Historic hymnists ...

Preface

HOSE who have written inspiring songs of praise should be numbered among our best friends. This work has been prepared for the purpose of making lovers of hymns better acquainted with these friends. The book is characterized by three important features ; namely, portraits of great hymn writers, biographical sketches of these authors, and specimens of their work.

The portraits speak to the eye and to the heart. We unconsciously make a mental picture of the people concerning whom we read, but unless we have the aid of a portrait we can have no assurance that our mental image is correct. Some of these portraits have never before been given to the public, and most of them are not familiar. They should be studied, lovingly and long, until their features are so photographed upon the mind that they can be recalled at will.

The biographical sketches are not long, but they fairly and truly represent the characters of these people inspired of Heaven to teach in holy song. They were men and women of more than ordinary genius, piety, and learning ; and we are sure that the better they are known the more they will be appreciated.

The hymns given may be considered as illustrations of the ability of the authors. Some of them are well known favorites ; others, less familiar, are equally deserving favorable attention. A few hymns have been especially written for this work.

To memorize grand religious poetry is at once a means of culture and of grace. This admirable custom of saints of all ages should be revived. In the opinion of the editor there is not a stanza in this book that is not worthy of patient study. Some of the hymns are slightly modernized in orthography, but unless otherwise indicated, are given without abbreviation, and in authentic form. They are arranged chronologically, to indicate the progress of Christian hymnody through the ages.

CHARLES S. NUTTER.

Or

A TT T U f\ D C

A U 1 HURS.

PAGE

PAGE

Addison, Joseph ....

Huntingdon, Lady

Alford, Henry . . . „

James, Mary D. .

Baxter, Richard

Keble, John

Bethune, George W. .

Ken, Thomas

BONAR, HORATIUS ....

Leland, John in

Bowring, John ....

Luther, Martin . .

Bryant, William C. .

Mason, John

Byrom, John ....

Medley, Samuel .

Cennick, John ....

Montgomery, James

• ii5

Cowper, William

Newman, John H.

Davies, Samuel ....

Newton, John

Doane, George W.

Olivers, Thomas

Doddridge, Philip

Palmer, Ray

• 175

Dwight, Timothy

Prentiss, Elizabeth

• 195

Elliott, Charlotte

Smith, Samuel F.

. 171

Faber, Frederick W.

Stennett, Samuel

• 83

Fawcett, John ....

Tappan, William B.

. 143

Gerhardt, Paul ....

!9

Taylor, Thomas R.

Gilmore, Joseph H. .

Toplady, Augustus M.

Guyon, Madame .

Van Alstyne, Frances J. .

Hastings, Thomas

Watts, Isaac

Havergal, Frances R.

Wesley, Charles

■ 63

Haweis, Thomas ....

9 [

Wesley, John

Heber, Reginald

White, Henry K.

Herbert, George

J 5

Whittier, John G,

INDEX OF FIRST LINES.

PAGE

A fragment of a rainbow bright . . .136

A little bird I am 36

A mighty fortress is our God ... 12 Afflicted soul, to Jesus dear . . . .100 All I feel, and hear, and see . . .168 All for Jesus ! all for Jesus ! . . . .183 All praise to Him of Nazareth . . . 147 All praise to Thee, my God, this night, 32 Almighty King ! whose wondrous hand, 88 Amazing grace ! how sweet the sound, 76 And have I, Christ, no love for Thee . 83 As on the cross the Saviour hung . . 84 As shadows, cast by cloud and sun . 148 Awake, my soul, and with the sun . . 31 Blest be my God, that I was born . . 27 Blest be the tie that binds .... 99 Bright and joyful is the morn . . .116

Child of sin and sorrow 124

Christians, if your hearts be warm . .112 Columbia, Columbia, to glory arise . 107 Come, Holy Ghost, in love . . . .176 Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life . 16 Come, O Thou Traveller, unknown . 64 Come, Saviour Jesus, from above . . 47 Commit thou all thy griefs . . . . 20

