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John Needham

? - 1786 Person Name: John Needham, d. c. 1786 Hymnal Number: d166 Author of "When some kind shepherd from his [the] fold" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Needham, John, was the son of John Needham, Baptist Minister, of Hitchin, Herts, but the date of his birth is unknown. He would doubtless be educated by his father, who was a tutor and in repute as a learned man. In 1750 Needham became co-pastor with John Beddome at the Baptist meetinghouse in the Pithay, Bristol; but, two years later, Beddome having retired through age, a violent controversy arose in the Church with regard to a continuance of the plan of co-pastorship. As the result, Needham and a number of his friends removed to a Baptist meetinghouse in Callowhill Street, where a Mr. Foot was pastor. For a time the two societies used the same builing at different hours, but in 1755 they were united, with Mr. Needham and Mr. Foot as co-pastors. It is known that up to 1774 this arrangement continued, and it is also known that in 1787, both Mr. Needham and Mr. Foot having died, the Callowhill Street Church became extinct, but which of the two pastors was the survivor is not known. The date of Needham's death is unknown. It was probably circa 1786. In 1768 he published Hymns Devotional and Moral on various Subjects, collected chiefly from the Holy Scriptures, &c, Bristol, S. Farley, 1768. These hymns are 263 in all, and whilst none of them possess great excellence, yet several are of a pleasing and useful character. During the past 120 years several have appeared in Nonconformist hymnbooks, and specially in those of the Baptists. Of these the following are still in common use:— 1. Ashamed of Christ! my soul disdains. Not ashamed of Christ. 2. Awake, my tongue, thy tribute bring. The Divine Perfections. 3. Glory to God, Who reigns above. Jesus, the Messiah. 4. Great author of the immortal mind. Imitation of God's Moral Perfections. From "flow matchless, Lord, Thy glories are." 5. Happy the man whose cautious steps. Christian Moderation. 6. Holy and reverend is the Name. Reverence in Worship. 7. Kind are the words that Jesus speaks. Christ the Strengthener. 8. Lord,ere [Now Lord] the heavenly seed is sown. Parable of the Sower. 9. Methinks the last great day is come. The Judgment. 10. Rise, O my soul, pursue the path. The Example of the Saints. 11. See how the little toiling ant. Youth for Christ. 12. Thou art, O God, a Spirit pure. God a Spirit. 13. To praise the ever bounteous Lord. Harvest. 14. When some kind shepherd from his fold. The Lost Sheep. From this “O how divine, how sweet the joy," in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, New York, 1872, is taken. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

George Askins

? - 1816 Person Name: George Atkin Hymnal Number: d73 Author of "Jesus grant us all a blessing" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. George Askins was born in Ireland. He immigrated to the United States as an adult. He was a Methodist and became an itinerant preacher for the Baltimore Conference in 1801. He was appointed to other circuits as well, mostly in Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky. He died in Frederick, Maryland 28 February 1816. Dianne Shapiro from The Makers of the Sacred Harp by David Warren Steel with Richard H. Hulan, University of Illinois Press, 2010

Joseph Stennett

1663 - 1713 Hymnal Number: d156 Author of "Thus we commemorate the day" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. The author was a Baptist preacher in London, from 1690, to his death in 1713. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872. ============================= Stennett, Joseph, the earliest English Baptist hymnwriter whose hymns are now in common use, was born at Abingdon, Berks, in 1663. He received a superior education at the Grammar School of Wallingford, and at the age of 22 removed to London, where for several years he engaged in tuition. In 1688 he married a daughter of George Guill, a French Protestant refugee, another of whose daughters was the wife of the celebrated Presbyterian minister, Dr. Daniel Williams, who became a generous friend to Stennett. In the following year he was called to preach by the Baptist Sabbatarian congregation then meeting in Devonshire Square, London, afterwards in Pinners' Hall; and in 1690 became its pastor, a position he retained to his death, July 4, 1713. Since the meetings of this congregation for worship were on the seventh day of the week, he was free to preach to other congregations on the Sunday, which he did very frequently, especially to the General Baptist Church in the Barbican. Such was Stennett's repute for piety, learning and practical wisdom that his advice was very much sought by his Christian friends, and by the "great Whig Lords” of that day he was occasionally consulted as to the feeling of the Dissenters concerning national affairs. His published works include:— (1) Hymns in commemoration of the Sufferings of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, compos'd for the Celebration of his Holy Supper, 1697; 2nd ed. 1703 (This is entitled in Stennett's Works, 1732, Hymns for the Lord's Supper). These were 37 in number, increased to 50 in the 3rd edition, 1709. (2) In 1700 he published a poetical Version of Solomon's Song of Songs, together with the XLVth Psalm. A second edition, corrected, appeared in 1709. (3) In 1712 he published twelve Hymns composed for the Celebration of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism; 2nd ed. 1722. Stennett also translated Dacier's Plato and other works from the French, and published several sermons preached on days of National Thanksgiving and other public occasions. His Works were collected after his death and published in 1732, in 4 vols. They contain a Memoir, Sermons and Letters, the Hymns and Poems mentioned above, and a few other poetical pieces. A controversial work, An Answer to Mr. Russen's Book on Baptism, 1702, may be reckoned as a 5th vol. Of his hymns, that which, in the form of varying centos, is most widely known is, "Another six days' work is done". Others in common use include:— 1. Gracious Redeemer, how divine. Holy Communion. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, first edition, 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 98.) Usually abbreviated. 2. Immortal praise be given. Holy Communion. Published in his Hymns for The Lord's Supper, first ed., 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 97.) From this "We'll praise our risen Lord," is taken. 3. Jesus, O word divinely sweet. Redemption through Jesus. Published in Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 3rd ed. 1709, No. 47. 4. Lord, at Thy Table I behold. Holy Communion. This hymn is not in Stennett's Works. From it "With humble faith and trembling heart," is taken. 5. My blessed Saviour, is Thy love? Self-Consecration to God. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 1697, No. 22. Usually abbreviated. 6. The great Redeemer we adore. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712. 7. Whene'er one sinner turns to God. Holy Baptism. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712, No. 12. From this "See how the willing converts trace" is taken. It begins with st. iii. Several of his hymns additional to these are given in the older collections, but have passed out of use. We may add that the Joseph Stennett, the subject of this article, had a son, Joseph Stennett, D.D., who also became an eminent Baptist minister, and was the father of Samuel Stennett. [Rev.W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

J. Grigg

1720 - 1768 Person Name: Joseph Grigg Hymnal Number: d72 Author of "Not ashamed of Christ" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Grigg, Joseph, was born in 1728, according to the D. Sedgwick’s Manuscript," but this date seems to be some six or eight years too late. He was the son of poor parents and was brought up to mechanical pursuits. In 1743 he forsook his trade and became assistant minister to the Rev. Thomas Bures, of the Presbyterian Church, Silver Street, London. On the death of Mr. Bures in 1747, he retired from the ministry, and, marrying a lady of property, look up his residence at St. Albans. He died at Walthamstow, Essex, Oct. 29, 1768. As a hymnwriter Grigg is chiefly known by two of his hymns, "Behold a stranger at the door"; and "Jesus, and can it ever be?" His hymnwriting began, it is said, at ten years of age. His published works of various kinds number over 40. Those in which his hymns are found are:— (1) Miscellanies on Moral and Religious Subjects, &c, London, Elizabeth Harrison, 1756. (2) The Voice of Danger, the Voice of God. A Sermon Preached at St. Albans, and at Box-Lane, Chiefly with a View to the apprehended Invasion. By J. Grigg. London, J. Buckland, 1756. To this is appended his hymn, "Shake, Britain, like an aspen shake." (3) Four Hymns on Divine Subjects wherein the Patience and Love of Our Divine Saviour is displayed, London, 1765. (4) Hymns by the late Rev. Joseph Grigg, Stourbridge, 1806. (5) During 1765 and 1766 he also contributed 12 hymns to The Christians Magazine. In 1861 D. Sedgwick collected his hymns and poems, and published them with a memoir as: Hymns on Divine Subjects, * * * * London, 1861. This volume contains 40 "Hymns," and 17 "Serious Poems." In the “S. MSS." Sedgwick notes that in 1861 he omitted three hymns by Grigg, which were then unknown to him, viz.:—l) On "The National Fast," appended to a sermon preached at Northampton, Feb. 13, 1761, by W. Warburton, and published in London, 1761. (2) "A Harvest Hymn by the late Rev. Joseph Grigg," in 6 stanzas, in the Evangelical Magazine, July, 1822; and (3) On the Parable of Dives and Lazarus, dated "Feb. 15, 1767." -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Heinrich Held

