O Thou that hear'st when sinners cry. I. Watts. [Psalms li.] This is the third part of his L.M. version of Psalm li. It appeared in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, p. 143, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, headed "The Backslider restored; or, Repentance and Faith in the Blood of Christ." In its full form its use is limited, but the cento therefrom beginning with stanza v., "A broken heart, my God, my King," is found in a large number of hymn-books. A second cento beginning with stanza iv. is in the American Methodist Episcopal Hymns 1849, as "Though I have grieved Thy Spirit, Lord."
--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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