This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made

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 >

This is the day the Lord hath made, He calls the hours His Own. I. Watts. [Easter-day, or Sunday.] First published in his Psalms of David, 1719, p. 309, as a paraphrase of a portion of the 118th Psalm, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "Hosanna; the Lord's Day; or, Christ's Resurrection, and our Salvation." It is in several collections and usually unaltered and unabbreviated. In the Hymnary, 1872, the cento "Behold the tomb its prey restores," is composed of stanza i. new, ii.-iv. from this by Watts, slightly altered, and v. new. It is a successful hymn for Sunday.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)