Christopher Tye (1508-1572) was a musician in the royal chapel under the ardent reformer Edward VI, the catholic tyrant Mary, and the reformer Elizabeth. He ardently supported the Anglican reforms (at least when it was safe to do so). He has been called the "father of the anthem" for his work in establishing the model for that part of the Anglican service. In this context, his extraordinary book may not seem so strange: The Actes of the Apostles, translated into Englyshe Metre ... with notes to each Chapter ...". These verses could be sung in private; where they provided a non-violent, non-prurient alternative to the popular song texts of the day (observers of popular songs in many periods will sympathise); or they could, like the Anglican anthem, serve as a setting for public reading of the Bible. The metrical form allowed a group to "read" together; the musical setting caused each singer to focus their voice for greater carrying power; the very practical result was that a text could be "read" to a large group in poor acoustical conditions without electronic amplification. (Similar considerations may have driven the development of Gregorian chant as a choral medium.)

The verses have disappeared, and the accompanying double-length tunes were too long for easy congregational use, but several truncated forms remain in wide use. "Dundee", was included among the twelve "common tunes" for the Scottish Psalter. This was abridged for Este's Psalter of 1592. In our hymnals it is used for In memory of the Savior's love.

See harm., English Hymnal, history, Companion English Hymnary This John Milton is the father of the #FNP famous poet.

Use:

This splendid song of faith in God's sovereignty amid political turmoil may not strike an immediate chord for Americans living in one of the world's most stable political systems, and in a generation where worldwide political boundaries have been more stable than in any other time in history: at least theoretically limiting the effects of internecine wars. But for much of the world, internal conflicts are sufficient to provide either memories or threats of complete social breakdown. When all one can see all around is the evil struggling with the worst for power, it is hard to imagine "good" and "rule" in the same universe. But it is precisely in such situations that God offered visions of His city to His people through Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John.

Whether we revel in such visions or reject them utterly, we completely misunderstand them when we suppose that they are materialistically literal descriptions of any future place -- whether on earth or in heaven. The visions are given to people who needed to understand their own present experience in the context of "those things which cannot be shaken." Some of our hymnal editors have rigorously excluded songs which contained perfectly scriptural expressions such as the fifth stanza, apparently having been terrified of incipient chilaism. To be consistent, they should have first removed them from the Bible. The other alternative is first to understand these Biblical ideas, then to proclaim them in song.

Notes:

See also "." #fn1 This point is worth pressing, because of the perverse new-agish understanding of the expression "be still". It is not to believers, and it does not call for passive contemplation of theological or philosophical issues; it is a call to unbelievers to see the situation as it really is: the rebellion against God is futility, and the only real safety is provided by God. And it is a call to act: to change allegiance in the heat of battle.
In this context, compare Jesus' description of the church, against which "the Gates of Hades shall not stand." We may tend to think of the church, like Zion of old, as a refuge with divinely-protected gates reinforced against the assaults of evil. But that was not Jesus' perspective. He was on the offense, and it would be the other guy who would be needing walls and gates. Paul's weapons were effective for siege and blitzkrieg.
Great Songs of the Church includes The Kingdom is coming, a hymn based on a similar theme from Isaiah xxxx: "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as waters that cover the sea." And truly, tyrants and religious frauds around the world already share the fear that someone somewhere in their dominion is learning about the King of Kings.

#FNP See Psalm 136 and The Lord will come and not be slow.)