Issac Watts and the Psalms – The Oldest Book I Own
In the 18th century, Isaac Watts reshaped the world of music by introducing churches to new religious poetry intended to be sung by the entire congregation – until then, they were mostly just singing the Psalms.
Like others before him, Watts had already translated the Psalms into (then) contemporary English so that churches could sing them and understand them better. Watts published a book containing his versions of the Psalms that also included many of his own original works – and I happen to have a copy of that book.
It was published in 1821, more than thirty years after Watts’ death, and it is by far the oldest book I own. (Probably the only one I own from that century, but I have a lot of books from the first two decades of the twentieth century.)
I have cats. It stays in the bag.
Yeah, my hand’s that huge. I’m pretty much a giant.
Now you know why so many early protestant ministers are pictured wearing bifocals.
If a certain thing is the best thing to do then don’t worry if no one else is doing it – just do it.
Watts was the only person writing music in his way and plenty of people didn’t think it was best for the church. Those people would think differently, today, if they could see how
his words still influence Christianity while their own words are now seen as disdainful criticism.
Will my words be remembered as those of a cranky blogger or can I actually contribute to the world around me?Related Posts
About The Author
Adam Jones
Adam Jones is a licensed minister who also has an M.A. in medieval Studies from Southern Methodist University. His academic work has been focused on church history, monastic approaches, and pop-culture.
That is SO cool. Where did you get that?
Speaking of, did you ever give a listen to that album of reworked Watts hymns that I recommended? No rush, just thought I’d send another friendly reminder…
Thanks, Adam, for the hymnology history lesson. As is countlessly rehashed: many of the hymns enjoyed for so many years now began as bar songs (not Watts, but …).
I cannot believe there are people who STILL refuse to embrace anything “new” to the canon of music for the church. I can understand style and preference debates, but my thinking is that if the lyrics are theological accurate and not repetitively void (“I love you, Lord, I love you, Lord” ad nauseum) then the songs should be accepted and implemented where practical.
“…if the lyrics are theologically accurate and not repetitively void…”
Aye, there’s the rub. I tell you what, I enjoy nothing more than a modern musical interpretation of an old hymn. All the fun of current musical expression with all the substance of past Christianity!
It’s a touch distinction. A good songwriter can make a phrase like, “knockin’ on heaven’s door” interesting for five minutes. A poor one can drive “Amen” into the ground so that you never want to read the Psalms, again. Crowder uses some simple repetition in songs that are beautiful – but a younger songwriter (like the ones I hear on KLTY) will do something very similar and end up with a lousy song.
Hello mr. Jones..
How are u today… hope you have a bright mind and well forever…
I’m sorry for bothering u today..
I read about your article about Muhammad….The Possum Muhammad
I was think… there is another person that’s so away from the bless…
I wanna bring u to know your Jesus and Christian…
Who was Jesus?
There are many questions which come to mind when the name Jesus is mentioned. Some people say he was a prophet, others call him a god, while others say he was a very wise man. But whatever your idea is, one thing remains certain: he was not your ordinary man. So if there is something special about him, why all the confusion? Just who was Jesus anyway?
His Origins
Jesus lived about 2,000 years ago in ancient Palestine during the height of the Roman Empire. He was not conceived in the usual way, but was implanted in the womb of a young woman named Mary. God simply commanded “Be” and he was. In this sense, he was “a word” of God and a special sign for humanity. In fact, he was the last in a long line of religious guides sent to the Jewish people.
Mary, The Blessed
Mary was a righteous woman. Her mother dedicated her to God’s service even before she was born. As a child, she lived a life marked by health and goodness which others pointed to in admiration. She was raised by the wise Zacharias who instilled in her a beautiful sense of faith in God. When she had become a young woman, Mary sought to purify herself further before her Lord. Knowing that the hustle of life in the towns was distracting, she withdrew from her people to a sanctuary in the East. There she could meditate in seclusion and peace. Suddenly, on a day that seemed no different from the rest, an angel of God visited her, disguised in the likeness of a human. Afraid of so strange a sight, Mary prayed for protection, but the strange being reassured her and declared that he was a messenger from the Lord to announce the glad-tidings of a faultless son. Mary, astounded, asked how this was possible seeing that no man ever touched her. But the angel replied, “Your Lord says, It is easy for Me …”.
How far u know about Jesus through the Bible?
Do you believe the Bible is still pure?
