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Alexander Pope

1688 - 1744 Hymnal Number: D448 Author of "Vital spark of heavenly flame" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Alexander Pope was born in London, in 1688. His parents were Roman Catholics. He had a feeble constitution, was deformed in person, and attained the age of only fifty-six. He early acquired the means of independence by his literary gifts, and purchased his celebrated villa at Twickenham, whither he went to reside at the age of thirty. Of his many published works, his translation of the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" of Homer has given him the greatest reputation. As an English satirist, also, he stands very high. Nearly all his works, however, are imitations. He died at Tickenham, in 1744. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 ======== Pope, Alexander, the poet, son of a wholesale linen merchant in Lombard Street, London, was born in Plough Court, Lombard Street, May 21, 1688. His father being a Roman Catholic, he was first placed under the charge of Father Taverner, who taught him the rudiments of Greek and Latin. Later he attended a school at Winchester, and then at Hyde Park Corner. When about twelve he retired with his parents to Binfield, in Windsor Forest, and from thenceforth his education was mainly in his own hands. His subsequent success as a writer and poet is a matter of history, and has been dealt with in detail by Dr. Johnson in his Lives of the Poets, and by others. He died May 30, 1744, and was buried in a vault in Twickenham Church. For distinct public use, so far as we are aware, Pope wrote no hymns. His "Messiah"; his "Universal Prayer"; and his "Vital Spark" (q.v.), have been made use of for congregational purposes, but as a Roman Catholic he had no object in writing a hymn in a language which, at that time, his Church would refuse to use. In modern hymn-books his name is identified with the following pieces:-- 1. Father of all, in every age. Universal Prayer. The Lord's Prayer. This Prayer was published in 1738, as a conclusion to his Essay on Man, in 13 st. of 4 1. Warburton in his Advertisement of the 1748 ed. of the Essay, says:— "Concerning the Universal Prayer which concludes the Essay, it may be proper to observe that some pas¬sages in the Essay having been unjustly suspected of a tendency towards Fate and Naturalism, the author composed that Prayer as the sum of all, to show that hi a system was founded in Freewill, and terminated in Piety: that the First Cause was as well the Lord and Governor as the Creator of the Universe; and that by submission to His will (the great principle enforced throughout the Essay) was not meant the suffering ourselves to be carried along with a blind determination; but a religious acquiescence, and confidence full of hope and immortality. To give all this the greater weight and reality, the Poet chose for his model The Lord's Prayer, which of all others best deserves the title prefixed to his Paraphrase." The title here referred to is "The Universal Prayer, Deo Opt. Max." The hymn is found in common use in the following forms:— (1.) Father of all in every age. This is an abbreviated form, and has been in use, especially in Unitarian hymnbooks, from an early date. (2.) Father of all, [and] Thou God of love. This cento was given in 6 st. of 4 1. in the 1815 edition of Cotterill's Selections, No. 2; again in the 1819 ed., 141; in Stowell's Psalms & Hymns, 1831, No. 179; and again in later collections. (3.) Not to this earth's contracted span. In Collyer's Collection 1812, No. 629, in 4 st. of 4 1., and others. (4.) Teach me to feel another's woe. Also in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 630, in 4 st. of 4 1., and others. (5.) Thou Great First Cause, least understood. Also in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 628, in 4 st. of 4 1., and later hymnals. (6.) When I am right Thy grace impart. Given in Kennedy, 1863, No. 1166. 2. Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song. The Messiah. In No. 378 of the Spectator for Wednesday, May 14, 1712, Addison gave this poem with the introduction :— "I will make no apology for entertaining the reader with the following poem, which is written by a great genius, a friend of mine, in the country, who is not ashamed to employ his wit in the praise of his Maker." Then follows the poem with the heading, “Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, composed of several passages of Isaiah the Prophet. Written in imitation of Virgil's Pollio." It consists of 107 lines. When republished by Pope this heading was expanded into a paragraph as an "Advertisement." As a poem it is unknown to the hymn-book; but from it the following centos have passed into common use:-- (1.) As the Good Shepherd tends his fleecy care. This was given in Collyer's Collection, 1812, No. 626, in 6 st. of 4 1., and has been repeated in later hymnals, but usually in an abridged form. (2.) From Jesse's root, behold a branch arise No. 624 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 5 st. of 4 1.; and again in later hymnals. (3.) Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers. No. 625 in Collyer's Collection, 1812, in 4 st. of 4 1.; in Bishop Heber's posthumous Hymns, &c, 1827, p. 106; and again in later collections. (4.) Rise crowned with light, imperial Salem rise. In the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, No. 687, in 3 st. of 8 1., and several later collections. (5.) The Saviour comes! by ancient seers foretold. In Mercer's Church Psalm & Hymn Book, 1864, and others. It may be noted that 1. 46 of The Messiah reads in the original "He wipes the tears for ever from our eyes." This was altered by Pope at the suggestion of Steele, made to Pope in a letter dated June 1, 1712, to "From every face He wipes off every tear." This latter is the poet's authorized reading, is given in his Works, and is found also in the book form reprints of the Spectator. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Richard Burdsall

