1791 ISAAC WATTS. Post-Revolutionary War "Americanized" Imprint of Watts' Psalms & Hymns.

A fascinating early imprint of what was then the most influential Psalm and hymn book in America, that of Isaac Watts. They Americans had a problem though . . . Watts' paraphrases, meant to be sung, had a decidedly pro-Crown feel in places, leading to an internal conflict as American's would sing, having just revolted against "the Lord and His anointed," according to Anglican teaching. 

For example, in the second stanza of Psalm 75, Watts' original doesn't hesitate to apply the text to the Glorious Revolution, i.e. "Britain was doom'd to be a slave | her frame disolv'd; her fear was great | When God a new supporter gave | To bear the pillars of the State. King William is the gift of God to deliver Britain. 

In the Americanized version, the meaning is turned the other way 'round, "To slav'ry doom'd, thy chosen sons | Behold their foes triumphant rise | And sore opprest by earthly thrones [cough, cough, George III] | They sought the sovereign of the skies."

Here, the throne is "earthly" and the real sovereign is in the skies. Allegiance to God and liberty from slav'ry, not to the crown. 

This imprint is Benson's F2 in his The American Revisions of Watts's Psalms, 1902. 

Watts, Isaac; Joel Barlow [Alterations]. The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. And Applied to the Christian State and Worship. Together with Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books. I. Collected from the Scriptures. II. Composed on Divine Subjects. III. Prepared for the Lord's Supper. With Indexes and Tables Complete. Printed at Boston by I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews. Faust's Statue. No. 45, Newbury Street. MDCCXCI [1791]. 227 + 1pp.

 An attractive example in original plan calf binding. Consolidated and nicely patinated; through and rolled at corners. Interior is complete and clean, but handled and with some stains and sporadic foxing as shown. Early ownership signature of Francies Harrington of Worcester, 1800.