Death worketh 180

Earth's shadowy years will soon be o'r, 124 Enthroned on high, almighty Lord . 92 Eternal Power, whose high abode . . 44

Faith, Hope, and Love 48

From all that dwell below the skies . 44 From Greenland's icy mountains . .120 From the cross uplifted high . . . 91

Gently, Lord, O gently Lead us « -123 Glory be to God, the Father . . .180 God of all grace, supreme, alone . .171 God is love ! His mercy brightens . 140 Grace! 'tis a charming sound ... 51 Grant me, great Lord, Thy graces three, 152 Great God of wonders ! all Thy ways . 7 2 Hang out the glorious old red cross . 152 Hark ! from the skies the great command 72

Hark ! the glad sound 52

He leadeth me ! O blessed thought ! . 203 Hosanna to the living Lord . . . . 120 How doth the little busy bee ... 44 How happy is the pilgrim's lot . . . 56 How sweetly flowed the gospel's sound, 140 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus . . .208

I lay my sins on Jesus 179

I love the Lord who died for me . . 67

I love to trust in Jesus 184

Immortal love, forever full . . . .163 I'm but a stranger here . . . . . 167 In evil long I took delight . . . . 75 In the cross of Christ I glory . . .140 Into my closet fleeing, as a dove . .196

It is not death to die 160

It is the Lord, my soul be still . . .124 Jehovah's praises let us sing . . . . 24 Jesus, these eyes have never seen . .176 Jesus, save my dying soul . . . .124 Jesus, when I fainting lie .... 188 Just as I am — without one plea . .132 Just when Thou wilt, O Master, call . 208

INDEX OF FIRST LINES.

PAGE

Lead, kindly light . 156

Let all the world in every corner sing . 1 6 Lord, I am Thine, entirely Thine . . 71 Lord of our life, God whom we fear . 171 Lord ! who has bled and died for me . 168 More love to Thee, O Christ . . .196 Mortals, awake, with angels join . . 96

My country, 'tis of thee 172

My faith looks up to Thee . . . .175 My God and Father ! while I stray . 131 My God ! how wonderful Thou art .192 My soul doth magnify the Lord . . 28 My stock lies dead and no increase . 16 My trembling soul to Jesus turned . 204 My whole, though broken heart . . 24 Not of terrestrial mortal themes . . 95 Now the Saviour standeth pleading . 1 1 1 O blessed fellowship divine . . . .184 O happy day that fixed my choice . 52 O God ! my sins are manifold . . .120 O God ! Thy power is wonderful . .192

O Jesus, draw nearer 196

O Jesus ! once on Galilee . . . .144 O Lord, my God, in mercy turn . .128 north, with all thy vales of green . 148 O, not my own these verdant hills . .172 Thou by long experience tried . . 36

O Thou from whom all goodness flows, 92 Thou, to whose all-searching sight . 56

Of all the joys that are on earth . . 12

Praise to the Holiest in the height . . 156

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire . .116

Prostrate, dear Jesus, at Thy feet . . 84

Return, O wanderer, to thy home . .188

Rock of Ages, cleft for me . . . .104

Saviour and Lord of all . . . , .168

Softly now the light of day . . . .151

Some say, compared to Bononcini . . 48

Sometimes a light surprises . . . . 88

Songs of praise the angels sang . . ,116

Sower divine 180

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, 16 Symbol of shame, mysterious sign . .144 Take my life, and let it be . . . .208 Ten thousand times ten thousand . .188 The day is past and gone . . . .112 The God of Ab rah' m, praise . . . . 79 The Lord my pasture shall prepare . 40 The Lord our God is full of might . 128 The morning light is breaking . . .172 The offerings to Thy throne which rise, 140 The spacious firmament on high . . 39 There is a spot where tempted souls . 196 There is an hour of peaceful rest . .144 There is a fountain filled with blood . 87 Thou art the Way; to Thee alone .152 Thou, whose unmeasured temple

