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The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
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Isaac Watts Psalms & Hymns
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Haven't seen this one. I read and used devotionally William Gadsby's Hymnal, which I found very beneficial.
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I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to look it up! Thanks Robert!
I proofread and published an electronic edition of Watts' Psalms from the original book two years ago. He is the most prolific hymnodist I know, and he constantly muses on God's majesty and glory. But I felt that the meter was quite repetitive, and so many of the themes were about vengeance, which at the time I could not relate to.I also disliked some of the imperial overtones, hymns about England's divine glory, etc.
However, I still recommend Watts to people often. I tell people to find a compiled edition that has honed it down to his best works (that of Samuel Worcester, for example). I tend to like his hymns better than his psalms.
I would take note of the publisher if you really like the edition you found!
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I'm also currently reading 'The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts.' Watts writes a hymn for every Psalm! But really it's more of a rewriting of the Psalm in English with the rhyming scheme intact in English. What an amazing concept! I did not think it would be such a devotionally rich book, but as I read it with the Psalms I find it to be one of the best devotional works I have ever read! It's absolutely awe provoking, and I'm really enjoying it! Perhaps this is how the original readers of the Hebrew Psalms felt as they read them!