Isaac Watts; his life and writings, his homes and friends

by Edwin Paxton Hood

Be thou, my heart, still near my God,

And Thou, my God, be near my heart.

Such are the streams of devotion on which we are borne in the verses of Watts.

Some of his hymns are like collects, the compact, comforting little watchwords and creeds of the Church—

Firm as the earth Thy Gospel stands.

Or—

Our God, how firm His promise stands.

Sometimes we have a fine bold trumpet-like tone of Faith:

Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme,