Children of God

Isaac Watts. Divine songs attempted in easy language for the use of children. Facsimile edition. London: Oxford University Press, 1971.

2015 marks the tercentenary of the publication of Isaac Watts’ Divine songs attempted in easy language for the use of children. First published in 1715, it was one of the most reprinted English children’s books of the eighteenth century. Such hymns as “How doth the little busy bee/ improve each shining hour” were still popular 150 years later when parodied by Lewis Carroll in Alice’s adventures in Wonderland in 1865. Divine songs was an early and very successful attempt to write verses for children’s pleasure but at the same time point and urge them to the paths of virtue.

Isaac Watts. Divine songs attempted in easy language for the use of children. Facsimile edition. London: Oxford University Press, 1971.
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Cecil Francis Alexander (words) Henry J. Gauntlett (music). Hymns for little children. London: W. Walker, [1877?]

First published in 1848, Hymns for little children by Irish Anglican hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander was a huge success, being widely reprinted throughout the nineteenth century. Alexander composed more than 400 hymns and poems, chiefly for children, characterised by lyrical simplicity and theological clarity.

Her most famous and enduring hymns include ‘All things bright and beautiful’ and the Christmas carol ‘Once in royal David’s city’, an attempt to explain the birth and incarnation of Christ to children. Both are set to music in Hymns for little children by English organist Henry John Gauntlett.

Cecil Francis Alexander (words) Henry J. Gauntlett (music). Hymns for little children. London: W. Walker, [1877?]
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John Burnham (editor). Children's hosannas: a very choice and original collection of anniversary music. London: W. Nicholson, [1889?]

The Reformed Baptist evangelist John Burnham of Brentford was a protégée of the ‘Prince of Preachers’ Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was also a prolific late Victorian editor and compiler of hymnody works for both children and adults. Children’s hosannas was amongst his most popular and reprinted works.

John Burnham (editor). Children's hosannas: a very choice and original collection of anniversary music. London: W. Nicholson, [1889?]
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