My soul, repeat His praise. I. Watts. [Psalms ciii.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, p. 267, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, “Abounding Compassion of God; or, Mercy in the Midst of Judgment." It was given with the omission of stanzas ii., iv. and vi., in G. Whitefield's Hymns for Social Worship, &c, 1753, No. 9. This abbreviated form was repeated in M. Madan's Psalms & Hymns, 1760, No. 117, and others, and thus came into common use in the Church of England. It is also given in full in some collections, and again, altered in another way, in others. Its use is extensive.
--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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