He Makes My Soul His Care

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 >

For ever blessed be the Lord. J. Watts. [Psalms cxliv.] In his Psalms of David, 1719, this version in 3 stanzas of 4 lines forms the first of three CM. hymns on Psalms cxliv., and is accompanied with the following note:—

"The sense of a great part of this Psalm is found often repeated in the Book of Psalms. I have therefore only taken three small parts of it, and form'd three distinct hymns on very different subjects."

Although frequently found in the older collections its modern use is limited.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)