The Divine Nature, Providence, and Grace

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Praise ye the Lord; 'tis good to raise

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 215 hymnals

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Piano/Organ
	Improvisations on Great Hymns of Faith

Choral
	CANONIC PROCESSIONAL

Instrumental
	Tallis Canon: A Festive Hymn Setting

Representative Text

1 PRAISE ye the Lord! ’Tis good to raise
Your hearts and voices in His praise:
His nature and His works invite
To make this duty our delight.

2 He formed the stars, those heavenly flames,
He counts their numbers, calls their names;
His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bound,
A deep where all our thoughts are drowned.

3 Sing to the Lord! Exalt Him high,
Who spreads His clouds along the sky;
There He prepares the fruitful rain,
Nor lets the drops descend in vain.

4 He makes the grass the hills adorn,
And clothes the smiling fields with corn;
The beasts with food His hands supply,
And the young ravens when they cry.

5 What is the creature’s skill or force?
The sprightly man, or warlike horse?
The piercing wit, the active limb?
All are too mean delights for Him.

6 But saints are lovely in His sight,
He views His children with delight;
He sees their hope, He knows their fear,
And looks, and loves His image there.

Source: Redemption Hymnal #19

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Author: Isaac Watts

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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First Line:	Praise ye the Lord; 'tis good to raise
Title:	The Divine Nature, Providence, and Grace
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Year A, Christmas Season, Second Sunday after Christmas Day

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Notes

Praise ye the Lord; 'tis good to raise. J. Watts. [Ps. cxlvii.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, p. 385, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "The Divine Nature, Providence, and Grace." It was included by J. Wesley in the first edition of his Psalms & Hymns, published in Charlestown, 1736-37, p. 10, with slight variations, the omission of st. ii., and the addition of Ken's doxology, "Praise God," &c. Further alterations were made by Wesley on adapting it for the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 216, and these latter readings are still retained in all collections of the Methodist bodies. The hymn in its original and altered forms is in extensive use. Original text in Watts's Psalms, late editions; Wesley's first reading in the reprint of 1736-37 Collection, London, 1882 ; and Wesley's final reading in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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