Great God, indulge my humble claim. I. Watts. [Psalm lxiii.] First published in his Psalms of David, &c, 1719 in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "Longing after God; or, The Love of God better than life." In modern hymn-books it is given as follows:—
1. The original text in full in a limited number of collections.
2. The cento given in some of the Methodist hymn-books. This is composed of stanzas i.-iii., vi., viii. These stanzas, much altered, were given in J. Wesley's Psalms & Hymns, 1741, and later editions. They were again altered, and in this last revised form were included in the Supplement to the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1830, as No. 597 (revised edition 1875, No. 577).
3. Centos of various lengths from the original, all beginning with stanza i.
4. The cento, No. 83, in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859: "Great God, permit my humble claim."
In one or more of these various forms this hymn is in common use in all English-speaking countries.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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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