1735 - 1824 Hymnal Number: D305 Author of "Hallelujah to the Lamb who hath purchased" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Burdsall, Richard, for many years a Wesleyan minister, was born in 1735, and died in 1824. To his Memoirs, published at York, n.d., is appended a hymn beginning, "Now Christ He is risen, the Serpent's head is bruised." The hymn “The voice of free grace cries—'Escape to the mountain,'" begins with stanza ii. of this hymn, but with alterations. In some American hymnals, including Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, Burdsall's two stanzas are expanded into five, but by whom we cannot say. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Daniel Turner

1710 - 1798 Hymnal Number: D335 Author of "Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Turner, Daniel, M.A., was born at Blackwater Park, near St. Albans, March 1, 1710. Having received a good classical education, he for some years kept a boarding-school at Hemel Hempstead, but in 1741 he became pastor of the Baptist church, Reading. Thence he removed, in 1748, to Abingdon, and continued pastor of the Baptist church there until his death on Sept. 5, 1798. He was much respected throughout his denomination, and was the friend and correspondent of Robert Robinson, Dr. Rippon, and other eminent men of that day. He probably received the honorary degree of M.A. from the Baptist College, Providence, Rhode Island. Turner was the author of works on Open Communion and Social Religion; also of Short Meditations on Select Portions of Scripture. His Divine Songs, Hymns and other Poems were published in 1747, and his work, Poems Devotional and Moral, was printed for private circulation in 1794. Four of his hymns are in the Bristol Baptist Collection of Ash & Evans (1769), and eight (including the four already named) in Rippon's Baptist Selection 1787). Only the following are now in common use:— 1. Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss (1769). Excellence of Faith. 2. Jesus, full of all compassion (1769). Sinner's appeal to Christ. 3. Lord of hosts, how lovely fair (1787). Divine Worship. Altered in Baptist Psalms and Hymns, 1858, to “Lord of hosts, how bright, how fair!" The well-known hymn "Beyond the glittering starry skies," in its enlarged form of 28 stanzas, was the joint production of Turner and his brother-in-law, the Rev. J. Fanch. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

William Kingsbury

1744 - 1818 Hymnal Number: D27 Author of "Let us awake our joys" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Born: July 12, 1744, Bishopsgate Street, London, England. Christened: August 12, 1744, Poultry Chapel, Camomile Street Independent Church, London, England. Died: February 18, 1818, Caversham, Southampton, England. Kingsbury, William, was born in 1744, educated at an Independent academy in London, and became Pastor of the ancient Congregational Church, Above Bar, in Southampton, where he died in 1818, after an honourable and useful ministry of fifty-four years. He was the author of several published sermons and pamphlets, including:—(1) A Sermon on the King's recovery, 1780; (2) The Manner in which Protestant Dissenters perform Public Worship represented and vindicated, 1796; (3) An Apology for Village Preachers, 1799; (4) A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Mr. Towle, 1807, &c. Kingsbury was one of the ministers under whose patronage Dobell published his New Selection, 1806, and to that book contributed two hymns.-—"Great Lord of all thy churches, hear!" No. 213 (Divine Worship), and "Let us awake our joys," No. 100 (Jesus the King). Both these hymns are in common use, the second being specially popular in America. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Leonard Bacon

