The Kingdom of Christ

Representative Text

Great God, whose universal sway
the known and unknown worlds obey,
entrust the kingdom to your Son,
extend his power, exalt his throne.

Your sceptre well becomes his hands;
all heaven submits to his commands.
His justice shall defend the poor,
and pride and rage prevail no more.

Like rain on meadows newly mown,
so Christ shall send his influence down;
the beauty of his grace distills
like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.

The saints shall flourish in his days,
dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
peace, like a river, from his throne
shall flow to nations yet unknown.



Source: In Melody and Songs: hymns from the Psalm versions of Isaac Watts #31

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 >

Text Information

First Line: Great God, whose universal sway
Title: The Kingdom of Christ
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Great God, Whose universal sway. I. Watts. [Psalm Ixxii.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719, as the 1st part of his version of Psalm Ixxii., in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "The Kingdom of Christ." It is followed by pt. ii., "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun " (j.v.), in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. Three hymns, all beginning with the same stanza, "Great God, Whose," &c, are in common use as follows;—
1. The original as above. This is in a few modern collections in Great Britain. In America it is very popular.
2. In E. W. Eddis's Irvingite Hymns for the Use of the Churches, 1864, No. 8 is composed of stanzas i. and vi. of this hymn, and stanzas iv. and v. of "Jesus shall reign," &c.
3. In the same collection, No. 143 is made up of stanza i., as above, and stanzas vi.-viii., of "Jesus shall reign," &c. These centos are limited in their use.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 192)
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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #72

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #179

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #179

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #179

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship approved by the Presbytery of Charleston #d59

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A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the People Called Methodists, with a Supplement #636

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Publick Worship #P.LXXII

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Publick Worship (2nd ed.) #P.LXXII

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #259

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #193

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #253

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #370

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A Pastor's Selection of Hymns and Tunes #3

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d123

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns, Embracing all the Varieties of Subjects #P72

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #253

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #253

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #920

Advent Hymn Book #d31

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American Psalmody #121b

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American Psalmody #138b

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Baptist Hymn Book #a98

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d286

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Carmina Sacra #37

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #777

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Christian Melodies #48

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Christian Melodies #48

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Christian Praise #34

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Christian Praise #34

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d304

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Church Choral-Book #3

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Church Harmonies #387

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Church Hymn Book #P.LXXII.I

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Church Hymnal #261

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d349

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Church Melodies #223

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Church music #XIII

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #598

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Church Psalmist #P72a

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Church Psalmist #P72a

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Church Psalmist #P72a

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Church Psalmody #P72.1

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Church Psalmody #P72a

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Church Psalmody #61

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David, corrected and enlarged, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (2nd ed.) #134

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Doctor Watts's imitation of the Psalms of David, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (3rd ed.) #126a

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #134

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #126a

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #LXXIIa

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Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #155

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Evangelical Musick #115a

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Freedom's Lyre #169

General Baptist Hymn Book #d173

Harmonia Sacra, being a Compilation of Church Music. 10th ed #d98

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship #736

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a736

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d216

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #1112

Hymns and Tunes for Home Worship #d70

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Hymns and Tunes #349

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #297

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #297

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Hymns for Social Worship #413

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Hymns for the Christian Church, for the Use of the First Church of Christ in Boston #125

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Hymns for the Use of the Society of United Christian Friends #CXXVI

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d359

Text

In Melody and Songs #31

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Laudes Domini #545

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Laudes Domini #1052

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Manual of Christian Psalmody #P72a

Melodies of Heaven #d43

Melodies of the Church #d329

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #d261

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Methodist Hymn-Book #706

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Methodist Tune Book #57

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Millennial Harp #C13

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Millennial Harp #M13

Millennial Musings #d33

Parish Psalmody #d233

Parish Psalmody #d240

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Plymouth Collection #a961

Prayers and Hymns for the Church and the Home #d220

Prayers for the Use of Families with a Selection of Hymns #d45

Psalmista #d89

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d257

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #122

Psalms and Hymns for Public worship, Containing All the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts ... #d264

Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God #d250

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #Ps.155

Pages

Exclude 190 pre-1979 instances
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