The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship: Together With Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books; I. Collected From the Scri

by Isaac Watts

Excerpt from The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship

Above the beav us where angels dwell 5 Thus {hall the vengeance ofthe Lord Thy pow'r on earth be known abroad, Safety and joy to faints afford....

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1719

About the author

Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 650 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in use today, and have been translated into many languages.

Watts was the author of a text book on logic which was particularly popular; its full title was, Logic, or The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry After Truth With a Variety of Rules to Guard Against Error in the Affairs of Religion and Human Life, as well as in the Sciences. This was first published in 1724, and its popularity ensured that it went through twenty editions. Isaac Watts' Logic became the standard text on logic at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale; being used at Oxford University for well over 100 years.
[wikipedia]

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing at the Christmas program at church that 'Joy to the World' was originally from this book, I decided to find it and see what other hymns he had written. I was quite surprised after reading the Preface that he had endeavored to put the 'Psalms' of David into poetry in English. I'm quite impressed. That had to be a difficult and painstaking task he set for himself. He has done admirably.
I was able to read the original digitally, and was prepared for some of the Olde English writing, but occasionally I was stumped by a word and turned to online sources to figure out what it was.
Perhaps it was because of the Christmas program, but for all the Common Metre poems/hymns I kept thinking the tune to "As Shepherd Watched Their Flocks by Night".