Naked as from the earth we came. I. Watts. [Submission.] First published in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707 (edition 1709, Bk. i., No. v.), on Job i. 21, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Submission to afflictive Providence." In this form its use is limited. In the 1745 Draft Translations and Paraphrases of the Church of Scotland it was included, unaltered; but in the authorized edition of 1781, No. iii., it was given in a recast form, in which stanzas i.-iii. were Watts's rewritten, and stanza iv. was new. This recast, which has been in use in the Church of Scotland for more than one hundred years, is claimed for W. Cameron in the markings by his daughter of the 1781 Translations & Paraphrases.
--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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