Do you believe Jesus is GOD?
Do You believe Jesus is son of GOD?
Do You believe trinity concept?
Do you believe the church(Paul) was corrupt the pure Bible?
Do you believe you are Christian???
Because .. only a person who doesn’t know about Jesus who will insult Muhammad…
Wanna know???
Well, hit me through my email
Call
Dr. Zack
GOSPEL (BIBLE PENT.) IS NOT PURE!
-KING JAMES VERSION-
LUKE 1: 2,3
2. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
EVEN LUKE HIMSELF ADMIT THAT IS NOT FROM THE GOD….
Old tastement
II SAMUEL 8 : 9, 10
9. When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10. Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass.
I CHRONICLES 18 : 9, 10
9. Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
10. He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
TOI OR TOU ? HADORAM OR JORAM ? HADAREZER OR HADADEZER ?
II KINGS 8 : 26
26Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel
II CHRONICLES 22 : 2
2Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
TWO AND TWENTY OR FORTY AND TWO ?
Genesis 6 : 3
3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Genesis 9 : 29
29And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.
120 or 950???
See also … ii Kings 24 : 8 vs ii Chronicles 36 : 9 (18 or 8 years? 3 months or 3 months and 3 days?)
In the new tastement
John 5 : 37-And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Opposite to –
John 14 : 9- Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
John 5 :31 vs John 8 : 14
THINK!
THERE IS MANY MORE WORDS THAT MAKE THE BIBLE ARE NOT PURE ANYMORE!
JESUS IS NOT GOD. ACCORDING TO THE HOLY BIBLE JESUS IS NOT GOD. HE NEVER CONFESS AND CLAIM AS A GOD. LOOK IN THIS WORD. LET SEE WHAT GOD SAID ABOUT HIMSELF IN THE BIBLE(KING JAMES VERSION)
Deutronomy 4 :3939Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deuteronomy 4 : 44Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 43 : 10-1110Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 44 : 6 6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isaiah 45 : 18 18For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
ONLY GOD WHO IS THE CREATOR. JESUS NEVER JOIN THE CREATION. SO JESUS IS THE NOT GOD… ONLY ONE GOD IS HIM. NOT JESUS!
SEE MORE IN : DEUTERONOMY 4 : 35, EXODUS 8 : 10, II SAMUEL 7 : 22, I KINGS 8 : 23, I CHRONICLES 17 : 20, PSALMS 86 : 8, 89 : 6 AND 113 : 5, HOSEA 13 : 4 AND ZECHARIAH 14 : 9.
IN… MARK12 : 29 29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
I CHORINTHIANS 8 : 4 4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
I TIMOTHY 2 : 5 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
NOW IT’S CLEAR THAT JESUS IS NOT GOD! GOD HIMSELF SAID THAT JESUS IS CANNOT BE A GOD LIKE HIM.
GOD SAID THAT MAN IS JESUS CHRIST.
THERE IS TO MANY DOCTRINE IN THE BIBLE MADE BY HUMAN. NOT GOD! SO BEWARE… IT’S MAKE YOU CONFUSE!. READ THE BIBLE CAREFULLY… USE YOUR MIND LOGIC…
SO MY FRIEND… HOLD TO THIS WORD…
I THESSALONIANS 5 : 21. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
JESUS – HIS STATUS
Were the Muslims on the panel, trying to placate the viewers out of policy, deceit or diplomacy ? Nothing of the kind! They were only articulating what God Almighty had commanded them to say in the Holy Quran. As Muslim they had no choice. They had said in so many words –
“WE MUSLIMS BELIEVE, THAT JESUS WAS ONE OF THE MIGHTIEST MESSENGERS OF GOD, THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST, THAT HE WAS BORN MIRACULOUSLY – WITHOUT ANY MALE INTERVENTION (which many modern-day Christians do not believe today), THAT HE GAVE LIFE TO THE DEAD BY GOD’S PERMISSION, AND THAT HE HEALED THOSE BORN BLIND AND THE LEPERS BY GOD’S PERMISSION. IN FACT NO MUSLIM IS A MUSLIM IF HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS!”
Pleasant SURPRISE
Over 90% of the people who witnessed this debate must have been pleasantly, but sceptically, surprised. They might have not believed their ears. They must have surmised that the Muslims were playing to the gallery-that they were trying to curry favour with their fellow Christian countrymen; that if the Muslims would say a few good words about Jesus, then in reciprocation the Christians might say a few good words about Muhummed (May the Peace and the Blessings of God be upon all His righteous servents- like Moses, Jesus, Muhummed ); that I scratch your back and you scratch my back – which would be a sham or hypocrisy.