1620 - 1659 Hymnal Number: d89 Author of "Komm, o komm, du Geist des Lebens" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Held, Heinrich, was son of Valentin Held of Guhrau, Silesia. He studied at the Universities of Königsberg (c. 1637-40), Frankfurt a. Oder (1643), and Leyden. He was also in residence at Rostock in 1647. He became a licentiate of law, and settled as a lawyer in his native place, where he died about 1659, or at least before Michaelmas, 1661 (Koch, iii. 55-56; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie., xi. 680; Bode, p. 87, &c). One of the best Silesian hymnwriters, he was taught in the school of affliction, having many trials to suffer in those times of war. His only extant poetical work is his Deutscher Gedichte Vortrab, Frankfurt a. Oder, 1643. Only one hymn from that volume came into German use. Much more important are his other hymns, which are known to us through Crüger's Praxis, and other hymnbooks of the period. Mützell, 1858, includes Nos. 254-272 under his name. Two of his hymns have been translated into English:— i. Gott sei Dank durch alle Welt. Advent. Mützell, 1858, No. 263, quotes this in 9 st. of 4 1. from a defective ed. of Crüger's Praxis, c. 1659. In the ed. of 1661 it is No. 85, marked Henr. Helt. Since then it has appeared in almost all German hymnbooks (as in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 132), and takes rank as one of the finest Advent Hymns. Translated as :— 1. All the World exalt the Lord, omitting st. vi. in Select Hymns from German Psalter, Tranquebar, 1754, p. 4, and the Supplement to German Psalter, ed. 1765, p. 1. In 1789, the translations of st. i., ii., iv., vii., ix. (altered) were included as No. 34 in the Moravian Hymn Book In the ed. of 1801 it was altered to "All the world give praises due" (ed. 1886, No. 44), and this text has been repeated in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, and Willing's Book of Common Praise, 1872. 2. Be our God with thanks adored. A translation of st. i.-iv. by A. T. Russell in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 3. Let the earth now praise the Lord. A good translation, omitting st. vii., by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Repeated in full in Schaff's Christ in Song, 1869, and, abridged, in the American Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book, 1868, and Baptist Service of Song, 1871. ii. Komm, o Komm, du Geist des Lebens. Whitsuntide. A fine hymn of Invocation to the Holy Spirit. Mützell, 1858, No. 267, quotes it in 9 st. of 6 1. from a defective edition of Crüger's Praxis published at Stettin c. 1664. In J. Niedling's Geistliche Wasserquelle, Frankfurt a. Oder, 1667, it is at p. 372 marked "H. Held" (not in Niedling's ed. 1663). In Luppius's Andächtig singender Christen Mund, 1692, p. 71, it is entitled "Devout Prayer and Hymn to God the Holy Ghost." Repeated in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, and many subsequent hymnbooks, as in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 363. It is sometimes erroneously ascribed to Joachim Neander. The translations in common use are:— 1. Holy Spirit, once again. A full and good translation by Miss Winkworth in the 2nd Ser., 1858, of her Lyra Germanica, p. 53. Included in full in the Cantate Domino, Boston, U.S.A., 1859. In Miss Wink worth's Chorale Book for England, 1863, st. ii., vi., vii. are omitted. This form of the text is repeated in W. F. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873, Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, &c. In the Hymnal for St. John's, Aberdeen, 1865, it begins "Holy Spirit, in us reign." 2. Come, oh come, Thou quickening Spirit, True, &c. A translation of st. i., ii., iv., vii., ix. in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, No. 98, signed E. T. L. 3. Come, 0 come, Thou quickening Spirit, Thou for ever. A good tr., omitting st. iv.-vi. in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, and marked as tr. by "Charles William Schaeffer, 1866." [Lutheran Pastor at Germantown.] 4. Come, 0 come, Thou quickening Spirit, God from all eternity, omitting st. iii., by E. Cronenwett, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Another translation is, "Come, Thou Spirit ever living," by R. Massie in the British Herald, Dec, 1865, p. 179. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ======================= Held, Heinrich , p. 507, ii. The account given in the Fischer-Tumpel Deutsche evangelische Kirchenlied des siebzehnten Jahrhun-derts , vol. i., 1904, p. 360, states that Held was born July 21, 1620, at Guhrau, in Silesia, settled as advocate at Fraustadt in Posen, became in 1657 town clerk at Altdamm, near Stettin, and died Aug. 16, 1659, at Stettin. This, if correct, explains why so many of his hymns are first traceable in Pomeranian books, and explains why his posthumous work on Prosody should have been prepared for publication in 1661 by a Stargard bookseller. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Elizabeth Scott

1708 - 1776 Hymnal Number: d164 Author of "A hymn for a fast-day" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Scott, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Scott, Independent Minister at Norwich, and sister of Thomas Scott, noted below, was born at Norwich about 1708. In 1751 she was married to Elisha Williams, who had been from 1726 to 1739 Rector of Yale College, U.S.A., and with him she proceeded to Connecticut. On the death of Mr. Williams she was married to the Hon. William Smith, of New York, who also predeceased her. She died at Wethersfield, Connecticut, June 13th, 1776. In connection with Miss Scott's hymns we are acquainted directly and indirectly with four manuscripts, each of which is interesting in itself. These are as follows:— i. The first manuscript is in the library of Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Franklin Bowditch Dexter, M.A., Assistant Librarian, has tabulated the hymns in this ms. for this Dictionary. He says (Jan. 29, 1889): "The label on the back of this volume is 'Hymns & Poems by Eliz. Scott.' There is no title to the ms. pages. Prefixed to the Hymns and Poems there is, however, a long and very tenderly written dedication (in prose) 'To my much Rever'd, much Lov'd, Father,' this signed ‘E. S.' and dated 1740. Then follows (without numbers) the Hymns with titles and first lines as below." Mr. Dexter adds on the first lines and the titles of 90 hymns. ii. The second manuscript is in our possession. It is headed "Poems on Several Occasion's by Miss Scott of Norwich, who married to Mr. Williams of New England, January 1750/1." Then follow 26 hymns in full. At the end this is written, "These transcribed from Mrs. Williams' Manuscript, Feb. 27, 1751, the week before she left Norwich to go to New England." The whole of these 26 hymns are in the Yale College manuscript. iii. The third manuscript we have consulted contains 8 hymns which are prefaced with these words, "Copied from a book of Mrs. Bury's, written by her Aunt Miss Elizabeth Scott, afterwards Mrs. Williamson." iv. In Dr. Dodd's Christian's Magazine for Dec. 1763 we find a writer who signs himself "CL—T." He had at that time a ms. of Miss Scott's hymns with a Dedication to her father prefixed thereto and signed "Eliz Scott." From this ms. he sent "Why droops my soul with guilt oppressed" (Christ, the Great Physician) to the Dec. number of the magazine; "Evil and few our mortal days" (Vanity of human Life), to the Feb. number, 1764, and "What finite power with ceaseless toil" (Praise for Temporal Blessings), to the April number of the same year. From these facts it is clear that before departing for America Miss Scott allowed copies of her hymns to be made from her manuscript, and it was mainly from these copies that those of her hymns composed before her marriage were printed in the English hymnbooks. None of those hymns date later than 1750. The collections in which they appeared, and through which they came into common use were the Bristol Baptist Collection of Ash and Evans, 1769, and the New Selection, &c, by J. Dobell, 1806. In Ash and Evans there are 19 hymns, signed "S.," all of which are in the Yale College manyuscruot under the same first lines except "Was it for man, apostate man ?" but this also may possibly be there under another first line. In Dobell there are 20 hymns signed " Scott” of which 17 are in the Yale College ms., 2 are parts of hymns from Ash and Evans, also in that manuscript, and "Sole Sovereign of the earth and skies," also probably in the ms. under another first line. Of the 90 hymns in the Yale ms., in addition there are also in common use:— i. From Ash and Evans's Collection of Hymns, 1769. 1. God of my life, to Thee belongs. On Recovery from Sickness. 2. My God, shall I for ever mourn? Covenant-keeping God. From this "Shall e'er the shadow of a change?" is taken (st. iii.). 3. When Abram full of sacred awe. For a Fast Day. Sometimes, “Thus Abram, full of sacred awe." 4. Why, O my heart, these anxious cares? Submis-sion. ii. From J. Dobell's New Selection, &c, 1806. 5. Dare we indulge to wrath and strife? Against Wrath. 6. Eternal Spirit, 'twas Thy breath. Whitsuntide. 7. For ever shall my fainting soul. Against grieving the Holy Spirit. Sometimes "0 Lord, and shall our fainting souls?" 8. Great God, Thy penetrating eye. God All and in All. 9. The glitt'ring spangles of the sky. The Mercies of God. 10. Thy bounties, gracious Lord. Offertory. 11. Where'er the Lord shall build my house. Family Religion. --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================ Scott, Elizabeth, p. 1019, ii. Another of her hymns in common use from the Collection of Ash & Evans, 1769, No. 393, “The Lord of love will sure indulge," is given in some American hymnals as "The God of mercy will indulge" (Death of Parents), with the name of "Fawcett" prefixed in error. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Samuel Wesley

