» an original Hour in the possion of M_Abney Newington. r John Bell British Library Strand May 17.782.

Sa tani
London Printed for John Bell British Library Strand June

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 case,
Loaded with pond'rous sense!...-We are here told,
When life its narrow round of years hath rollid,
What 'tis employs the blessed, what makes their bliss ;
Soncs such as WATTS's are, and love like his. GBOY.
Boy'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 vigour join
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 Press,
BY GEORGE CAWTHORN, NO. 132, STRAND;
BOOKSELLER AND PRINTER TO HER ROYAL HIGHNES

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 particular 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 whom many of them 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