Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was a Nonconformist divine, born at Southampton, son of a schoolmaster. He chose the ministry as his profession, was for a time pastor of a church in Mark Lane, but after a succession of attacks of illness he resigned and went on a visit to his friend Sir Thomas Abney, with whom he stayed for 36 years, at which time his friend died, and he resumed pastoral duties as often as his health permitted. He wrote several books, among which was a book on "Logic," long a university text-book, and a great number of hymns, many of them of wide fame and much cherished as helps to devotion.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Birds in their little nest agree;

And 'tis a shameful sight,
When children of one family
Fall out, and chide, and fight.
- Love Between Brothers and Sisters

• How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower.
- Against Idleness and Mischief

• For Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hand to do.
- Against Idleness and Mischief

Chu Ui-sik