1662 - 1735 Hymnal Number: d15 Author of "Behold the Savior of mankind" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Father of Samuel Wesley, John Wesley, and Charles Wesley. See also in: Hymn Writers of the Church ====================================================================================================== Samuel Wesley, M.A., the elder, was born in 1662 at Whitchurch in Dorsetshire, of which parish his father, John Wesley, was Vicar until the Act of Uniformity caused him to resign his living. He was educated at a Dissenting academy by a Mr. Morton, and was designed for the Nonconformist Ministry. But having been, on account of his talents, selected as a champion to defend the dissenters against some severe invectives, and having commenced a course of controversial reading for this purpose, he was led by his studies to embrace the opposite views, and became, and continued through life, a pronounced churchman. With the impetuosity which was a family trait, he set forth on foot to Oxford, and entered himself at Exeter College. In spite of his straitened means, he managed to keep his terms and take his degrees at the University. He then received Holy Orders and took a curacy of £28 a year. Having held this curacy for a year, he obtained a naval chaplaincy, and then took another curacy in London. About the year 1690 he married Susanna, daughter of Dr. Annesley, a famous Nonconformist minister, and a scion of the noble house of Anglesey. The wife, like the husband, had been brought up as a dissenter, but at the early age of 13 she had come over to the Church of England, and was afterwards a Jacobite in politics. In 1693 Mr. Wesley was presented to the living of South Ormsby in Lincolnshire. He was also chaplain to the Marquis of Normandy, afterwards Duke of Buckingham. In 1697 he was appointed by the Crown to the Rectory of Epworth, and there he spent the remainder of his life, nearly forty years. The first part of his residence at Epworth was marked by a series of troubles arising partly from his pecuniary embarrassments, which increased with his increasing family, partly from the animosity of his parishioners, who resented the part which he felt it his duty to take, as a staunch churchman, in politics, and partly from unfortunate accidents. These troubles reached their climax in 1705, when he was thrown into Lincoln gaol for debt. They are graphically described by his own pen. "I have been thrown behind," he writes to his good friends at Oxford, "by a series of misfortunes. My Parsonage Barn was blown down ere I had recovered the Taking my Living; My House great part of it burnt down about 2 years since. My Flax, great part of my Income now in my own Hands, I doubt wilfully fir'd and burnt in ye night, whilst I was last in London. My Income sunk about one half by the low price of Grain and my credit lost by the taking away my Regiment. I was brought to Lincoln Castle June 23rd last past. About 3 weeks since my very unkind People, thinking they had not yet done enough, have in ye night stabbed my 3 cows, wch were a great part of my poor Numerous Family's Subsistence.—For wch God forgive them." Some points in this letter require explanation. When he speaks of being in London, he means on Convocation business; for he was elected Proctor for the Diocese, and in one of his absences Mrs. Wesley instituted those religious meetings at the Rectory which are thought by some to have been the precursors of the Wesleyan Society Meetings. “His Regiment" was a Chaplaincy in the army which had been given him in reward for a poem in praise of the Duke of Marlborough. The last and worst of the many fires through which he suffered was in 1709, when the rectory was entirely burnt down, and the present house erected in its place. The latter part of his time at Epworth was more free from troubles. He met with many generous friends who enabled him to emerge from his pecuniary difficulties, the firmest and most constant of these friends being the admirable Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sharp; his sons grew up to be a comfort and a credit to him; his income was slightly increased by the addition of the neighbouring living of Wroot; and his parishioners gradually became more tractable. The annoyance caused by the famous Epworth Ghost can scarcely be reckoned among his serious troubles. In 1731 he met with an accident which probably hastened his end, and in 1735 he passed away and was buried in Epworth churchyard, leaving behind him the character of an excellent parish priest, a good husband and father, and a man of very considerable abilities and attainments. Mr. Wesley was a somewhat voluminous writer. His first publication was a volume of poems bearing the unpromising, not to say repulsive, title of Maggots. It appeared in 1685. In 1691 he became the clerical correspondent to the Athenian Gazette (afterwards Mercury) published by his brother-in-law, John Dunton. In 1693 appeared an Heroic Poem on the Life of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This was dedicated to Queen Mary, and led to his appointment to the living of Epworth. In 1695 he published Elegies on Queen Mary and Archbishop Tillotson; and in 1698 A Sermon preached before the Society for the Reformation of Manners. The Elegies are rather fulsome and in bad taste according to the standard of the present day; but it should be remembered that high-flown panegyrics were the fashion of the age. The Sermon is a spirited and energetic defence of the "Societies," which were regarded with some suspicion by many high-churchmen, but of which Mr. Wesley, like his friend Robert Nelson, was a warm supporter. In 1700 he published The Pious Communicant rightly prepared; or a Discourse concerning the Blessed Sacrament, &c, With Prayers and Hymns suited to the several parts of that holy office. To which is added A short Discourse of Baptism. In this work appeared his version of the "Great Hallel" or "Paschal Hymn." In 1704 he published The History of the Old and New Testaments in Verse, in three volumes, which he dedicated to Queen Anne. This, like his Life of Christ, was illustrated with numerous and costly engravings. In 1705 he published a poem of nearly 600 lines on the "Battle of Blenheim," entitled Maryborough, or The Fate of Europe. For this he was rewarded with the Chaplaincy of Colonel Lepell's regiment; but his political enemies at Epworth soon succeeded in getting him deprived of this office. In 1707 appeared A Reply to Mr. Palmer's Vindication of the Learning, Loyalty, Morals, and most Christian Behaviour of the Dissenters towards the Church of England. This originated in the publication, without his consent or knowledge, of a Letter he wrote to a friend Concerning the Education of the Dissenters in their Private Academies. The letter was attacked anonymously and defended by Mr. Wesley in a pamphlet (1704). The pamphlet was answered by Mr. Palmer. After this, Mr. Wesley's pen seems to have rested for some time; but during the last ten years of his life he was engaged in his elaborate Dissertation on the Book of Job, his incessant labours upon which are said to have hastened his end. This work was dedicated to Queen Caroline, the wife of George II., and presented to her by John Wesley some months after the author's death. Perhaps if he had written less, and spent more time in elaborating what he did write, he might have been more successful; but, after all, the "Divine afflatus" must have been wanting; and the best service which he rendered to sacred poetry was in being father of his children. Two of his hymns are in common use:— 1. Behold the Saviour of mankind. 2. 0 Thou Who, when I did complain. -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Thomas Gibbons

1720 - 1785 Hymnal Number: d30 Author of "Father, is not thy promise pledged To thine exalted Son" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Gibbons, Thomas, was born at Beak, near Newmarket, May 31, 1720; educated by Dr. Taylor, at Deptford; ordained in 1742, as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Bures, at Silver Street Chapel, London; and in 1743 became minister of the Independent Church, at Haberdashers' Hall, where he remained till his death, Feb. 22, 1785. In addition to his ministerial office he became, in 1754, tutor of the Dissenting Academy at Mile End, London; and, in 1759, Sunday evening lecturer at Monkwell Street. In 1760 the College at New Jersey, U.S., gave him the degree of M.A. and in 1764 that of Aberdeen the degree of D.D. His prose works were (1) Calvinism and Nonconformity defended, 1740; (2) Sermons on various subjects, 1762; (3) Rhetoric, 1767; (4) Female Worthies, 2 vols., 1777. Three volumes of sermons were published after his death. His poetical works were:— (1) Juvenilia; Poems on various subjects of Devotion and Virtue, 1750, was published by subscription. Among the subscribers is found the name of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, B.A. It was dedicated to the Countess of Huntingdon, and bears her coat of arms. In this volume are included versions of six of the Psalms, and a few hymns. (2) Hymns adapted to Divine wor¬ship in two books. Book I. Derived from select passages of Holy Scriptures. Book II., Written on sacred subjects and particular occasions, partly collected front various authors, but principally composed by Thomas Gibbons, D.D., 1769. (3) Hymns adapted to Divine worship in two books. Book I. Derived from select passages of the Holy Scriptures. Book II. Written on sacred subjects and particular occasions by Thomas Gibbons, D.D., 1784. (4) The Sermons, published in 1762, included fifteen hymns, one being appended to each sermon. (5) The Christian Minister in three poetical epistles to Philander, 1772. This volume included (i.) Poetical versions of several parts of Scripture, (ii.) Translations of poems from Greek and Latin writers, (iii.) Original pieces on various occasions. (6) An English version of the Latin Epitaphs on the Nonconformist's Memorial, with a poem to the memory of the 2000 ministers ejected in 1662, 1775. (7) Select Portions of Scripture, and Remarkable Occurrences, versified for the Instruction and entertainment of Youth of both Sexes, 1781. Reprinted in America, 1805. Dr. Gibbons may be called a disciple in hymnwriting of Dr. Watts, whose life he wrote. His hymns are not unlike those of the second rank of Watts. He lacked "the vision and faculty divine," which gives life to hymns and renders them of permanent value. Hence, although several are common use in America, they are dying out of use in Great Britain. The most popular are, "Now let our souls on wings sublime"; "Great God, the nations of the earth"; "Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess"; "To Thee, my God, whose presence fills." [Rev. W. Garrett Horder] The less important of Dr. Gibbons's hymns, which are still in common use are:— 1. And be it so that till this hour. Hope. This is No. 50 in Book ii. of his Hymns adapted to Divine Worship, &c, 1769, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "Encouragement against Despair; or, Hope still set before us." Originally a Sacramental hymn in Rippon's Selections, 1787, No 230, it was altered to a general hymn, with special reference to "Hope." 2. Assist us, Lord, Thy Name to praise. Life, a race. In Rippon's Baptist Selections, 1787, No. 326, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. 3. Eternal life, how sweet the sound. Eternal Life. This is one of three hymns on Titus iii. 7, in his Hymns adapted to Divine Worship, &c, 1784, Book i., No. 156, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. In the American Dutch Reformed Hymns of the Church, 1869, No. 843 begins with st. ii., "Eternal life, how will it reign?" 4. Father, is not Thy promise pledged? Missions. This is Pt. iii.of his hymn, "Great God, the nations of the earth" (q. v.). 5. Forgiveness, 'tis a joyful sound. Pardon. From his Hymns adapted to Divine Worship, &c, 1769. Book i., No. 69, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines into several modern collections in Great Britain and America. It is based on St. Luke, vii. 47. 6. From winter's barren clods. [Spring.] Appeared in his Hymns, &c, 1784, Book ii., No. 27, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "The Return of the Spring celebrated in the Powerful and Gracious Work of God." In 1787 it was repeated anonymously in Rippon's Baptist Selections, No. 499. The hymn, "Great God, at Thy command, Seasons in order rise," begins with st. iii. of this hymn. 7. Happy the men in ancient days. Public Worship. In his Hymns adapted to Public Worship, &c, 1784. 8. On Zion, his most holy mount. Gospel Feast. From his Hymns adapted for Divine Worship, &c, 1769, Book i., No. 35, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. It was originally a Sacramental hymn, but in its abbreviated form, as in use in America, that element is eliminated. 9. Our Father, high enthroned above. Lord's Prayer. Appeared in the Bristol Baptist Collection of Ash & Evans, 1769, No. 41, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines. In 1772 it was reprinted in a revised form, and with an additional stanza, in Gibbons's Christian Minister, p. 74. 10. Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess. Providence and Grace. Appeared in the Gospel Magazine, 1775, and in his Hymns adapted to Divine Worship, &c, 1784, Bk. ii., No. 11, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines. In Dobell's Selections, 1806, st. i.-iv., and vi. were given with alterations, which were not improvements, as No. 9. This arrangement is repeated in modern hymnbooks, including the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, and others. 11. When Jesus dwelt in mortal clay. Jesus our Example. From his Hymns adapted to Divine Worship, &c, 1784, Book i., No. 128, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines into a few American collections, including the Baptist Praise Book, 1871. The more important of Dr. Gibbons's hymns are annotated under their respective first lines. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ====================== Gibbons, Thomas, p. 420, i. From his Hymns, &c, of 1784, are also in common use:— 1. Lord God, omnipotent to bless. Divine Help desired. 2. Now may the God of peace and love. Close of Service. (1769. Pt. i.) 3. O what stupendous mercy shines. Benevolence. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Alexander Mack

