Vain are the hopes the sons of men. I. Watts. [Justification by Faith.] Published in his Hymns and Sacred Songs, 1709, Bk. i., No. 94, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed “Justification by Faith, not by Works; or, The Law condemns, Grace justifies, Rom. iii. 19-22." In the Draft of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, it was given unaltered; in that of 1751 it was slightly changed; and in the authorised issue of the Translations and Paraphrases, 1781, No. xli., st. i., ii. were rewritten, but began with the original first line as above; st. iii. was taken from the Draft of 1751; and st. iv. unaltered from Watts. In the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron these alterations are attributed to him. The use of the 1781 form of the text is far more extensive than that of the original.
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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