Sweet is the work, my God, my [and] King. I. Watts. [Ps. xcii. or Sunday.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, p. 237, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "A Psalm for the Lord's Day." In G. Whitefield's Hymns for Social Worship, &c, 1753, No. 20, stanzas i., ii., iii., vii. were given as "Sweet is the work, O God, our King." This was repeated in M. Madan's Psalms & Hymns., 1760, No. 105. A. M. Toplady gave the same stanzas in his Psalms & Hymns, 1776, as No. 34, but with other changes in some stanzas, and the opening line as “Sweet is the work, my God and King." This reading is found in some modern collections in the Church of England. Other arrangements of the text are given in hymnbooks in Great Britain and America. It is a good and popular hymn.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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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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