THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

ISAAC WATTS, D.D.

IN SEVEN VOLUMES.

WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

Say, human Seraph! whence that charming force,
That flame, that soul which animates each line,
And how it runs with such a graceful ease,
Loaded with popd'rous sense! ---We are here told,
When life its narrow round of years hath rolld,
What 'tis employs the blessed, what makes their bliss;
Sonts such as WATTS's are, and love like his. GROYL.
Soy'reign of Sacred Verse! accept the lays
Of a young bard that dares attempt thy praise,.-**
No vulgar themes thy pious Muse engage,
No scenes of lust pollute thy sacred page:
You in majestic numbers mount the skies,
And meet descending angels as you rise,
Whose just applauses charm the crowded groves,
And Addison thy tuneful song approves.
Soft harmony and manly vigourjoja
To form the beauties of each sprightly line,
Fur ey'ry grace of ev'ry Mure is thine,

BRITANNICUS.

}

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED AT THE Apollo Prcxx,
BY GEORGE CAWTHORN, No. 132, STRAND;
BOOKSELLER AND PRINTER TO HER ROYAL HIGHNE!

THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

1802,

world and of mankind as appears in his writings, and
it shews him to have been a very curious and judicious
observer' of every thing that lay within his notice)
though yet an entertaining and useful narrative might
have been formed by interspersing it with letters
which he wrote to his friends on various occasions,
many of which might probably have been picked up;
but it is in deference to his judgment, and indeed in
compliance with his desire, that none of them are pub-,
lished : for on the publication of some letters to parti-
cular friends along with an author's life some years
ago, the Doctor expressed his disapprobation of such
a practice, and was pleased to say "that if he knew

any body who would publish his letters after he was “ dead he should not thank him for it." Those.letters must therefore remain in the private hands of his friends to whom they were inscribed, and by whcm many ofthem are prized more than gold. However, in some sort to comply with custom, as well as to preserve the memory of so amiable a character and so instructive an example as Dr. Watts's was, it is thought proper on this occasion to republish the following brief Memoirs of his Life and Character from his Funeral sermon, preached by Dr. Jennings to the church of which he was pastor, Dec. 11, 1748.

“ Dr. Isaac Watts was born at Southampton July 17, 1674, of parents who were eminent for religion, and were considerable sufferers for conscience sake in