John Milton


John Milton (1608-1674) is important in the history of English Hymnody for his paraphrases of the Psalms. Two hymns based on portions of his metrical psalms appear in modern hymnals:

Let Us with a glad-some mind (based on portions of Psalms 85,82 and 86)
The Lord will come and not be slow (based on Psalm 136)

Milton, whose life was contemporary with the English Restoration period (c. 1660-1690), was influential in expanding the tradition of the strict use of metrical psalms in worship. His psalm paraphrases, although based on the Psalms, are more like hymns than metrical psalms. Consequently, Milton can be regarded as the direct predecessor of Isaac Watts, who published his psalm paraphrases, The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, in 1719.

John Milton, Psalm VIII

O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great
And glorious is thy name through all the earth?
So as above the Heavens thy praise to set
Out of the tender mouths of latest bearth,

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou
Hast founded strength because of all thy foes
To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avengers brow
That bends his rage thy providence to oppose.

When I behold thy Heavens, thy Fingers art,
The Moon and Starrs which thou so bright hast set,
In the pure firmament, then saith my heart,
O what is man that thou remembrest yet,

And think'st upon him; or of man begot
That him thou visit'st and of him art found;
Scarce to be less then Gods, thou mad'st his lot,
With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd.

O're the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord,
Thou hast put all under his lordly feet,
All Flocks, and Herds, by thy commanding word,
All beasts that in the field or forrest meet.

Fowl of the Heavens, and Fish that through the wet
Sea-paths in shoals do slide. And know no dearth.
O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great
And glorious is th