Leadings of the Spirit

Author: Benjamin Beddome

Benjamin Beddome was born at Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire, January 23, 1717. His father was a Baptist minister. He studied at various places, and began preaching in 1740. He was pastor of a Baptist society at Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, until his death in 1795. In 1770, he received the degree of M.A. from the Baptist College in Providence, Rhode Island. He published several discourses and hymns. "His hymns, to the number of 830, were published in 1818, with a recommendation from Robert Hall." Montgomery speaks of him as a "writer worthy of honour both for the quantity and the quality of his hymns." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	That we may walk with God
Title:	Leadings of the Spirit
Author:	Benjamin Beddome (1818)
Meter:	6.6.8.6
Source:	Appeared posthumously in Hymns Adapted to Public Worship (London: Burton and Briggs,1818)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain; Public domain

^ top

Notes

That we might walk with God. B. Beddome. [Leadings of the Holy Spirit.] This is No. 138 of Beddome's posthumous Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, &c, 1817, in 4 st.anzas of 4 lines, and headed "Leadings of the Spirit." In its original form it is not in common use but it has supplied the following to a large number of American hymn-books:—
1. Heirs of unending life. This appeared in the American Prayer Book Collection1826, No. 210, in 3 stanzas of 4 1ines. Of these st. iii. is from Beddome (st. iv.); st. ii. Beddome (st. ii.) altered ; and st. i. new. American authorities say that this cento was arranged by Bishop Onderdonk, who also wrote st. i. It is in several collections.
2. 'Tis God the Spirit leads. This is composed of st. ii.-iv. from Beddome, with the alteration of the first line only. It appeared in this form, anonymously, in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, and is in extensive use in America.
Sometimes Beddome's hymn is dated 1795, the year of his death

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

^ top