I thank Thee, Lord, for using me. H. Bonar. [Joy in the Service of God.] Appeared in the 3rd series of his Hymns of Faith and Hope, 1866, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "Forget not all His Benefits." In the Congregational Church Hymnal, 1887, 12 stanza are given as one hymn in two parts, Pt. ii. beginning, “I thank Thee, gracious God, for all." Several arrangements from this hymn, all opening with stanza i., are in common use. Sometimes these are given as, "We thank Thee, Lord, for using us." The use thus made of this hymn is somewhat extensive.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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