HATE CULTIVATED
We cannot blame the Christians for their scepticism. They have been so programmed for centuries. They were trained to think the worst of the man Muhummed (pbuh) and his religion. How aptly did Thomas Carlyle say about his Christian brethren over a hundred and fifty years ago – “THE LIES WHICH WELLMEANING ZEAL HAS HEAPED ROUND THIS MAN (Muhummed) ARE DISGRACE FUL TO OURSELVES ONLY.” We Muslims are partly responsible for this staggering ignorance of the 1,200,000,000 Christians of the world. We have not done anything substantial to remove the cobwebs.
CHRIST NOT A NAME
The word CHRIST is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah, Arabic-Masih. Root word m-a-s-a-h-a, meaning to rub, to massage, to anoint. Priests and kings were anointed when being consecrated to their offices. But in its translated, Grecian form “CHRIST”, it seems unique:befitting Jesus only. The Christian has a knack of transmuting baser metals into shining gold. What he is wont to do is to translate names into his own language like “cephas” to Peter, “messiah” to Christ. How does he do that? Very easily MESSIAH in Hebrew means anointed. The Greek word for anointed is “christos”. Just lop off the ‘os’ from christos and you are left with christ. Now change the little ‘c’ to a capital ‘C’, and “hey, presto!” he has created a unique (?) name! Christos means ANOINTED, and anointed means APPOINTED in its religious connotation. Jesus (pbuh) was appointed (anointed) at his baptism by John the Baptist, as God’s Messenger.Every Prophet of God is so anointed or appointed. The Holy Bible is replete with the “anointed” ones. In the original Hebrew – made a “messiah”. Let us keep to the English translation – “anointed.” Not only were prophets and priests and kings anointed (christos-ed), but borns, and cherubs and lamp-posts also.
I am the God of Beth-el, where you ANOINTED a pillar…..
Genesis 31:13
If the priest that is ANOINTED do sin….
Leviticus 4:3
And Moses….ANOINTED the tabernacle and all things that was therein…
Leviticus 8:10
…THE LORD SHALL….EXALT THE HORN OF HIS ANOINTED
1 Samuel 2:10
Thus saith the Lord to his ANOINTED to Cyrus….
Isaiah 45:1
Thou art the ANOINTED cherub….
Ezekiel 28:14
There are a hundred more such references in the Holy Bible. Everytime you come across the word ANOINTED in your English Bible, you can take it that that word would be christos in the Greek translations, and if you take the same liberty with the word that the Christians have done, you will have – Christ Cherub, Christ Cyrus, Christ Priest and Christ Pillar, etc.
SOME TITLES EXCLUSIVE
Although, every prophet of God is an ANOINTED one of God – a Messiah, the title “Masih” or “Messiah” or its translation “CHRIST” is exclusively reserved for Jesus, the son of Mary, in both Islam and in Christianity. This is not unusual in religion. There are certain other honorific title which may be applied to more than one prophet, yet being made exclusive to one by usage: like “Rasul-lullah”, meaning Messenger of God, which title is applied to both Moses (19:51) and Jesus (61:6) in the Holy Quran. Yet “Rasul-lullah” has become synonymous only with the Prophet of Islam among Muslims.
Every prophet is indeed a FRIEND OF GOD, but its Arabic equivalent “Kha- lil-lullah” is exclusively associated with Father Abraham. This does not mean that the others are not God’s friends. “Kalimul-lah” (One who spoke with God) is never used for anyone other than Moses, yet we believe that God spoke with all His Messengers, including Jesus and Muhummed (May the Peace and Blessings of God be upon all His servants). Associating certain titles with certain personages only, does not make them exclusive or unique in any way. We honour all in varying terms.
Whilst the good news was being announded (verse 45 above) Mary was told that her unborn child will be called Jesus, that he would be the Christ, a “Word” from God, and that…..
Adam I have a copy of the Isaac Watts settings of the Psalms: “Singing Psalms with Isaac Watts. Ad a Biography of the Author,” by my old roommate’s father, Nicholas A Woychuk
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1880960591
Six partial settings of Ps 89, and a famous one of Psalm 90 following!
Very nice…