| Citation |
NECO.723.005
28 Jan-4 Feb 1723:21 (79)
Mr. Couranto, R.Island, Jan.25. I was not a little pleased
with the sight of your last Courant, as setting forth the
beauty and elegance of Mr. Watt's version of the Psalms; but
yet I think Dr. Brady, and Mr. Tate have kept more close to
the original in theirs, and yet the stile and verse run
charming and easy; which I think cannot be said of the
version that is generally made use of in our congregations
in New-England; but I am rather of the opinion of a certain
congregational minister, "that the stile and verse of our
New-England singing psalms, is so poor and lifeless, that
the singing of them tends rather to flatten than heighten
devotion.
Pray take a small specimen of them by the 55th Psalm.
O God do thou give ear unto
My supplication,
And hide not thou thy self away
From my Petition.
O be attentive unto me,
and answer no return:
I in my meditation
Do make a noise and mourn, &c.
Whereas Brady and Tate reads thus,
Give ear thou judge of all the earth,
And listen when I pray,
Nor from thy humble suppliant turn
Thy glorious face away.
Attend to this my sad complaint,
And hear my grievous moans,
While I my mournful case declare
With Artless signs and groans.
I also recommend the perusal of Mr. Brady and Tate's
performance in their 41st and 43d Psalms particularly, and
see if there be any comparison between them and those of the
New-England built Psalms. I am, sir, your friend and
servant, &c.
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