This hymn by Isaac Watts, labeled by the well-known theologian Matthew Arnold as the greatest hymn in the English language, was written in 1707 for use at a communion service conducted by Watts. It first appeared in print that same year in Watts's outstanding collection, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Its original title was "Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ." Isaac Watts was born on July 17, 1674, in Southampton, England. The eldest of nine children, he was the son of an educated deacon in a dissenting Congregational church. At the time of Isaac's birth, his father was in prison for his non-conformist beliefs. Young Watts showed an unusual aptitude for study and learned Latin at the age of five, Greek at nine, French at eleven and Hebrew at thirteen. He began to write verses of good quality when he was very young.
Watts is frequently referred to as the father of English hymnody. One of his early concerns was the deplorable state to which congregational singing had degenerated in most English-speaking churches. The singing consisted of slow, ponderous Psalms in which each line was first read by an appointed deacon and was followed by the droning of the congregation. The texts of these Psalm-hymns were often crude and inelegant. This is what gave him the desire to write new songs to be used within the church. Watts knew that he would suffer criticism when he sought to change the existing songs into purer Christian worship. The hymns that Watts wrote are over 500 in number and many of them are "the fruit that remains". Wherever believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, meet together for worship, ministry or prayer, his hymns are used.
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