1679 - 1735 Hymnal Number: d60 Author of "Jesu, aufersatnd'ner Held, sonderbarer Koenig" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Alexander Mack was born in 1679 at Schriesheim, between Mannheim and Heidelberg. He was brought up in the Reformed faith. He was not satisfied with the formalism of the Catholic, Lutheran, or Reformed churches, but also not satisfied with the Pietists, who believed religion was of the heart, and rejected the organized church. He founded the Church of the Brethren in 1708 in Schwarzenau, Wittgenstein. The church sought to adopt the teachings of the New Testament, and practiced baptism by immersion. Because of this they were also known as "Dunkers." The church grew in Schwarzenau but was scattered by persecution. The leaders decided to come to the United States and nearly the whole denomination migrated to the States starting in 1719. Mack move with his family in 1729, where he led the church until his death in 1735. Dianne Shapiro from The Religious Poetry of Alexander Mack, Jr. by Samuel B. Heckman (Elgin, IL: Brethren Publishing House, 1912)

Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer

1635 - 1699 Hymnal Number: d90 Author of "Komm, Sterblicher, betrachte mich" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Sacer, Gottfried Wilhelm, son of Andreas Sacer, senior burgomaster of Naumburg, in Saxony, was born atNaumburg, July 11, 1635. He entered the University of Jena in 1653, and remained there for four years as a student of law. He was thereafter for two years secretary to Geheimrath von Platen, in Berlin; and then tutor, first to a son of the Swedish Regierungsrath von Pohlen, and then to the sons of the Saxon Landhauptmann von Bünau. In 1665 he entered the military service under Herr von Mollison, commandant at Lüneberg, at first as regimental secretary, and afterwards as ensign. Soon tiring of this he went to Kiel in 1667, in order to graduate LL.D., but before doing so undertook a tour in Holland and Denmark with some young noblemen from Holstein. In 1670 he settled down as advocate at the appeal and chancery courts in Brunswick (graduating LL.D. at Kiel in 1671), and in 1683 removed to Wolfenbüttel as Kammer-und Amts-advocat, receiving the title of Kammer-Consulent in 1690. He died at Wolfenbüttel, Sept. 8 [18], 1699. (Weizel, iii. p. i.; Koch, iii. 398, iv. 562, &c.) Sacer began early to write poetry, was admitted by Rist, in 1660, as one of his poetical order of Elbe Swans, and in hisNützliche Erinnerungen wegen der teutschen Poeterey, Altenstettin, 1661 [Wolfenbüttel Library], already described himself as " Kayserlicher Poët," i.e. as having been crowned as a poet by the Emperor of Austria. His hymns are among the best of the period immediately succeeding Gerhardt. They have a considerable measure of poetic glow, and sometimes of dramatic force, and are Scriptural and good in style. His earliest hymns seem to have appeared in hisBluttriefende, siegende und triumphirende Jesus, 1661, but no copy of this work is now known. Many are included in pt. ii. 1665, of the Stralsund Gesang-Buch (Ander Theil des erneuerten Gesang-Buchs), and in the other hymn-books of the period. They were collected and published by his son-in-law as his Geistliche, liebliche Lieder, at Gotha, 1714. Those of Sacer's hymns which have passed into English are:— i. Durch Trauera und durch Plagen. New Year. Included in 1665 as above, pt. ii. p. 35, in 7 stanzas of 8 lines; repeated 1714, p. 3, entitled "On the New Year." It is also in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder ed. 1863, No. 191. The translation in common use is:— Through many changeful morrows. This is a good tr. by Dr. F. W. Gotch, in the Baptist Magazine, Jan. 1857, p. 19, repeated in the 1880 Supplement to the Baptist Psalms & Hymns. ii. Gott fähret auf gen Himmel. Ascension. Founded on Ps. xlvii. 6-7. Included in 1665, as above, pt. ii. p. 147, in 7 st. of 8 1., and repeated 1714, p. 27, entitled "On the Ascension of Christ." It is also in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 336. In the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, it begins, "Der Herr faint auf." The translations in common use are:— 1. Lo! God to heaven ascendeth. This is a good tr., omitting st. vi., by Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 39 (Hymns from the German, 1864, p. 63). Repeated, abridged, in Alford's Psalms & Hymns, 1844, and his Year of Praise, 1867; in Dale's English Hymn Book, 1874, &c. 2. While up to Heaven God goeth. A spirited version, omitting st. vi., by W. J. Blew, printed as a leaflet for choir use in 1846, and included in his Church Hymn & Tune Book, 1852 ; in Rice's Selection from Blew, 1870, No. 67, and in Lyra Messianica, 1864, p. 3fr2. Other hymns by Sacer are:— iii. Gott, der du aller Himmel Heer. For those at Sea. Included in J. Crülger's Erneuerte Gesangbüchlein ...von Peter Sohren , Frankfurt am Main, 1670, No. 878, in 10 st., and repeated, 1714, p. 75, in 11 St., entitled “Hymn for Seafarers." Recently in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz 1837 and 1865. Translated as, "Thou who hast stretched the heaven's blue sky." In L. Rehfuess's Church at Sea, 1868, p. 34. iv. Lass mich nicht in Irrthum fallen. Christ for all. Included, 1714, as above, p. 53, in 10 st. of 8 1., founded on Ps. li. 13, and repeated in the Hannover Gesang-Buch, 1740, No. 848. Tr. as "Lord, forbid that e'er such error." By Dr. J. Guthrie, 1869, p. 117. v. 0 dass ich könnte Thränen gnug vergiessen. Passiontide. Included in 1665 as above, pt. ii. p. 60, in 16 st. of 4 1., and repeated, 1714, p. 20, entitled "Contemplation of the piteous death of Jesus Christ." In the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1829, st. xiv.-xvi. altered and beginning, “Mein Herr und Heiland, lass mirs gehn zu Herzen," are included as No. 189. This form is tr. as, “Lord, touch my heart with that great Consummation," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 143. vi. So hab' ich obgesieget. Funeral of a Child. Included in 1665 as above, pt. ii. p. 665, in 13 st. of 8 1., st. i.-xii. being given as spoken by the child in Paradise, and xiii. as the answer of the bereaved parents. Re¬peated,in 1714, p. 91, entitled "Comfort from the de¬parted to those left behind," the 13th stanza being entitled “Farewell of the sorrowing ones." Recently as No. 855 in the Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1851. Translated as (1) "Lo! now the victory's gain'd me," by Miss Cox, 1841, p. 77. In her edition of 1864, p. 87, it is altered and begins, "My race is now completed." (2) "Then I have conquer'd; then at last," by Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 243. (3) "My course is run; in glory," by Dr. J. Guthrie, 1869, p. 105. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Ernst Gottlieb Woltersdorf

