How vast the treasure we possess. J. Watts. [All things in Christ.] This hymn, as in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, enlarged edition, 1841, the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858, and others, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, is a cento from two hymns appended to Watts's Sermons, 1721-4, the first beginning, "How vast the treasure we possess"; and the second, "My soul, survey thy happiness." In the cento, stanza i. is from the first, and stanzas ii.-v. are from the second of these two hymns.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >
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