47. I sing the mighty power of God
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
A hymn of praise, magnifying the power, wisdom, goodness, and omnipresence of God as revealed in creation. It appeared first in Watt’s Divine and Moral Songs for the Use of Children where it was entitled, “Praise for Creation and Providence.” The original has eight stanzas.
For comments on Watts see [No. 11].
MUSIC. ELLACOMBE is a cheerful, unpretentious tune that deserves to be better known. The source designated is Gesangbuch der Herzogl published in 1784, but some of our best authorities are content to leave its exact origin in doubt. It found its way into English hymnals soon after it was published in Vollständige Sammlung der gewöhnlichen Melodien zum Mainzer Gesangbuche, by X. L. Hartig, in 1833.