Lo, what a glorious sight appears. I. Watts. [The Kingdom of Christ.] First published in his Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1707, as a paraphrase of Rev. xxi. 1-4, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines (2nd ed. 1709, Book i., No. 21). It is in common use in Great Britain and America. The most popular hymn with this opening line is, however, a cento compiled from it and Watts's "See where the great Incarnate God " (Hymns &Sacred Songs, 1709, Book i., No. 45), which is No. 67 of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases of 1781. In the Draft Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, No. 38, the cento was thus given:—
Stanza i.-v., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
Stanza vi., new.
Stanza vii.-xii., from Watts, No. 45, as above.
Stanza xiii., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
In the authorized Translations and Paraphrases of 1781, this text was repeated with slight alterations, and has been in common use in Scotland and elsewhere to the present time. From the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron (q.v.) we gather that the authorized Scottish text of 1781 was arranged and altered by Cameron. It should be designated I. Watts, 1707-9, Scottish Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, and W. Cameron, 1781. In Miss Jane E. Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns, 1853, the Scottish cento is re-arranged as a hymn in 7 stanzas, beginning "From heaven, the glorious city comes."
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >
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