1725 - 1761 Hymnal Number: d87 Author of "Kinder, lernt die Ordnung fassen" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Woltersdorf: Ernst Gottlieb W., as a hymn writer, preacher, prolific writer and educators in the field of Erbauungslitteratur one of the most outstanding representatives of pietistic healthy heart and mind towards the middle of the 18th Century. He was born on 31 May 1725 as the sixth son of the preacher to Gabriel Luke Friedrichsfelde in Berlin, who was appointed 10 years after its birth as a preacher at the St. George Church in Berlin. The blessing of a serious Christian education accompanied him to the Berlin High School to the gray convent, from which he received in 1742, only 17 years old, the University of Halle, to be under the direction of the pietistic school teachers belonging to J. Lange, Michael, Baumgarten and Knapp to pay the theological studies. He lived in the Francke'schen orphanage, took part in the lessons in the same upside down, with young men of serious Christian spirit. After the deep impressions he had received from the institutions prevailing in the Francke'schen spirit, he was a pious poet and preacher, the deacon from Köthen teaching, by means of a collegium in the same hall to biblicum held lecture "from the Dear Jesus, "so moved that he by his own testimony to that time in the experience of the truth of salvation in Christ alone is more deeply founded and was able to sit with deliberate, fervent belief in salvation now enthusiastic songs of this testimony. He was no course of internal disputes and disturbances as a result of failed ideas and feelings about certain characteristics of higher or lower level in a state of grace and the work of sanctification. But the road with like-minded friends, the discipline that the regular work exerted in his Schulthätigkeit about him and above all the deepening of his inner life in the biblical truth of the human with no benefits and earnings-related healing properties in the sonship with God did not make him only in Halle, but after traveling in the Ukermark, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and Saxony, where he geistgesalbten preachers, including the Abbot Steinmetz appeared in Magdeburg, and with faith, mostly Christian-minded lay people of higher and lower levels in the intimate connection of all those inner battles to win and achieve victory even Glaubensfreudigkeit. This led him then to everywhere, to practice diligently in preaching. The resulting received and experienced [175] blessings he testified once in his travel diary with the prayer: Will you give so much on earth, well, what will be in heaven! After he had dressed in a parsonage in the Ukermark where preachers Cordier in Zerrenthin, from 1744 to a private tutor, in which he made because of the relatively large size of the community and all Sundays in preaching and catechise with much pleasure and joy help, followed He instigated and recommendation of his father's friend, the court preacher Zacharia in Dargun in Mecklenburg, where the residence was on his travels he had been particularly blessed in the spring of 1746 the call to an educator position in the home of the widowed Countess of Promnitz on Drehna in Lower Lusatia , where he stopped next to the education and the teaching of the young count, at the request of the parent of the same on Sundays except the church service or special edification of the castle, the preservation of the community from sectarian divisions and the collection of after promotion longing in her life of faith many servants and other members of the community served. As he result of this blessed effect after three months by his father's friend stonemason from Magdeburg received the call to a chaplain job with a local regiment, he same thought with regard to his youth, he was only 21 years old, and his only such a short effective decline in the new position of having to. He learned from the neighboring preachers in Petermann Verschau in short, the Wendish so far that he could preach about the many Drehna to contact the living Gospel. The joy that he has had his insurance after learning and using this language in itself, was surpassed by the joy of how the contact showed their love for him and their gratitude for the administration of the bread of life. He was kicked repeatedly by members of the Brethren in combination, but without the same formally to join what he is mainly due to the otherwise respectfully gathered by him in all things and followed his father's counsel was held in Berlin. Through those relationships, he was the former pastor of the Moravian Church, John Andrew Rothe, of the Count Zinzendorf was in the year 1722 called to Berthelsdorf, where he had worked in support of that community, but then retreated from the same parish and now in the village Tammen at Bunzlau held, and especially as the author of the song: "I have now found the reason," is well known, become acquainted in the way that he of the same community Bunzlau after completion of the second spiritual authority at the local, according to the seizure of Silesia by Frederick the Great of their built Bethany Church was recommended as the right man for this office. He had soon come to the Rothe's request and the citizenship Bunzlaus to be a guest sermon there, the magistrate also get a similar invitation. But he had similar concerns, to obey the call, as before, according to Steinmetz's invitation to accept a field preacher, as he is for the ministry still considered too young. As the magistrate issued a second call to him by a of members of the same on behalf of the citizens of both mounted letter. Because he believed the voice of God to Jer. 1, to question 7: Do not say I'm too young, but you shall go where I send thee, preaching that I bid thee. He traveled to Boleslawiec. Due to its there on the 18th February 1748 held a guest sermon that made a poignant impression on the community, he was elected by a large majority for the second preacher. As was raised by an opponent's [176] party objected to this choice. The matter of his formal appointment was particularly the so-called Orthodox, who presented his orthodoxy questioned, delayed in the way that he could rely on the patient waiting. During which he received in the neighborhood several opportunities to preach. Particularly the community in Friedersdorf on Queis won him while he was staying there for eight weeks, so dear that they expressed the wish that he would remain as their pastor with her. But the citizens of Bunzlau did not let him. Addressed to the King please, to confirm him as their preacher, had the expected favorable result. Convened by the Oberconsistorium in Wroclaw for a colloquium with the Oberconsistorialrath castle, he was here his orthodoxy in the full sense of the word shown. He received ordination. A Royal Order in Council confirmed its choice for the second preacher in Boleslawiec. The gracious guidance of God certain, he wrote to his father: The Lord be with me now and let Bunzlau be a blessed and well-watered garden planting his empire. He sends me. He's doing well. On 23 October, after he moved from the first community in Friedersdorf farewell was taken, introduced in his office. The following Sunday he gave his inaugural sermon with great movement of his heart and his community, among many implication from near and far who has come awakened and devout members of other communities, particularly those which he had preached during the waiting period with impressive power repentance and conversion, without even the slightest hint of the to make him part of the orthodoxy befell hostilities. His father, he replied to the admonition to win his opponent through love and not to mention their enmity: "I have not come to mind to mention the enemies of the slightest adversity. I know, thank God, of no enemies and I long ardently desire their salvation. "In this sense and spirit of gentler and reconciling love he reigned then his office under the king's confirmation deed expressed admonition," is everywhere, both in teaching and life, against both his colleagues and the community, as against foreign religious relatives, as a servant of Christ is due to pay, in addition to all the vilification, backbiting and Verketzerns the latter to contain carefully, but one of his finest Augenmerke on the Conservation of peace and civil can be agreed to between the different religious family oriented, so that the teaching of the Gospel with those who are out there will not be dishonored. " Soon he had with his tireless loyalty and tireless work as settled in the community and save them as to him by the Lord commanded flock through his self-denial full pastoral charity in the wake of the pastoral charity of Jesus to obtain the hearts of his former opponents so intimately connected with him, that he to the repeated rejection of his requests issued, answered the call to other places with much higher income than he could have it here, and with external higher honor than they were connected with the modest Bunzlauer Office, to be followed. And this could only serve to make the tape with his community to the closer, because it was well known, as he and his numerous, up to six children had grown up family and for his generous charity toward the poor and the distressed themselves often need and deprivation to had suffered. With a firm reliance on his God, he could Durchhülfe his song: "Depart, ye gloomy cares! "sing and make with the confession:" For today and tomorrow on another man makes the blood of Christ strengthens my spirits and makes me into trouble [177] and never lose heart troubles. " That he was the second minister in addition to the parish priest Jäschki, with whom he stood as his dear people in a cordial agreement, troubled him not at his much richer talent as a preacher and his far more successful activity in the large parish, in addition to the city for seven Rural communities included. Rather, he was by these successes as a gift from his God, and by the burden of office work, which he hosted standing with joy and fervor as in the service of God's grace, always in the right humility preserve preserved and so that he reproaches of vanity and ambition, to be sure, more and more falling silent at first raised against him on the part of antipietistischen, Orthodox zealots who refuse to completely clear conscience and could not refute, by word and deed. In such humility he represents as it were a program on his official life, in which he writes: "My office sometimes oppress the shoulders of a pretty. Blessed be my God, that He is faithful and assured me of it, that he sent me. Where else I wanted with all my inability and my incompetence, and with so many important events in the office and hernehmen troubled joy? Praise God, He blesses my poor service by grace and by helping in everything. " Despite its effectiveness was in words and deeds according to the teaching and example of the great Pietistenväter Spener and Francke, the goal of his work on the fire of love of the Crucified Christ, inflamed desire to awaken and convert him to a living faith in him, to rebirth and renewal of the whole inner man through the Holy Spirit means the enthusiastic preaching of the Word from the Cross to help all those. whose heart he was trying to tap into the power of the word of the only saving grace in Christ's blood and righteousness. As he was met even by the love of Christ in his heart, his heart burned with a fiery zeal, with all that he spoke, wrote and did, achieve nothing more than the hearts of his care parishioners with the fire of the love of Christ to ignite and feed him as his own. As a preacher quite a witness and confessor of the pure doctrine and the Church's confession testified evangelical truth, he put his in the service of truth, devouring life committed that it is not merely a knowledge and outward confession of the same, but on a true life of faith, which in had the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God cleanses us from all sins flow, arriving for salvation in the true sonship with God for time and eternity: true inner repentance and conversion from the source, particularly from the truth. In ever larger crowds to the audience gathered from near and far. His sermons in the church lit a fire, which threw its light round about in the neighboring communities that make up the feed to the Bunzlauer revival preacher was ever more numerous. The church offered are often not enough space. Then, in the open air church service, held in the name Bunzlauer urban forest, from him. The fruit of the municipal public services were, as they are for the satisfaction of the awakened from his hunger and thirst after the grace blessings of the gospel is not sufficient construction meetings at various locations within the township, which he headed, which urged especially the revivalists themselves to further Christian leaders and to receive food, but everyone wanted to come to the entrance, who, was open. He said that it had come into the city up to nine such meetings, "without necessarily being something special was wanted by a good deal more honest souls [178] does not come to be compelled." From the city to spread the movement from the rural communities. "Because of the eager souls awakened by the country," he once said, "I must create a new meeting on Sunday that would want to multiply a hundred souls." With such excitement and movement of minds then there was not even on the blaze of a false fire. But he understood it masterfully to dampen sectarian tendencies and swarm-spirited generic impulses by which this underlying spiritual necessity of community care and calm, clear instruction and correction from the Word of Scripture and the confessions of the church satisfaction granted and especially avoid public combat such errors from the pulpit could by her loving pastoral influence in private or in those narrow circles of community, the way each community were open limb, due to the right path of truth, fair evangelical and spiritual sobriety. He was also for one with a clear conscience. write: "The question of whether our sheep remain on track, I can answer with a joyful yes. What you resist a title of glory and the Community "for our profit, that wants to Satan with great cunning and defiance. But it can do it not because you, Lord Jesus Christ reign in all things, and you are our support. ' This verse, describing the state of our towns completely. " From the beginning, he took with a special love for the children, remembering the promise Jesaj. 40, 11: "He will gather the lambs in his arms," and bid Jesaj. 