Thy presence, gracious God, afford . 100 Time was I shrank from what was right, 156 'Tis but a little thing to give . . . 200 'Tis gone, that bright and orbed blaze, 135 'Tis He ! ' tis He ! I know Him now . 160 'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow . 143 To God the universal King .... 84 To Thee, my God and Saviour . . .92 We come, we come, with loud acclaim, 160 We sing of a wonderful city . . . .200 We sing to Thee, Thou Son of God . 68

When all Thy mercies, O my God . . 40

When April showers 152

When I survey the wondrous cross . 44 When languor and disease invade . .104 When marshalled on the nightly plain . 128 When Thou, my righteous judge . . 60

When time seems short 159

Why should I fear the darkest hour . 76 With tearful eyes I look around . . .132 Word of God, on thee I feed . . . 204 Ye golden lamps of heaven, farewell . 52

JVLHRTIN LUTHER,

HIS TORIC H YMNIS TS .

1 1

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER.

1\ /TODERN hymnody dates from the Reformation. We owe our hymn-book to the same grand man who gave us the Bible.

Martin Luther was born in Eisleben in 1483. His parents belonged to the peasant class, but young Luther showed such a love for study that his father resolved to give him a liberal education. He entered the University at Erfurt in 1501, and took the degree of M.A. in 1505. The same year he entered the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt. He was very faithful in all his monastic duties, and mortified and tormented himself continually, yet he found no soul rest.

In 1508 he was called to the chair of Philosophy at the University of Wittenberg. In 15 1 2 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology. The year previous he made a visit to Rome, which first caused him to doubt the sanctity and authority of the Catholic Church. It was the open and ostentatious sale of indulgences by John Tetzel, under the sanction of Leo X., that fully opened his eyes, and at mid-day of October 31, 15 17, Luther posted his famous theses against indulgences on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg. That date marks the birthday of the Reformation.

The burning of the Pope's Bull of Excommunication, the Diet at Worms, the translation of the New Testament, and the subsequent marriage of Luther are well-known historic events of great interest. After Luther had given the people the Bible in their own language, he saw the need of psalms and hymns, and at once set himself at work to supply that need. The first Protestant hymn-book was printed at Wittenberg in 1524; it contained only eight hymns ; a second and larger book was published the same year.

The Christians of the early Church sang at their services, but little by little the musical part of worship was monopolized by the priests. In the year 363 A.D. the Council of Laodicea prohibited the laity from joining in the singing, and for a thousand years the music of the Church was confined to the chanting of priests in an unknown tongue. The Reformation restored the privilege of sacred song to the people in public worship.

Most portraits are idealized, but the one given here, originally taken from life, represents the real Luther as, in his prime, he walked the streets of Wittenberg.

The first selection was translated by Miss Catharine Winkworth, the second, Luther's grandest hymn, by Rev. Frederic H. Hedge.

GREAT

HYMN

WRITERS.

A PREFACE TO ALL GOOD HYMN BOOKS.

(lady music speaketh.)

OF all the joys that are on earth Is none more dear nor higher worth, Than what in my sweet songs is found And instruments of various sound.

Where friends and comrades sing in tune, All evil passions vanish soon ; Hate, anger, envy, cannot stay, All gloom and heartache melt away ; The lust of wealth, the cares that cling, Are all forgotten while we sing.

Freely we take our joy herein, For this sweet pleasure is no sin, But pleaseth God far more, we know, Than any joys the world can show ; The Devil's work it doth impede, And hinders many a deadly deed.

So fared it with King Saul of old ; When David struck his harp of gold, So sweet and clear its tones rang out, Saul's murderous thoughts were put to rout.

The heart grows still when I am heard, And opens to God's Truth and W T ord ; So are we by Elisha taught, Who on the harp the Spirit sought.

