Holiness and Happiness: The Piety of Isaac Watts (Profiles In Reformed Spirituality Series)

Holiness and Happiness acquaints readers to the life and writings of Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Opening the book with an informative biographical introduction, Britt Stokes reveals how Watts was more than just an accomplished hymn writer--he was a dedicated pastor-scholar pursuing sincere Christian devotion among the people of God. Stokes then presents thirty-four selections from across Watts's writings so that readers can benefit firsthand from Watts's teaching on holiness and happiness as the nature of piety, how he grounds this in key Christian doctrines, and the means he says are at our disposal to cultivate further love for God. Table of Contents: The Life and Piety of Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Section One: The Nature of Piety 1. Aversion of Sin 2. Above this World 3. Enjoyment of God 4. Zeal for God 5. Love for the Saints 6. Happiness is Nearness to God 7. First Degree of Happiness 8. Second Degree of Happiness 9. Third Degree of Happiness 10. Fourth Degree of Happiness 11. Fifth Degree of Happiness Section Two: The Foundation of Piety 12. The Ruin of Man 13. Hymn: Adam's First Sin 14. Forms of Sin 15. The Law 16. The Flesh 17. The Recovery of Man 18. Christ's Mediation 19: Hymn: Access to the Throne of Grace 20. Christ's Atonement 21. The Use of the Atonement 22. Death the Last Enemy 23. The Intermediate State 24. Perfection of Heaven 25. Reality of Heaven 26. Preparation for Heaven Section Three: The Cultivation of Piety 27. Holy Wonder 28. The Invaluable Regulator 29. Meditation 30. Prayer 31. Worship 32. The Lord's Supper 33. Virtue 34. Friendship Reading WattsRead less