My Soul, There Is a Country

Author: Henry Vaughan

Vaughan, Henry, M.D., commonly called "The Silurist," was one of twin brothers born of a titled family at Newton, Llansaintffiad, in 1621. After studying under the Rev. Matthew Herbert, Rector of Llangattock, he proceeded to Jesus College, Oxford, in 1638; but through the national troubles of those days, his studies, in common with those of his brother, were interrupted, and they had to leave the University. Subsequently he entered the medical profession, and practised at Brecon and at Newton. He died April 23, 1695. His published works include, Poems with the Tenth Satire of Juvenal Englished, 1646; Olor Iscanus, 1651; The Mount of Olives, 1652, &c. As a religious poet he followed very closely the peculiarities of George Herbert, of whose… Go to person page >

My soul, there is a countrie. H. Vaughan. Heaven—Peace.] This poem on "Peace" appeared in 20 lines in his Silex Scintillans, or Sacred Poems, Pt. i., 1650 (2nd ed. 1655); in Lyte's reprint of the same, 1847, and in the Bell and Daldy reprint, 1858. In the reduced form of 4 stanzas of 4 lines, it was given in the People's Hymnal, 1867; and in its full and unaltered form, as a hymn for " Private Use," in Thring's Collection, 1882.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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