SOURCE: Brawley, Benjamin. “Isaac Watts and His School.” In History of the English Hymn, pp. 67-88. New York: Abingdon Press, 1932.

In the following essay, Brawley examines Watts's writings in light of the author's position as the innovator of original, individualized hymns.

The early years of the eighteenth century were in England a period of materialism and compromise. A spirit of self-interest pervaded both church and state, and principle was subordinated to expediency. The day of Puritanism was over; complacency succeeded a great war of ideals; faith retreated before the sway of Deism. Alexander Pope became the chief poet of the age.

In spite of the current rationalism, however, there was still interest in religion. The people at large knew little of Deism or Platonism, and their spiritual striving was simple and sincere. As we have seen, moreover, by the close of the seventeenth century the Psalters were losing...