1802 - 1881 Hymnal Number: D392 Author of "Wake the song of jubilee" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Leonard Bacon, D.D., was born in Detroit (where his father was a missionary to the Indians), February 19, 1802, and educated at Yale college and at Andover. In 1825 he was ordained Pastor of the Centre Church, New Haven, and retained that charge until 1866, when he was appointed Professor of Theology in Yale Divinity School. This professorship he resigned in 1871; but till his death in 1881, he was Lecturer on Church Polity. He died December 23, 1881. Dr. Bacon rendered important service to hymnology both as writer and compiler. While a student at Andover, he edited an important and now rare tract entitled Hymns and Sacred Songs for the Monthly Concert [of Prayer for Missions], Andover, September 1823. This contained the three hymns following, which are his:- Weep not for the saint that ascends. Death of a Missionary. Land where the bones of our father are sleeping. Missions. This was brought into notice in Great Britain through its insertion in the Evangelical Magazine, March, 1824. Wake the song of jubilee. Missions. Of these No. 1 is found in Lyra Sac. Amer., p. 6 and No. 3 was adopted, with alterations, by Pratt in his Ps. and Hys. (Lond. Seeley & Co,. 1829), fro which it passed into Greene and Mason's Church Psalmody, 1831, and the Church Psalmist of the Evangelical Christians (N. Y., 1845, 7th ed.). This altered text, with some further changes, was adopted by the author in his Appendix to T. Dwight's revised ed. of Watt's Psalms, 1833. This Appendix also contained three newe hymns by him, viz.:- Though now the nations sit beneath. Missions. This is based on a hymn by Sarah Slinn, "Arise in all Thy splendour, Lord" (q.v.), which Dr. Bacon had partly rewritten for his Andover Tract, above noted. In the Appendix to Dwight he substituted new verses for what remained of her's in the Tract, and then justly claimed the whole as his own. O Thou Who hast died to redeem us from hell. Holy Communion. God of our fathers, to Thy throne. Thanksgiving. In 1845 Dr. Bacon was joint compiler with Dr. E. T. Fitch, and several others, of Psalms & Hymns for Christian Use and Worship,, pub. "by the General Association of Connecticut." To this collection he contributed the four hymns following:- Here, Lord of life and light, to Thee. Institution of a Minister. This was written March 9, 1825, for his installation as pastor of the First Church, New Haven, and first published as above, No. 559, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "Ordination in an ancient New England Church." O God, beneath They guiding hand. American Anniversary Hymn. This is a favorite American Anniversary hymn. It is abbreviated and altered from his hymn, "The Sabbath morn is as bright and calm," which he wrote for the Bicentenary of New Haven, 1833. In this revised form it was first published as above, No. 619, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and appointed "For the twenty-second of December." O God of Abraham, ever sure. Prayer on behalf of the Young. This was written as a substitute for Mrs. Hyde's "Dear Saviour, if these lambs should stray," the use of which was refused by the owners of the copyright of Nettleton's Village Hymns (1824). In the Psalms & Hymns, it is No. 635, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "Prayer for the children of the Church." Hail, tranquil hour of closing day. Evening. This popular hymns was written under the same circumstances as the preceding, and as a substitute for Mr.s Brown's Twilight hymn, "I love to steal awhile away." It is No. 706 of the Psalms & Hymns, 1845, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Evening Twilight." How sweet, thro' long remembered years. Evening. In the Church Praise Book., N.Y., 1882, No. 15, is composed of stanzas iii.-v. of No. 10. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Joseph Humphreys

b. 1720 Person Name: J. Humphreys Hymnal Number: D100 Author of "Blessed [Blest] are the sons of God" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. 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

Eliel Davis

1803 - 1849 Hymnal Number: D336 Author of "From every earthly pleasure" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Davis, Eliel, was born at Folkestone, June 5, 1803. In 1822 he entered a business establishment in London, and joined the Baptist church in Eagle Street. Entering the Baptist Ministry he was successively pastor at Newport, Isle of Wight; Regent Street, Lambeth, London; Eye, in Suffolk; and St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire. He died in March, 1849. His hymn "From every earthly pleasure" (Onward) was contributed to ms. monthly magazine, in 1821, edited by Dr. Belcher, author of Historical Sketches of Hymns, and through Dr. Belcher's influence was published in The New Baptist Magazine, March, 1825, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. It is found, usually abridged, in several modern collections. Another of his hymns "There is a heaven of perfect peace" (Heaven Anticipated), appeared in the Supplement to the Evangelical Magazine, 18(5, and is also in common use. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Joseph Straphan

b. 1757 Hymnal Number: D99 Author of "On wings of faith, mount up, my soul, and rise" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Straphan, Joseph. This author contributed 3 hymns to Rippon's Baptist Selection, 1787 (see p. 149, i.), viz.:—(1) "Blest is the man whose heart expands" (Education of the Young, (2) "On wings of faith mount up, my soul, and rise" (Heaven anticipated); and (3) "Our Father, Whose eternal sway" (Divine Worship). From No. 1 two centos have been taken:—(1) "Blest work the youthful mind to win," in several collections in Great Britain; and (2), "Delightful work, young souls to win," in use in America. Straphan's birth is given as 1757. From a hymn in the Gospel Magazine, we find that he resided at that time at Hanley. Further details are wanting. [Rev. W. R. Stephenson] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Thomas Dale