45, 11. "Shew my children and the work of my hands to myself" It often happened that young children in homes up and down got together and sang together, and the prayers, poems and songs verses, which they from their parents and had learned in school, prayed. Since he came to these little meetings, prayed with them, with them was a child and studied by paternal interview with them the love of the Saviour to plant in their hearts and they fed the children's friends. Through clear sober teacher training as a heart-andri AGB testimony of the love of Jesus and fiery message of his guilty grateful love in it, he managed many young souls in the up gravest taken preparatory classes for the blessing and the Lord's Supper to win the Lord and his own to . give The Eingesegneten evening of Sunday, he gathered around the rectory, to lead them in their faith life and continue to protect them from the temptations of the world. Pressed as a result of repeated consecrations ever larger crowds to these meetings, so a larger hall for this had to be procured, and when even this last was no longer sufficient, in different places and in the week that spiritual care of the youth confirmirten be exercised by him had. He learned a matter of abundant blessings, as he witnessed it repeatedly. He once said: "The Lord has placed on my children right from the start burning right over his heart. I let him not, he will give great blessings "In view of the salutary effect that will emanate from such work to the world of children in the community, he once wrote:". The Lord would crown it with a lasting blessing. I hope the children we are still chasing the devil out of Bunzlau. " This untiring pastoral charity and pastoral fidelity, in which he gladly condescended to the lambs of the flock, the small and eingesegneten children in the community, in order to serve them as guides to Jesus, and of which he himself once said, "brings the love me more and more meaning that I'm on a [179] righteously all kinds, the simple-minded I am stupid, the children with a child - "he struck with it until his death with all the hard work for the uplift of education in the community , and more specifically in the area of a peculiar institutional life, which is derived from small beginnings in Bunzlau modeled and in the spirit of the institutions in Hall Francke'schen first under his eyes and his Beirath and then under his direct guidance and direction as one of the many actual facts of the testimony, sometimes creative, sometimes reformist spirit that went out to the Lutheran school system of the foundations Francke'schen developed. With its pastoral care for the children he could attach himself to a blessed school work, which had exercised before him faithful teachers in the pietistic spirit and good sense. He was held in the town a considerable number of kindred spirits, where he saw the fruit of the seed which was sown the teacher that slept in their Donnsdorf Mäderjan and blessed work. It also became more and more recognized by overcoming all sorts of prejudices, as he was working with that child and youth care in the hands of the school. He himself says: "The school people have to confess that they already see a significant change in many, indeed, they themselves moved away. The devil and the angry he is not ashamed to lie to the lambs as he's making with the sheep. " A particular unexpected call but went up to him, in the field of school immediately to work for the planting of Christian faith and life all its force with as citizens master mason Gottlieb Dental him the plan of him after the pattern of Francke'schen orphanage in Hall substantiated orphanage presented and requested his assistance in the execution of this plan. This plan was in gear due to the fact that he, himself once been an orphan, by reading, edited by AH Francke, "News of the orphanage home in Glaucha front hall," and through him from his own childhood, remaining memory of the Waisennoth to squat, felt a similar institution for the start of this remedy to him poignant misery. Quietly had this God-fearing man will lay already in his in the upper suburbs of Bunzlau located home the reason to do so, as he took his children own a teacher's house and others, especially poor children, take part in this teaching part was where he thought to also include orphans. As he made for this purpose an extension of his house, holding a private school that he was banned. However, he argued, be just a result of this misguided attempt to justify a private school where his plan to build his house verwerthen extended to support an orphanage. The more clearly he was but to recognize this intention, the greater concern were the same as of other friendly side, opposite side of including Woltersdorf's. His concerns were in the fire with all the enthusiasm for the activity of his faith and love in works of Christian charity his own quiet conscientious deliberation and consideration of the motives of that company, which the Lord offered a means for its execution and alone in his honor and salvation of the children in the eye to adopt goals of the efforts of the pious Gottlieb dental reasons, the was always certain, however, by these concerns expressed his spiritual friend not to be misled. His joyful determination and confidence in the work, the more and more in W. from all concerns are emerging conviction that this is [180] raised a necessary one for Bunzlau work of mercy, and the certainty that by the pious master mason being done in the spirit and meaning of Francke institutions, had the effect that now with all those doubts vanished W. and entered in its place a more joyful the more readiness. He has "his own later nachgehends wondered how it was able to be that he did not rather inaccessible because it still works like God is not before had been so unknown." He supported henceforth tooth in its efforts to magisterial approval for creation of a small institution, for which tooth one informer and talk to two orphan boys at their own expense are agreed to and in which even the little children of the upper suburbs because of the great distance from the New suburbs are likely to be taught. The royal approval was granted with the instruction that the Protestant clergy will oversee the foundation of her and would have a good testimony of the informant. Tooth was able to open the school again and that the inclusion of two orphans, which soon found themselves even more reasons for the orphanage. It was the first grain-mustard-like happy development of the institution's earnings Woltersdorf. On the tooth for the same are acquired land he was on 5 April 1755 to a new institution for the purposes set up home with great sympathy of the authorities and residents Bunzlaus with a speech on Jesaj. 40, 26-31, in which he "of the triumph of faith over the language of disbelief," said, laying the foundation. According to his plan the scope of the purposes of this orphanage was not limited merely to actual orphans, but should "also other poor youth spiritual and corporeal way helped up" and will focus on improving the school system at all taken care, including the Auferziehung and training "of useful Präparanden to school should include people. " Regarding the goal of intellectual education, other good schools, and the Halle Züllichausche orphanage and school in Berlin Hecker'sche serve as a model to the divine providence of the development is expected to be prey, such as the establishment in every way so far possible and pleasing to God, the service of their neighbor wants to be paid. " The spirit of the institution should be supported and permeated with avoidance of all interested by bias against other institutions, all vanity, hypocrisy and all the sectarian system and in maintaining a joyful in the Lord's Spirit of the Word of God and a living knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit avoidance of all dishonesty before God and man. Yes W. felt constrained in this respect, "in the name of Jesus an eternal curse and ban on all human intentions and unfair to put that would arise from this work. God forbid, hands also interested by the matter prior to all future times. Amen!" By morning prayer and evening meeting was the school life of the day from him, as the shepherd of the more numerous under his leadership, creative crowd of orphan boys, alumni and retirees in God's word and framed under the discipline of the spirit of God made. At the evening worship, which he considered most like themselves came, so many adults from the city and the countryside, the new hall in the orphanage home so often not enough room and offered the prayers had to be kept at the weather outside. In the design of the school life of the institution, he proved to be an excellent efficient Schulmann, by following the example of the Halle Orphanage and the Berlin school, the three educational goals with their corresponding three directions in the eye seized and united: the humanistic to the education the university studies which provided a realistic preparation for the higher middle class and the elementary school for the common people, all the three directions of school life, but framed and consecrated by the blessing of the Gospel and under the leadership of the heavenly teacher. In a short time the institution became such a growth, that in the year 1760 consisted of 104 persons with 5 studirten teachers. When he joined the Institute counted Directorat that only 15 orphan boys and 24 boarders and students free. In three years, until his deposition in 1761, increased the flock to 24 orphans and 82 retirees. As educators and as administrator of the whole, in such a way, growing prison system filled and penetrated it, the whole school life with the spirit of healthy piety, such as just the physical freshness cheerful prosperity, as the spiritual welfare of the young subject of the kindest, in the service of Christ's love paternal care was exercised. In the fullest sense of the word W. was the soul of the orphanage in mind and following the example of him at the heart grown Francke Institute in Halle, by every single student with orphan and pastoral fidelity and love with pedagogical accepted. In addition to all this his full strength in claim taking and for the run of the day often exceeds job of having to adjust in the service of his God and Savior, he is every moment of his life, was conscious, he devoted himself from the same desire of his heart, often Taking to the aid of night, an admirably comprehensive and versatile literary activity in writing devotional writings, and especially in poetry and spiritual songs "Psalms". First, we see that a sizable portion of this literary work, far beyond his sphere of influence beyond even beyond Germany his name known in the circles of the originally healthy pietism newly awakened life of faith made and varied, yet continued blessing donated, the was he so dearly loved youth. For example, was initially intended to be for his pupil, the young Earl of Promnitz, certain "flying letter to the youth about happiness before conversion," soon the most widespread, and the one who writes this can testify from his own youth, what a [182] deep, has had on his life extending effect of this little book for him. Among his songs is the large number of those who can be described as spiritual children and youth songs, a truly heartwarming forming testimony of how even in this work his watchword: the love of Christ Penetrating me, then, to bear was, and how he in such a Language of love for the young hearts found the right tone, as it is rarely managed a spiritual hymn writers. Examples of this are the songs: "Flowering Youth" and "Stay, sheep remains." Form and content of a cast. The flowing language of the mouth and the language of the heart are the outpouring of such a fact that is not to find any trace of an arduous passage through the paths reflectirender thought and form of education. This is true even of all his spiritual poems. His many songs he wrote as well as 35 devotional writings, he was at first singly, then in two collections published under the title "Evangelical Psalms," 1750 and 1751. After his death, only the most complete collection of them appeared under the title "EC Woltersdorf's all the new songs, or Evangelical psalms," Berlin 1767th In ease of diction and fertility of the production is reminiscent of Benjamin Schmolck . Only that he was from the latter by the unusual length of his poems is different, which was a consequence of the total executed Exempt and meets one of his inner life of the subject and his heart and mind completely overflowing and while writing his overwhelming thoughts inflow, which according to its own the statement of intent, the fullness of his thoughts and feelings to pour in more concise form, often thwarted. The fundamental reason this exuberant but diffusivity was deeply stirred the innermost and fulfillment of the power of the love of Jesus Christ. In a similar way as in the Moravian religious poetry, sermons and penetrating mode of teaching was the case, all his writings, the fiery testimony of the sole resting finding the soul in the blood and the wounds of Christ, the Lamb of God, often in extremely striking phrases, but also not rare in tändelndem sweet tone in unusually strong terms, and in some sense the refined taste of the corresponding images, as for example, a long poem titled: "The believers as bees on the wounds of Jesus," wrote. In the defense of strong sensual unusual phrases from blood and wounds of the Saviour with the sentence that should be moved by the sense, the heart, he demanded, however, with reference to the known abuses in the Moravian poetry quite emphatically, "that while the matter in their dimensions remain and not an exaggerated, pompous, lewd, disgusting, incomprehensible, or even ridiculous creatures come out. " By and large, the previous herding, he can at the broad rapid stream of his momentary heart outpourings, the witness is always a major poetic system, and undermined by the lack of a formal and linguistic overwork still images and expressions with which those claims in accordance of him with a quiet deliberation, and would have been avoided Selbstbeurtheilung want, but not merely in the way of the Moravian, but also occur in the later Pietist homiletical and poetic way of speaking often enough. It is missing its often too lengthy poems and songs, most of which are low in spite of their living feeling are not suitable for singing in church in worship, but only for the private edification, in addition to a lively poetic feeling of the various keys sung and celebrated redemption and reconciliation with God through Christ's merit, the modest rounding off bloody and creative poetic work. Nevertheless, Woltersdorf's countless songs [183] Many faith and strengthening Herzenserquickung offered. Quite a few are either in their original condensed form, or have been recorded in an abbreviated and rounded shape in the Protestant hymn books and the sacred use. Examples are: "This is a blessed ones hour, Jesus thinks of you as you," "sinners, rejoice in heart", "My hope and anchor in every need," "Who is the bride of the king's right?", "God, you thronest in Heaven," "Take down my heart, O God, take it back", "preacher of the sweet teachings," "Come, my heart! in Jesus' suffering, "the latter being a sacrament hymn, in which the words:" I have a Saviour, "in various phrases and terms are varied and give a touchingly powerful sensation of what is sinful man of his Saviour, expression . That he with all his poetic activity, only the highest and most essential for all spiritual poetry always had in mind, he testified again with the phrase, it was his unalterable truth, that while all reasonable rules of poetry are very good, but that nevertheless the Divine in poetry learned otherwise than on the knees and given free will, for if the spirit of all spirits, the heart of the poet does not inflame, so even the most sublime poetry was to be no divine call. It is as beautiful a testimony of his truly Christian view of what should be sacred poetry when he encountered even in his time poets who anschlugen in the field of religious poetry already the moralizing tone and the first article of the Christian faith withdraw second left, says the truth in these words: "If you want to make it good, so seals her moral fables. or you look at the wonderful Creator and sings of his great majesty. See how it comes, however, that her secret wisdom of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to save sinners do so rarely or never hit your poems, let? You have to the most beautiful among the sons of men have not yet seen. "His loftiest of these key songs sung have given him the honorary title of the Silesian Asaph. All his energies on his already frail body composition consuming work in the two offices was the cause of his untimely death. Deeply shaken by the death of his brotherly love him in affiliated Jäschki colleague, whom he on 12 December 1761 the hour had passed and the Lord's Supper deposition he had to preach the following Sunday the congregation, he thought, though broken in its physical force, on this 3rd Advent Sunday with great earnestness and power of the spirit haunting his last sermon on the words of the first epistle Corinth. 4, 5: "Which will also bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts." In a premonition of death, he exclaimed, thinking of his brother's office just departed to the community: "Eight days ago he was still at this point, who knows who is eight days here!" After full completion of all work in his office that day, he threw a violent fever in the hospital bed, from which he should not get up again. A stroke of apoplexy ended his life he took only 36 years on 17 December 1761 end. His last words, echoes of his songs were a praise to God, his Saviour: "Hallelujah! shout it, sing it, it springeth the heart, the sad pain zurücke it depart. - If you eat of you, everything is sweetened. " - On the second word Corinth. 1, 8-10, with whom he had awarded during the illness and his family repeatedly comfort and hope, he gave his friend, pastor of Greater Walditz Seidel, the funeral sermon. Above his grave has his grateful congregation on his tombstone shouted at [184] him, "as they have lost in him a truly evangelical leaders, and the orphanage a worthy director and loving father, as he is a faithful shepherd of the flock entrusted to him, a carrier the spreader glory of God and the kingdom of Christ, an indefatigable, but had often been about power Weighted workers in the vineyard of the Lord." --Excerpts from http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/ADB:Woltersdorf,_Ernst_Gottlieb

