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

[American Revolution] Watts, Isaac

Published by John Mycall, Newburyport, MA, 1792

About this Item

12mo. 288 pp. Early printing. Originally issued with Watts's "Hymns and Spiritual Songs," not present here, though the Psalms are complete. In recent cloth with tasteful printed paper label. Only light soiling to the binding; contents toned and foxed; a few leaves with some wear and chipping to the margins or corners; a solid copy with an illegible early owner name, "Burlington, August 1818 / University of Vermont." Mycall's revision of Watts's psalter was first issued in 1781. In it, Mycall removed all references to Great Britain and King George exchanging them with references to the nascent United States a significant declaration in its own right and one that really captures the fervor of the revolutionary American. Ezra Stiles, that monumental American theologian and president of Yale, describes Mycall's edition in his diary entry for 8 December 1781, calling it "well adapted to the Church in America." Though there are several psalms that were revised by Mycall, Stiles specifically points to 75th Psalm titled: "Power and government from God alone, Applied to the glorious revolution in America, July 4th, 1776." Verse 2 reading: "America was was [sic] doom'd a slave, / Her frame dissolv'd, her fears were great; / When God a right'ous Council gave, / To bear the pillars of the State." An early but post-revolution imprint of this important revolutionary psalter. Evans 23106; ESTC W4416; The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles. New York, 1901. Vol II, p. 571.

Seller Inventory # 8953

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship
• Publisher: John Mycall, Newburyport, MA
• Publication Date: 1792
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Condition: Good binding
• Seller catalogs:
  • History--U.S.
  • Americana
  • Religion