Puritan preacher Isaac Watts is known as the father of modern hymnody. He wrote such hymns as Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed (At the Cross), When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Joy to the World, O God Our Help in Ages Past, and Jesus Shall Reign. He wrote theological books such as Improvement of the Mind, Vol 1 and Vol 2, A Short View of the Whole Scripture History, etc. He is best known for those wonderful hymns. Until he began writing his poetry set to music, most Protestant churches only sang psalms set to music, a tradition strongly influenced by John Calvin. The Bible clearly gives us liberty for these kinds of God honoring music: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-20).
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