Jonathan Evans

1748 - 1809 Hymnal Number: d40 Author of "Hark, the voice of love and mercy" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Evans, Jonathan, born at Coventry in 1748 or 1749. He was the son of a working man, and as a youth was employed in a ribbon manufactory. About 1778 he joined the congregation at Coventry, over which the Rev. G. Burder was pastor. He began preaching at Foleshill, near Coventry, in 1782, and in 1795 he began his stated ministry there, retaining the same to his death on Aug. 31, 1809. Two biographical notices of him appeared in the Evangelical Magazine (Oct. 1809, and March 1847), and also several of his hymns. Two of his hymns appeared in Burder's Collection, 1784, and another in the 2nd edition the same year. His best known hymns are, "Come, Thou soul-transforming Spirit,” and "Hark! the voice of love and mercy;" q.v. He published no poetical work or collection of hymns. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Joseph Humphreys

b. 1720 Person Name: J. Humphreys Hymnal Number: d17 Author of "Blessed [Blest] are the sons of God" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Humphreys, Joseph, son of Asher Humphreys, minister at Burford, Oxfordshire, was born at Burford, Oct. 28, 1720, and educated at a grammar school at Fairford, and at an academy for the training of young men for the ministry in London. From the latter he was expelled, Dec. 25, 1739, because of his attachment to Whitefield. For a short time he associated with the Wesleys, but eventually joined G. Whitefield, and subsequently preached at Bristol, London, and Deptford. He died in London (date unknown), and was buried in the Moravian Cemetery at Chelsea. He was a contributor to Whitefield's Christian History (1741-1748), 1742, &c, and published, 1742, An Account of Joseph Humphreys's Experiences, &c. As a hymnwriter he is not widely known. His hymns were contributed to J. Cennick'e Sacred Hymns for the Use of Religious Societies (Bristol), 1743, pt. ii., and are thus introduced: "These were done by Mr. Joseph Humphreys." Of these hymns, two only are in common use:— 1. Blessed are the sons of God. Adoption. 2. Come, guilty souls, and flee away. Invitation. These are given in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, 1866, and other collections. No. 1 is the more popular of the two. It is sometimes abbreviated, and has the concluding lines of st. viii. added as a refrain to each stanza. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================= Born: October 28, 1720, Burford, Oxfordshire, England. Died: London, England. Buried: Moravian Cemetery, Chelsea, England. Joseph was the son of Asher Humphreys, Rector of Barton, Hertfordshire, and subsequently Burford, Oxfordshire. At age 10, Joseph was sent to a grammar school at Fairfield, Gloucestershire. His father died in 1732, and Joseph was sent, at age 12, to a theological school in London. In 1738, having been converted to the doctrines of the Wesleys, he began to preach at the Foundry, London, in Bristol, and elsewhere. He attached himself particularly to John Cennick, and accompanied him frequently on his evangelistic tours. Hatfield reports, "For his irregularities in these respects, he was expelled, December 25, 1739, from the school." Following Cennick’s example, Humphreys separated from the Wesleys in April 1741 and became associated with Whitefield. The same year, he preached for the Moravians at Deptford, West Greenwich. He was also one of the four principal contributors to The Weekly History, just then established, in the interest of the new religious movement. Several of his "Letters to John Wesley," opposing his views, appeared in this journal. Humphreys frequently preached at the Bowling Green, Bristol, and the Tabernacle, London. In January 1743, he united with several clergymen and lay preachers in organizing, near Cardiff, Wales, the first Calvinistic Methodist Society. In 1790, according to John Wesley’s journal, Humphreys left Whitefield and was ordained a Presbyterian minister. He later received an Episcopal ordination. Humphreys’ works include: A Letter to the Religious Societies, in Testimony Against the Errors of Universal Redemption and Sinless Perfection (Bristol, England: 1741) An Account of Joseph Humphreys’ Experience at the Work of Grace upon His Heart (Bristol, England: 1742) --www.hymntime.com/tch

Bernhard Heinrich Sasse

Hymnal Number: d86 Author of "Kinder, eilt euch zu bekehren" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed.