1797 - 1870 Hymnal Number: D451 Author of "Dear as thou wast [wert] and justly dear, We will not weep for thee" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Dale, Thomas, M.A., son of Thomas Dale, a bookseller in London, born at Pentonville, Aug. 22, 1797, and educated at Christ's Hospital, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. 1822, M.A. 1825. On taking Holy Orders, he became, after holding several curacies, Vicar of St. Bride's, Fleet Street, London; Canon of St. Paul's, 1843; Vicar of St. Pancras, 1846; and Rector of Therfield, Herts, 1800. In 1870 he was nominated to the Deanery of Rochester, but died before induction, May 14, 1870. His poetical works are:— (1) The Widow of Nain, 1819; (2) The Outlaw of Tauris, 1820; (3) Irad and Adah, a tale of the Flood; and Specimens of a New Translation of the Psalms, 1822. These Poems were collected and published in one vol. in 1836; 2nd ed. 1842. From these works the following hymns have been taken:— 1. Dear as thou wert [wast], and justly dear (1819). Burial. In the Leeds Hymn Book, 1S53, and several American collections. It is from the Widow of Nain, and is given as a dirge sung at the funeral by the Village Minstrel. 2. 0 never, never can we know (1822). Good Friday. In the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858-80. 3. Speak, 0 ye judges of the earth (1822). Ps. lviii. In the Mitre Hymn Book, 1836, &c. 4. The Lord Whose Name is love (1836). Children's Praises. In the Mitre Hymn Book, 1836. 5. When the spark of life is waning (1819). A Dying request. This is No. viii. of Poems, appended to The Widow of Nain, 1819, p. 69. In Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873. Other hymns of a similar character might be taken from these works with advantage. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Robert Cruttenden

1691 - 1764 Hymnal Number: D58 Author of "What jarring natures dwell within" in The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. Cruttenden, Robert, born cir. 1691, died cir. 1764. He was educated for the ministry among the Dissenters, and when a young man frequently preached for his uncle, the Rev. Mr. Bragg. But finding that he did not really believe in the Evangelical doctrines, he gave up the ministry, and betook himself to trade, in which for a number of years he was successful. In his 52nd year, having retired from business, he was living near to Whitefield's Tabernacle, when, his attention being excited by what he heard concerning the preaching there, a strong impulse seized him to go and hear for himself. The result was his conversion through the ministry of John Cennick. Twelve months later he joined a Congregational Church, of which he continued a member until his death, about 20 years subsequently. The narrative of his Experience, as read to this Church on his application for membership, was published in 1744, with a preface by Whitefield, and republished in 1790, with the addition of a letter from Mr. Cruttenden to Mr. Cennick. To this narrative his Psalms & Hymns, 17 in all, were appended. The full title of the Experience is too quaint to be omitted. It is:— "Sovereign Efficacious Grace displayed in the awakening and converting a Rational, Learned, Aged sinner, exemplified in the Experience of Robert Cruttenden, Esq., as delivered by himself to the Congregational Church, then meeting in Lime Street, near Leadenhall Market, 1743, in order to be admitted into their society. Published, prefaced and recommended by the late Rev. George Whitefield, 1744, as an extraordinary effect of the Divine Spirit. To which is prefixed a Letter from Mr. Cruttenden to Mr. Cennick, 1742. Also several Psalms, Hymns, &c., composed by him. Now particularly addressed to all rational Christians for their perusal. Lon¬don, printed and sold by T. Wilkins, Aldermanbury, MDCCXC." From his Psalms & Hymns in the Experience the following are still in common use:— 1. And is it yet, dear Lord, a doubt? Desiring to love God. 2. Did Jesus die, but not for me? Pardon through Jesus. 3. I own my guilt, my sins confess. Lent. 4. Let others boast their ancient line. Adoption. 5. Rise, Sun of glory, shine reveal'd. Happiness desired. 6. 'Tis false, thou vile accuser, go. Divine Mercy. 7. What adverse powers we feel within. Sin and Holiness. 8. What jarring natures dwell within. Sin and Holiness. This is part of No. 7. Cruttenden's hymns are full of Christian experience: some, as "Let others boast their ancient line," have a good deal of spirit, and the versification is usually smooth and flowing. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)