Musing on my habitation, Musing on my heavenly home, Lord, I long to be with Thee. The second and third stanzas have not escaped the touch of critical editors. The line, Whence the healing streams do flow -becomes Whence the healing waters flow, -with which alteration there is no fault to find except that it is needless, and obliterates the ancient mark. But the third stanza, besides losing its second line for Bid the swelling stream divide, -is weakened by a more needless substitution. Its original third line Death of death, and hell's destruction, -is exchanged for the commonplace— Bear me through the swelling current. That is modern taste; but when modern taste meddles with a stalwart old hymn it is sometimes more nice than wise. It is probable that the famous hymn was sung in America before it obtained a European repu tation. Its history is as follows: Lady Huntingdon having read one of Williams' books with much spiritual satisfaction, persuaded him to prepare a collection of hymns, to be called the Gloria in Excelsis, for special use in Mr. Whitefield's Orphans' House in America. In this collection appeared the original stanzas of "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah." In 1774, two years after its publication in the Gloria in Excelsis, it was republished in England in Mr. Whitefield's collections of hymns. The Rev. Peter Williams was born in the parish of Llansadurnen, Carmarthenshire, Wales, Jan. 7, 1722, and was educated in Carmarthen College. He was ordained in the Established Church and appointed to a curacy, but in 1748 joined the Calvinistic Methodists. He was an Independent of the Independents however, and preached where ever he chose. Finally he built a chapel for himself on his paternal estate, where he ministered during the rest of his life. Died Aug. 8, 1796. THE TUNE. If "Sardius," the splendid old choral (triple time) everywhere identified with the hymn, be not its original music, its age at least entitles it to its high partnership. The Sacred Lyre (1858) ascribes it to Ludovic Nicholson, of Paisley, Scotland, violinist and amateur composer, born 1770; died 1852; but this is not beyond dispute. Of several names one more confidently referred to as its author is F. H. Barthelemon (1741-1808). "PEACE, TROUBLED SOUL" Is the brave faith-song of a Christian under deep but blameless humiliation-Sir Walter Shirley.* THE TUNE. Apparently the favorite in several (not recent) hymnals for the subdued but confident spirit of this hymn of Sir Walter Shirley is Mazzinghi's "Palestine," appearing with various tone-signatures in different books. The treble and alto lead in a sweet duet with slur-flights, like an obligato to the bass and tenor. The melody needs rich and cultured voices, and is unsuited for congregational singing. So, perhaps, is the hymn itself. Peace, troubled soul, whose plaintive moan Come, freely come, by sin oppressed, And trust the mercy of thy God. *See page 127 As now sung the word "scenes" is substituted for "rocks" in the second line, eliminating the poetry. Rocks give an echo; and the vivid thought in the author's mind is flattened to an unmeaning generality. Count Joseph Mazzinghi, son of Tommasso Mazzinghi, a Corsican musician, was born in London, 1765. He was a boy of precocious talent. When only ten years of age he was appointed organist of the Portuguese Chapel, and when nineteen years old was made musical director and composer at the King's Theatre. For many years he held the honor of Music Master to the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline, and his compositions were almost numberless. Some of his songs and glees that caught the popular fancy are still remembered in England, as "The Turnpike Gate,” “The Exile," and the rustic duet, "When a Little Farm We Keep." Of sacred music he composed only one mass and six hymn-tunes, of which latter "Palestine" is one. Mazzinghi died in 1844, in his eightieth year. "BEGONE UNBELIEF, MY SAVIOUR IS NEAR." The Rev. John Newton, author of this hymn, was born in London, July 24, 1725. The son of a sea-captain, he became a sailor, and for several years led a reckless life. Converted, he took holy orders and was settled as curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, and afterwards Rector of St. Mary of Woolnoth, London, where he died, Dec. 21, 1807. It was while living at Olney that he and Cowper wrote and published the Olney Hymns. His defiance to doubt in these lines is the blunt utterance of a sailor rather than the song of a poet: Begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near, By prayer let me wrestle and He will perform; THE TUNE Old "Hanover," by William Croft (1677-1727), carries Newton's hymn successfully, but Joseph Haydn's choral of "Lyons" is more familiar--and better music. "Hanover" often accompanies Charles Wesley's lyric, Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim. "HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION." The question of the author of this hymn is treated at length in Dr. Louis F. Benson's Studies of Familiar Hymns. The utmost that need to be said here is that two of the most thorough and indefatigable hymn-chasers, Dr. John Julian and Rev. H. L. Hastings, working independently of each other, found evidence fixing the authorship with strong probability upon Robert Keene, a precentor in Dr. John Rippon's church. Dr. Rippon was pastor of a Baptist Church in London from |