The best time of the year is mine, When all the little birds combine To sing until the earth and air Are filled with sweet sounds everywhere ; And most the tender nightingale Makes joyful every wood aud dale, Singing her love-song o'er and o'er, For which we thank her evermore.

But yet more thanks are due from us To the dear Lord who made her thus, A singer apt to touch the heart, Mistress of all my dearest art.

To God she sings by night and day, Unwearied, praising Him alway ; Him I, too, laud in every song, To whom all thanks and praise belong.

A MIGHTY fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing : Our Helper He, amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe ; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, ' On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He ;

Lord Sabaoth is His name,

From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us ;

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim —

We tremble not for him ;

His rage we can endure,

For lo ! his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers — No thanks to them — abideth ;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also :

The body they may kill :

God's truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

GEORGE HERBERT,

Author of '* S-Weet day, so cool, so calm, so bright.

HIS TORIC HYMN IS TS .

i5

REV. GEORGE HERBERT, M.A.

"H° LY GE0RGE HERBERT >" as he has lon § been stvled > was born in a noble

English family in 1593. When only four years of age he had the misfortune to lose his father, but his excellent mother practically filled the place of both parents. He was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was made M.A. in 1615.

In 1 6 19 Herbert was elected orator of his University, which office he held eight years. At this time he was a courtier of King James and looked forward to political life, but the death of James destroyed his hopes, and soon after he resolved to enter sacred orders. In that age the ministry was regarded as a mean office, beneath the merits of a gentleman. Admitting the disrepute into which the ministry had fallen, Herbert wrote, " I will labor to make it honorable by consecrating all my learning, and all my poor abilities, to advance the glory of that God that gave them ; knowing that I can never do too much for Him that hath done so much for me as to make me a Christian. And I will labor to be like my Saviour by making humility lovely in the eyes of all men and by following the merciful and meek example of my dear Jesus."

In 1626 he was ordained deacon and given the charge of a parish at Layton. He rebuilt the church, which had fallen into ruin, and restored it to prosperity. In 1630 he was made a priest, and with his devoted wife went to live in the parsonage at Bainton. His faithful teaching and devoted life soon told upon the people. He read prayers in his chapel twice a day ; gentlemen left their pleasures, and yeomen their ploughs, when Mr. Herbert's " saint's-bell " rang to prayers.

His chief recreation was music, which he loved as passionately as did Martin Luther. He frequently said, " Religion does not banish mirth, but only moderates and sets rules to it." His ministry was short; in the midst of his usefulness " he was not, for God took him." Herbert's sacred poems reflect his holy life like a mirror. They are both quaint and good, and are highly prized by devout souls.

VIRTUE.

SWEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky ; The dew shall weep thy fall to-night ;

For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave,

Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, Thy root is ever in its grave,

And thou must die.

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,

A box where sweets compacted lie, My music shows ye have your closes, And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,

Like seasoned timber, never gives ; But though the whole world turn to coal, Then chiefly lives.

THE CALL.

COME my Way, my Truth, my Life : Such a Way as gives us breath, Such a Truth as ends all strife, Such a Life as killeth death.

Come my Light, my Feast, my Strength Such a Light as shows a feast,

Such a Feast as mends in length, Such a Strength as makes his guest.

Come my Joy, my Love, my Heart, Such a Joy as none can move,

Such a Love as none can part, Such a Heart as joys in love.

GRACE.

If still the sun should hide his face,

Thy house would but a dungeon prove, Thy works night's captives. O let grace Drop from above !

The dew doth every morning fall,

And shall the dew outstrip thy Dove ?

The dew, for which grass cannot call, Drop from above.

Death is still working like a mole,

And digs my grave at each remove, Let grace work too, and on my soul Drop from above.

Sin is still hammering my heart

Unto a hardness void of love ; Let suppl'ing grace, to cross his art, Drop from above.

O come ! for Thou dost know the way,

Or if to me Thou wilt not move, Remove me, where I need not say,

Drop from above.

