Those who walked before us II: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts can be considered the father English hymns. He was among the first to use creative poetry in songs as worship to God.  During his time only poetry from the Bible were traditionally used during worship.

He was born in 1674 in Southampton, England. As a child he displayed a talent for making rhymes, one time he had to explain why his eyes were open during prayers, and he responded:

A little mouse for want of stairs
ran up a rope to say its prayers.

Receiving corporal punishment for this, he cried:

O father, father, pity take
And I will no more verses make.

As he grew up, Isaac Watts used his talent to write hymns. Some of his most well known hymns such as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and "Joy to the World" shows his love for God and his understanding of biblical doctrine.

He also made some contributions to the study of logic, having written a book called Logic, or The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry After Truth With a Variety of Rules to Guard Against Error in the Affairs of Religion and Human Life, as well as in the Sciences. but that's less well known compared to his hymns.