David Denicke

1603 - 1680 Hymnal Number: d97 Author of "Kommt, und lasst euch Jesum lehren" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Denicke, David, son of B. D. Denicke, Town Judge of Zittau, Saxony, was born at Zittau, January 31, 1603. After studying philosophy and law at the Universities of Wittenberg and Jena, he was for a time tutor of law at Königsberg, and, 1624-1628, travelled in Holland, England and France. In 1629 he became tutor to the sons of Duke Georg of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and under father and sons held various important offices, such as, 1639, the direction of the foundation of Bursfeld, and in 1642 a member of the Consistory at Hannover. He died at Hannover, April 1, 1680 (Koch, iii. 237; Bode, p. 58). His hymns, which for that time were in good taste, and are simple, useful, warm, and flowing, appeared in the various Hannoverian hymnbooks, 1646-1659, which he edited along with J. Gesenius (q.v.). All appeared there without his name. Those translated are:—i. Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot. Ten Commandments. Contributed to the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 69, as a hymn on the Ten Commandments, in 22 stanza of 4 1., stanzas i.-x. being a confession of sins against them, and stanzas xi.-xxii. a medi¬tation and prayer for God's mercy. Included in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, 1661, in Freylinghausen's Gesang Buch, 1714, and recently in a few collections, as Sarnighausen's Gesang Buch, 1855, No. 164, and the Ohio Gesang Buch, 1865, No. 182. It is translated as Almighty Lord of earth and heaven. By C. H. L. Schnette, as No. 206 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Stanzas i.-iv. are literal; stanzas v.-vii. seem based on v., vii., xvi., xvii. Hymns not in English common use:— ii. Ach treuer Gott! ich ruf zu dir . [Christian Life .] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1652, No. 135, in 17 st. This is translated as:—(1) “My God! I call upon Thy name," by Miss Cox, 1841, p. 177. (2) "Most holy God! to thee I cry," by Lady E. Fortescue, 1843 (1847, p. 69). iii. Kommt, lasst euch den Herren lehren . [ The Beatitudes,] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch , 1648, in 11 st., No. 133. It may have been suggested by J. Heermann's "Kommt ihr Christen, kommt und höret" (9 st. in his Sontags- und Fest-Evangelia, Leipzig, 1638; Mützell, 1858, No. 94), but has only 3 lines in common with it. In the Nürnberg Gesang Buch , 1676, No. 962, and many later hymnbooks, it begins : "kommt und lasst uns Jesum lehren." It is translated as "Come and hear our blessed Saviour," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 46. In his 2nd edition, 1732, p. 75, altered and beginning “Come, and hear the sacred story," and thence in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1754, pt. i., No. 469; stanzas x., xi. beginning, "Jesus, grant me to inherit," being repeated in later editions and as No. 423 in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841. iv. Was kann ich doch fiir Dank. [Praise and Thanksgiving] 1st publised in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1648, in 8 st., No. 154. Stanza vii. is altered from “Herr Jesu, führe mich," by J. Heermann (Devoti Musica Cordis); Breslau, 1630; Mützell, 1858, No. 57. Translated as "What, thanks can I repay?" by J. C. Jacobi, 1725, p. 46 (1732, p. 147). v. Wir Menschen sein zu dem, O Gott. [Holy Scripture."] 1st published in the Hannover Gesang Buch, 1659, No. 180, in 10 stanzas. Founded on the Gospel for Sexagesima Sunday—St. Luke viii. 4, &c. Translated as:—(1) "Give us Thy Spirit, Lord, that we," a translation of stanza iii. by J. Swertner, as No. 8 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789 (1886, No. 9). (2) "Let the splendour of Thy word," a translation of stanza ix. by J. Swertner, as No. 15, in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789. (1886, No. 17). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

John Fellows

? - 1785 Hymnal Number: d75 Author of "Jesus, mighty King in [of] Zion" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Fellows, John. Date of birth unknown; d. 1785. He was the author of the following:— (1) Grace Triumphant, a Sacred Poem in nine books, 1770; (2) Bromsgrove Elegy, in blank verse, on the Death of Rev. G. Whitefield, 1771; (3) An Elegy on the Death of Dr. Gill, 1771; (4) Hymns on Believers' Baptism, Birmingham, 1773; (5) The Apostle Paul's Defence before Felix, in verse, 1775; (6) Hymns in a great variety of Metres, on the Perfection of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 1776; (7) The History of the Holy Bible, attempted in easy verse, 4 vols., 1777; (8) Six Instructive Views of Believers' Baptism, a tract published both separately and as an Introduction to the 2nd edition of his “Hymns on Believers' Baptism" 1777; (9) A Fair and Impartial Enquiry into the Rise, &c., of the Church of Rome, 1779; and also (10) "A Protestant Catechism." Considering how numerous were the writings of J. Fellows, it is remarkable how little is known of him. It is stated by Dr. Joseph Belcher, in Historical Sketches of Hymns (Philadelphia, 1859), that he was a poor shoemaker, a member of the Baptist denomination, and that he lived in Birmingham. The evidence for this is tolerably clear. That Fellows was a Baptist and not a Methodist, as Watt & Allibone say, is clear from his baptismal hymns. That be lived in or near Birmingham is likely from the fact that most of his books date from Birmingham, and are said to be printed for the author, though sold by G. Keith, Gracecburch Street, London. Also, to the 2nd edition of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism (1777) is prefixed a note of commendation, signed by eight Baptist ministers, who say they are personally acquainted with the author; and the first three names are those of the Baptist ministers at Birmingham, Coventry and Bromsgrove. From the records of the Baptist church formerly in Cannon Street, Birmingham, it appears that a John Fellows joined it early in 1780, and continued a member till his death on July 30, 1785. But one of J. Fellows's earlier pieces is entitled a Bromsgrove Elegy. Combining these facts we infer that Fellows first lived at Bromsgrove, and then, removing to Birmingham, joined the church in Cannon Street. His hymns on Baptism are 55 in number. 6 are in Rippon's Selection, 1787. Some of his hymns are in all Baptist hymn-books, from Rippon to modern collections. These include the disputed "Humble souls who seek salvation", the hymn on behalf of children, "Great God, now condescend"; and others, all of which are annotated under their respective first lines. In addition the following are in limited use:— 1. Dear Lord, and will Thy pardoning love Embrace, &c. Adult Baptism. No. 28 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "The Believer constrained by the love of Christ to fol¬low Him in His Ordinance." In Rippon's Selection, 1787, it was reduced to 4 stanzas: and in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, to 6, stanza vi. being omitted. It is also sometimes given as "0 Lord, and will Thy pardoning love, &c." 2. Descend, Celestial Dove. Invocation of the Holy Spirit at Holy Baptism. No. 55 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines. In Rippon's Selection, 1787, these were rearranged in 4 stanzas, and again in the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, to 3 stanzas. 3. Go, teach the nations and baptize. Holy Baptism. No. 454, in Rippon's Selection, 1787, in 3 stanzas of 3 lines. It is given in a few American collections. 4. Great God, we in Thy courts appear. Holy Baptism. No. 43 in his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, and Rippon's Selection, 1787, No. 452, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It sometimes begins with stanza iii., "In Thy assembly here we stand." 5. Jesus, Mighty King of [in] Zion. Holy Baptism; Christ the Guide. No. 29 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines and headed, "Believers buried with Christ in Baptism." Rippon, 1787, reduced it to 3 stanzas, and these have been repeated in later collections as the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, &c. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Antoinette Bourignon

1616 - 1680 Hymnal Number: d23 Author of "Come, Savior, Jesus, from above" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Bourignon, Antoinette, was born at Lisle in 1616. From a very early period she was under the influence of religion, which took, in course of time, a mystical turn. Undertaking the work of a religious reformer, she visited France, Holland, England, and Scotland; and published several works dealing with The Testimony of Truth; The Renovation of the Gospel Spirit, &c. Her enthusiasm, peculiarity of views, and disregard of all sects raised on the one hand zealous persecutors, and on the other warm adherents. At her death at Franeker, in Friesland, Oct. 30, 1680, she left a large number of followers, especially in Scotland and France. Her works were published in 19 vols. at Amsterdam, 1686. She is known to hymnology through her hymn, "Venez Jesus, mon salutaire" (q.v.). -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Richard Kempenfelt

1718 - 1782 Hymnal Number: d18 Author of "Burst, ye emerald [pearly] gates, and bring" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Kempenfelt, Richard, of Swedish descent, was born Oct., 1718. In Jan., 1741, he obtained a lieutenant's commission in the British Navy. He became captain in 1757, and admiral in 1780. He was drowned in the "Royal George," which sank in harbour at Portsmouth on Aug. 29, 1782. Admiral Kempenfelt was an admirer of Whitefield and the Wesleys, and interested himself much in evangelistic work. His hymns were published as Original Hymns and Poems. By Philotheorus. Exeter, printed by B. Thorn, 1777, and were dedicated "To the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, in Shropshire." They were reprinted, with a Preface, by D. Sedgwick, in 1861. Although most of these hymns are given in the older collections, only a few re¬main in modern hymn-books, and, including centos, are:— 1. Bear me on Thy rapid wing. Praise to Jesus in Heaven. 2. Burst, ye emerald gates, and bring. Praise to Jesus in Heaven. 3. Gentle Spirit, waft me over. Heaven desired. 4. Hail, Thou eternal Logos, hail. Adoration of Jesus. 5. Hark, 'tis the trump of God. The Last Day. 6. O my Redeemer, come. The Last Day. Of these Nos. 1 and 2 are from the same hymn; and Nos. 5 and 6 also from another. The original texts of Nos. 3, 5, and 6 are in Lyra Britannica 1867, pp. 349-52. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Lucas Bacmeister

1578 - 1638 Person Name: Lucas Backmeister Hymnal Number: d67 Author of "Jesu, meiner Seelen Ruh" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed.

Johannes Walter

1781 - 1818 Hymnal Number: d91 Author of "Kommt, Brueder, [Schwestern] kommt, wir eilen fort" in A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. Walter, Johannes. (Berks Co., Pennsylvania, August 21, 1781--December 3, 1818). Evangelical. Was early assistant to Albright, founder of denomination, first as tile-make, later as companion on preaching trips. Editor of the first Evanglical hymnbook, Eine kleine Sammlung Alter und Neuer Geistricher Lider (1810), containing 56 hymns of which he wrote several. The most famous of his hymns, "Kommt brüder, kommt, wir eilen fort" was recited to a companion while traveling a winter circuit, hurriedly written out on arrival, and published as a broadside. It and another of his hymns, "Wer will mit uns nach Zion gehn?" were the two most popular German hymns written in America. They are found in the most popular of the Evangelical hymnbooks, the "Viole," and were sung by German Methodists in the Midwest and in Germany and Switzerland. An English version of the former, "Come, brothers, come, why longer wait?" was also widely sung. --Ellen Jane Lorenz, DNAH Archives

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