MY stock lies dead, and no increase Doth my dull husbandry improve ; O let Thy graces without cease

Drop from above.

ANTIPHONE.

LET all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.

The heavens are not too high, His praise may thither fly ; The earth is not too low, His praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.

The church with psalms must shout, No door can keep them out ; But above all, the heart Must bear the longest part. .

Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.

PKUL GERHHRDT,

Ruttior of "Give to tt\e ^ir\ds tl\y fears."

HIS TORIC H YMNIS TS .

REV. PAUL GERHARDT.

ERMAN hymnody is the richest and most extensive in the world, and Paul

Gerhardt is confessedly the prince of German hymn-writers. He was born in Saxony in 1606, and educated at the University of Wittenberg. He was employed as a private tutor for several years, and did not take holy orders until 165 r, when he became pastor of a church at Mittenwalde, near Berlin. Here he passed six quiet years, was married, and published the first of his hymns. These were popular from the beginning, and to them largely Gerhardt owed his early, as well as his later, fame.

In 1657 he became associate pastor of the great Church of St. Nicholas, in Berlin, where he was very popular and useful. The Calvinists of that day held extreme views, and the Lutherans frequently opposed some of their doctrines with great vehemence ; especially were they accustomed to maintain that Christ died for all men, and not for the elect only. The controversies between these two parties sometimes became exceedingly warm.

In 1662 Frederick William I., the "Great Elector," undertook to make peace between these bodies, but after several conferences of the leading men he found it impossible to persuade them that their differences were non-essential. Two years later the Elector published an edict requiring the ministers on both sides to abstain from attacking each other's doctrines publicly ; and in the following year he required every beneficed Lutheran clergyman to pledge himself to observe the terms of this edict. Gerhardt, and many others, refused to comply, asserting their right to freedom of speech. With him it was a question of conscience, and in 1666 he was deprived of his appointment.

In 1669 he accepted the position of Archdeacon of Lubben, in Saxony, where he remained until his death, in 1676. He was a man of great ability, good education, and genuine piety. The whole number of his hymns is only one hundred and twenty-three. Most of them have been translated into English, and many are in common use. The following translation of one of Gerhardt's most famous hymns was made by John Wesley, and was published in " Hymns and Sacred Poems," 1739.

GREAT HYMN WRITERS.

TRUST IN PROVIDENCE.

/^OMMIT thou all thy griefs And ways into His hands ; To His sure truth and tender care,

Who earth and heaven commands.

Who points the clouds their course, Whom winds and seas obey ; He shall direct thy wandering feet, He shall prepare thy way.

Thou on the Lord rely, So safe shalt thou go on ; Fix on His work thy steadfast eye, So shall thy work be done.

No profit canst thou gain By self-consuming care : To Him commend thy cause, His ear Attends the softest prayer.

Thy everlasting truth, Father, Thy ceaseless love Sees all Thy children's wants, and knows What best for each will prove.

And whatsoe'er Thou will'st, Thou dost, O King of kings ; What Thy unerring wisdom chose Thy power to being brings.

Thou everywhere hast sway, And all things serve Thy might ; Thy every act pure blessing is, Thy path unsullied light.

When Thou arisest, Lord, What shall Thy work withstand ?

When all Thy children want Thou giv'st, Who, who shall stay Thy hand ?

Give to the winds thy fears ; Hope, and be undismayed ; God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears thy way ; Wait thou His time, so shall this night Soon end in joyous day.

Still heavy is thy heart?

Still sink thy spirits down?

Cast off the weight, let fear depart, And every care be gone.

What though thou rulest not ?

Yet heaven and earth and hell Proclaim, God sitteth on the throne And ruleth all things well !

Leave to His sovereign sway To choose and to command ; So shalt thou wondering own, His way How wise, how strong His hand.

Far, far above thy thought His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought That caused thy needless fear.

