A Quick Sketch of the Incredible Isaac Watts Quiz

Answer: Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull, similar to Isaac Watts, was born in 1674. Tull was an English agricultural pioneer who is credited with bringing about the British Agricultural Revolution.

Tull perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, Wikipedia reports. He later developed a horse-drawn hoe.

"Tull's methods were adopted by many great land owners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture," Wikipedia states. "This revolutionized the future of agricultural success."

The 1970s rock band Jethro Tull was named after the English agriculturalist.

Answer: Louis XV of France authorizes a 5% income tax on every individual.

In 1748, Louis XV of France authorized a five per cent income tax on every individual, regardless of their social standing. The proposal met with violent protests across France.

The United States, of course, declared its independence in 1776 while the Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth. Meanwhile, Samuel de Champlain, the father of New France, founded Quebec City in 1608.

Answer: About 750 hymns

Isaac Watts is credited with writing about 750 hymns. While a number of hymnists who followed are credited with writing more hymns, Watts is seen as the person who was largely responsible for giving birth to hymn writing.

Previously, Christians would sing Psalms directly from the Bible. "Notably, Watts led by including new poetry for original songs of Christian experience to be used in worship," Wikipedia reports.

Answer: His religious beliefs did not align with the Church of England.

Isaac Watts was unable to attend Oxford or Cambridge because of his religious views. Attendance at the two universities was restricted to those who were members of the Church of England. Watts, however, was a Non-Conformist and did not adhere to the teachings of the Church of England. A Non-Conformist today would be basically called an evangelical Christian.

In regards to the statement in the question about Watts being extremely intelligent, the Website Christianity.com reports Watts started reading Latin at age four and went on to learn Greek, Hebrew, and French as well.

Answer: The Father of English Hymnody

Isaac Watts is known as the 'Father of English Hymnody'. Just go to Google and type in the phrase 'father of English hymnody' and it will become abundantly apparent he earned such a designation.

As pointed out in the answer to Question 3, prior to Watts, Christians would sing hymns directly from the Book of Psalms in the Bible. He took worship services to a new level by writing hymns for Christians to sing. Many of the hymns remain popular today.

"Pick up almost any modern hymnal, look in the index listing the composers of the hymns, and the name 'Watts, Isaac' has a long list of hymns beside it," states the Website Christianity.com

Answer: True

True. Isaac Watts was in poor health and never married. In fact, a number of Websites describe him as being unattractive in appearance. For example, the Website Christianity.com offers an in-depth look at Watts' life with one section of the comprehensive report titled 'Ugly Isaac'. Here's what the Website has to say about Watts' appearance as well as his abysmal love life:

"Though he had a beautiful soul, apparently Isaac Watts was not much to look at. He was frail and often sickly. His head seemed too large for his five foot tall body; his small, piercing eyes and hooked nose did not enhance his appearance any. A lady once fell in love with Isaac by reading his poetry and a correspondence ensued. When she met him face to face, however, she was very disillusioned, though he fell in love with her. He asked her to marry him, but her reply was, 'Mr. Watts, I only wish I could admire the casket (jewelry box) as much as I admire the jewel.' Watts never married, though the two remained good friends for over 30 years."

Answer: Joy to the World

Isaac Watts wrote 'Joy to the World' in 1719. According to Wikipedia, Watts based the ever-popular Christmas carol on the second half of Psalm 98. "The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody." Wikipedia reports.

Wikipedia also states as of the late 20th century, 'Joy to the World' was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

Here are the words to 'Joy to the World':

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her king;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders, of his love."

Answer: Victory in Jesus

'Victory in Jesus' was written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett Sr. in 1939. The three other hymns were written by Isaac Watts.

He wrote the three hymns -- 'Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed', 'Marching to Zion' and 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' -- in 1707.

The hymn 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' reminds me of a message I recently received from FunTrivia player pbowen20, a retired church musician, after he played my quiz titled 'Gospel Greats: 'Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed'. Pbowen20's message sates in part: "By the way, if you know Watts hymns, have you noticed a poetic preference to use of the word 'survey' instead of 'see'? The hymn 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' is not the only example of this and seems to be a true poetic preference. I suppose most poets and musicians have such stylistic preferences and that seems to be one of his."

Answer: True

True. Charles Wesley is credited with making such a statement. (Grateful to FunTrivia player cal562301 for passing on this information.)

I was able to verify the information at various Websites, including hymnary.org, hymntime.com and answersingenesis.org.

In addition to writing 8,000 hymns, Charles Wesley was co-founder of the Methodist movement with his older brother John Wesley.

Here are the words to the hymn 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross':

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore."

Answer: Fanny Crosby

Various Websites state Fanny Crosby's life was dramatically changed when she heard people sing 'Alas! and Did My Saviour Bleed', also known as 'At the Cross', at a revival meeting.

The Website Sharefaith.com explains things this way: "In 1851, when Fanny was 31, she attended a Methodist revival meeting. It was there while the congregation sang the last line of Isaac Watt's song, 'Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed', that Fanny prayed the words of the hymn 'There Lord, I give myself away...' and found herself a changed woman."

Crosby went on to write an astounding 8,000 Christian hymns, including the likes of 'Draw Me Nearer', 'Blessed Assurance', and 'Take the World but Give Me Jesus'.

Here are the words to the hymn 'Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed':

"Alas! and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
Tis all that I can do."