2 Though we here should meet no more, 3 Now to thee, thou God of heaven, H. KIRKE WHITE, ALT. ORIGINAL. "Christians! brethren! ere we part, "Christians! we here may meet no more, "Now to God, the three in One, It was first published in Hymns Partly Collected and Partly Original. Edited by William B. Collyer, D.D., London, 1812. Henry Kirke White was born in humble circumstances at Nottingham, England, in 1785. When fourteen years old, he was apprenticed to a stocking weaver. Leaving this occupation, he began the study of law. After experiencing religion, he resolved to enter the Church, but died before he had completed his studies, at the early age of twenty years. His religious awakening was somewhat remarkable. An intimate friend became a and that he ridiculed religion-avoided his society. Christian, and-knowing that White was a skeptic, On being asked the reason, he frankly told lead a new life. This cut White to the heart, the skeptic of his conversion, and purpose to and the result was that he, too, became a Christian. He died October 19, 1806. From the Olney Hymns, 1779. A metrical version of the familiar benediction, unaltered: "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Heb. xiii, 20, 21. John Newton was a native of London, born in 1725. His father was a seaman, and John, for many years, followed the same calling. He was a wild and wicked youth; and, after having been flogged and expelled from the navy for desertion, shipped in a merchantman. At length he entered the service of an English slave-trader, and became exceedingly degraded, profane, and profligate. In 1748, on a voyage home from Africa, during a terrific storm, he became truly awakened, and was ever afterward a changed man. In 1758 he began to preach, and after six years of study entered the ministry of the Church of England. He was the author of some prose works, and, in connection with the poet Cowper, published the Olney Hymns, 1779. Many of his hymns are very tame and ordinary; some of them, however, are excellent, and are found in all popular collections. He died in 1807. 2 Earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, 3 Praise the Lord, his mercies trace; 4 Strings and voices, hands and hearts, HENRY F. LYTE, ALT. Founded upon Psalm cl. 1834. The first three stanzas have been altered. The last line of the first verse read: "Praise Him all that share His love." The first couplet of second verse: "Earth to heaven exalt the strain, The third verse read: "Praise the Lord, His goodness trace; All that He hath borne and done," etc. The fourth stanza would not have been admitted into any hymn book by the early Methodists. Instruments of music in the church, and especially those with "strings," were an abomination to them. Dr. Adam Clarke said: "Music as a science I admire; but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor." John Wesley said: "I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen." The Rev. Henry Francis Lyte lived from 1793 to 1847; was educated at Trinity College, Dublin; entered the ministry while yet unconverted; but, in visiting a dying brother clergymen and searching the Scriptures together, they both found the way of salvation by faith. Some of this author's hymns are deservedly great favorites. 2 He now stands knocking at the door Of every sinner's heart: The worst need keep him out no more, Nor force him to depart. 3 Through grace we hearken to thy voice, Yield to be saved from sin; In sure and certain hope rejoice, That thou wilt enter in. 4 Come quickly in, thou heavenly Guest, Nor ever hence remove; But sup with us, and let the feast Be everlasting love. CHARLES WESLEY. From Hymns on God's Everlasting Love, 1741. This is made of the first and last three verses, unaltered, of a poem of fourteen stanzas. In the Calvinistic controversy, that was so hotly waged between the Wesleys, on the one hand, and Whitefield, Cennick, and others, on the other, the hymns with the above title were circulated as tracts, and proved very effectual weapons of warfare. A glance at the hymn will show how unpalatable it must have been to a strict Calvinist. The stanzas omitted were still more so. 6 "Cause us the record to receive; 7 "Lord, I believe for me, even me, 8 "I cannot fear, I cannot doubt, Un Title: Jesus the Desire of all Nations. The original contains twelve stanzas. These are verses one, five, eight, and nine. The author wrote "lovely" instead of "glorious" in verse one, line two, and ". "" vows instead of songs in verse two, line three. From the author's hymn book, containing one hundred and sixty-six pieces, entitled, Hymns Adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion, 1782. The Rev. John Fawcett was awakened by the preaching of George Whitefield: joined the Baptist Church at Bradford in 1758; after much prayer decided to follow the advice of his friends and became a preacher; was ordained minister of a Baptist Church at Wainsgate, Eng., in 1765, and continued in the work of the ministry for more than fifty years. He died in Christian triumph, in 1817, at the age of seventy-eight years. |