Mr. Wm. Adams dyed.

1700 March 30. Grandmo. Tanto May 22. Mr. John Poole Nov. 11. Mr. Tho. Gunston*

sued University studys above

8 years.....

.July 17, 1698 Went to Southampton and preached there several times-in a visit to my friends .... Preacht as Dr. Chancey's assistant in ye Church at Mark Lane

........

Aug. 1698

Feb. 1698-9

[blocks in formation]

So yt I was detained from study
and preaching 5 mo. by my
weakness. Except one very short
discourse at Southto. in extreme
necessity. Dr. Chancy having
left his people, Aprill, 1701,
and I being returned to preach
among em, they called me to
ye pastorall office ...........Jan. 15, 170
dained...
March 18, 170
Visited my friends at Southto. July, 1702

1702 March 8. Morning, K. Wm. died. Accepted it March 8, and was or

* This gentleman was the brother of Lady Abney, and the much-loved friend of Dr. Watts. He died while young, just as he had finished building a mansion at Newington. There is a funeral poem to his dear memory," amongst the lyrics.

+ Protestant Dissenters of the present day may be disposed to criticize the private character of William, which, we fear, will not bear the strictest inquiry, but our forefathers, who felt the scourge of persecution, and the iron rod of the Stuarts, were led highly to estimate the public advantages which they derived from his accession, consequently they deplored his death as a great calamity, especially as he was succeeded by one

who was too well disposed to walk in the ways of her progenitors. This will explain the exaggerated praise which is given to William in such compositions as Dr. Watts's "Epithet on King William III. of glorious memory."

* Mr. Rowe's Academy was at Newciated with some distinguished indiviington green, where young Watts assoduals as his companions in study. Amongst them were Mr. John Hughes, the poet; Rev. Samuel Say, of Westminster; and Mr. Josiah Hort, who conformed to the national Church, and became Archbishop of Tuam.

[blocks in formation]

Coincidents.

Memoranda.

Seized with violent Gaundise and cholic 3 weeks after my return to London. And had a very slow recovery-8 or 9 week's illness. From Sept. 8, or thereabout

to Nov. 27 or 8

This year (viz.) 1702, by slow degrees, removed from Newington to Mr. Tho. Hollis's in the Minories*

Mrs. Owen, Dr. Owen's widow, died, June-Mr. Samll. Price was choJany. 18, 1703.

1703. Nov. 26. Ffriday-night and Saturday morning, the great and dreadful storm.*

August 31, 1704. Bro. Richard marryd. Joseph Brandley, my first servt. went away, Dec. 1704, and Edwd. Hitchen

came.

Augt. 1705. Mr. Tho. Rowe, my tutor, dyed.+

Mr. Benoni Rowe, my intimate friend, dyed, April 1704.

Bro. Thomas marry'd, May 9th, 1706.

Union of Eng. and Scot. May 1, 1707.

The extent of the mischief, on this occasion, is not generally known; 800 dwelling-houses, 400 windmills were thrown down, together with barns, &c. without number. The steeples, towers, and turrets of many churches were destroyed, and above 100 of them unroofed. More than 300 sail were lost on our coasts, and at least 900 wherries, ship-boats, and barges were destroyed on the Thames alone. More than 8000 persons perished by drowning. The Severn overflowed its

+ How much Dr. Watts esteemed him may be inferred from his poem, entitled, Free Philosophy: inscribed, To the much honoured Mr. Thomas Rowe, the director of my youthful studies.

sen by ye church to assist me.. Augt. I went to Tunbridge, and stayd there 7 weeks with scarce any benefitt. For the waters, thro some defect of my stomach, did not digest well. Dec. After having intermitted, in a great measure, a method of study and pursuit of learning 4 years, by reason of my great indisposition of body and weakness of head (except wh. was of absolute necessity for my constant preaching) and being not satisfied to live so any longer, after due consideration and prayer, I took a boy to read to me and write for me, whereby

1702

1703

[blocks in formation]

A

banks, 15,000 sheep, besides other cattle, perished. This tempest visited the greatest part of the kingdom; so that it was computed more than 250,000 timber trees were torn up by the roots. national fast was appointed, the Queen stating in the proclamation, that " we most humbly acknowledge it to be a token of the divine displeasure, and that it was the infinite mercy of God that we and our people were not thereby wholly destroyed." Commemorative sermons of this awful event were preached, for many years, at the Meeting-House, Little Wild Street, London.

It is probable this gentleman was the father of Mr. Thomas Hollis, the munificent benefactor to Harvard College, Massachusetts.

« ElőzőTovább »