The Victorian Hymn

Abstract

Discusses the continuation of Romantic‐period hymnody and the evidence from Victorian fiction (George Eliot). Also talks about Hymnological Darwinism and the work of Henry Francis Lyte.

Isaac Watts: Reason, Passion and the Revival of Religion

“…There is the associated complicating issue of definitions of Puritanism. 61 In 58 The same point is made by Figures,"Watts," 344. 59 Watts, Works, 'Humble Attempt', Volume 3, 76.…”

“…62 This following of Locke is also seen in part two of Logic where Watts discusses the different ways in which 'truth is let into the mind.' 63 This section partially follows (and 58 Ibid., 'Freedom of Will', Volume 6, 379. 59 Isaac Watts, "Letters," Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 9 (1894): 340.…”

“…57 Hoxie Neale Fairchild, Religious Trends in English Poetry (New York: Columbia University Press, 1939), 123. dark days until the light shone brightly again. 58 However this is to see continuity where there is progression. Watts clearly had Puritan roots and speaks highly of his Puritan forbearers in a day when they were often held in disdain.…”

“…If we could but always confine every term to one certain determinate idea, we should gain and preserve much clearer ideas of things; we should make swifter and larger advances in knowledge; we should cut off a thousand occasions for mistake, and take away a multitude of controversies. 58 Similarly in a letter to Boston minister Benjamin Colman, Watts comments on his controversial writings on the Trinity and says that his aim had been to 'introduce ideas as far as possible into the room of mere words and phrases. ' 59 In later chapters we will see Watts' repeated application of this principle to the practical areas of preaching, praise and prayer.…”

Thomas Watson, Peasant-Poet: The Reading, Writing and Religion of a Cumbrian Dry-Stone Waller

“…107 Through their choice of autobiographies, chroniclers of the lives of autodidacts suggest it was almost axiomatic that Christian doubt would arise as a corollary of serious reading. 108 Watson's faith never wavered, but he did puzzle over its details, particularly Arminianism versus Calvinism, seen in his poetic debate between a newly convinced Arminian of 1812, for instance, encouraged readers to regard 'the starry heavens and behold innumerable worlds floating in these illimitable fields of ether; and gaze with astonished rapture on these wonderful works of God'.…”