Thou seest our weakness, Lord, Our hearts are known to Thee ; O, lift Thou up the sinking hand, Confirm the feeble knee !

Let us in life, in death, Thy steadfast truth declare, And publish with our latest breath Thy love and guardian care !

RICHARD BHXTER, Author of "Je^o^a^'s praises let us sii\g.

HIS TORIC HYMNISTS.

REV. RICHARD BAXTER.

THE name of Baxter has been an honorable one for more than two hundred years. He was born in 161 5. In youth he was free from the temptations both of poverty and riches. Teachers of religion at that time were sadly ignorant, and frequently immoral, but Baxter was blessed with a pious father who taught him to love the Bible. In his autobiography he confesses his youthful sins, and narrates his early awakening and reformation.

Baxter did not attend the University, but was educated by indifferent tutors. His strong mind, love of learning, and great diligence made him a scholar in spite of defective instruction. He was inclined to consumption, and his whole life was a continued battle against disease, yet the amount of work he performed was very great.

He was ordained by the Bishop of Worcester in 1638, and labored with good results in the Church of England ; especially at Kidderminster, his work was blest to the transformation of the whole community. It had become notorious for ignorance and impiety, but at length it became as famous for civilization and religion.

He wrote a large number of tracts and books, some of which were very famous. "The Saint's Everlasting Rest" was written during four months of illness, when he thought he was very near that " rest." His "Call to the Unconverted " was written at the earnest request of Bishop Usher. Twenty thousand copies were printed the first year. It was subsequently translated into other languages, and continued its useful work for generations. " Giidas Salvianus ; or, the Reformed Pastor," was written to stimulate ministers to zeal and fidelity. John Wesley quoted it and recommended it to his preachers.

Baxter was a conservative man. He was called a Nonconformist, but was really as much an Episcopalian as a Presbyterian. In theology he was a moderate Calvinist. During the civil war he was on both sides, and agreed with neither. A chaplain, for a time, in Cromwell's army, he did not approve of many of his acts, and always regarded him as a usurper. At the restoration, with many other moderate dissenters, Baxter was treated very unjustly. He was prohibited from preaching, and persecuted without justifiable cause. Notwithstanding his moderation and piety, he was brought before the infamous Judge Jeffreys upon the charge of sedition. The trial was a shameful perversion of justice. Baxter was pronounced guilty, and remained in prison two years. This was a great hardship, for he was more than seventy years old, and sadly afflicted with sickness.

After the Act of Indulgence, 1687, he lived in peace, and continued to preach and write books until 1691, when he died honored and beloved by all good people, Churchmen as well as dissenters. He was a diligent student, a popular preacher, a successful author, an able theologian, and an exemplary Christian. Had he been born later he would not have suffered persecution, and if he had lived in the early times he would have been canonized as a saint.

The first selection is only a fragment. It illustrates a style of stanza invented by Baxter. If the words included in brackets are sung, it is in long meter ; if they are omitted, it is changed to common meter.

GREAT HYMN WRITERS.

PRAISE

JEHOVAH'S praises let us sing With cheerful heart and [lively] voice ; And humbly this our offering bring, And with due fear [in Him] rejoice.

The heavens above, the earth below, [Daily] apparent to our sight,

TO GOD.

To mortal man do clearly show Thy [perfect] knowledge, love, and might.

How greatly should this God be feared !

How joyfully [should He] be praised !

And how obediently be heard !

And hearts [in love] to Him be raised.

THE COVENANT OF FAITH.

MY whole, though broken, heart, O I Lord!

From henceforth shall be Thine ; And here I do my vow record :

This hand, these words are mine.

All that I have, without reserve,

I offer here to Thee • Thy will and honor all shall serve,

That Thou bestowedst on me.

All that exceptions save I lose ;

All that I lose I save ; The treasure of Thy love I choose ;

And Thou art all I crave.

My God, Thou hast my heart and hand ;

I all to Thee resign.

I'll ever to this covenant stand,