Hymns in praise of the Lord and those who wrote them

by Gwen Herat

Cardinal Newman wrote this famous hymn:

Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom... Lead thou me on.

The night is dark and I am far away from home... Lead thou me on

Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see...

The distant scene, one step enough for me....

I was not ever thus nor pray that thou... should lead me on

I loved to choose and see my path, but now... Lead Thou me on

I loved the garish day and spit of fears

Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Many beautiful hymns are sung in praise of this holy event

Pride ruled my will remember not past years...

So long Thy power hast blest me, sure it still... Will lead me on

O'er the moor and fen o'er the crag and torrent, till...

The night is gone

And with the morn those angel faces smile.

Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile....

As Christians, every Sunday morning, over the years from childhood to adulthood, we keep singing the most beautifully worded, lyrical hymns in praise of our Lord. But how many of us pause to think about their writers; how they came to be in our hymn books or sung at Christmas, Lent, Good Friday and at diverse occasions. There are the wondrous, joyous hymns sung at our weddings and at the baptism of our new born babies and at the Holy Order when our dedicated young men take oath to serve the Lord. The lyrical compositions in praise of the Lord and who are behind them are seldom known to Christians.

Hymns have done more than words in carrying comfort and joy to the hearts of people in sickness and sorrow, in doubt and anxiety and saved them from peril when some dedicated soul has raised his voice to sing some simple hymn.

'Let us with a gladsome mind, Praise the Lord, for He is kind' wrote a fifteen year old boy and in the last 300 years this famous hymn has been sung in all churches of England with very few being aware that this gifted boy was to become one of England's foremost poets, John Milton.

We should know the names of the writers of the sacred songs and feel as we sing that these are the words of a man who lived during stirring times. The famous Martin Luther was a famous hymn writer. The effect of his hymns was marvellous because he appealed to the heart of man. People wandered all over Europe singing them and carried them into the castle of the nobles and into the cottage of the peasant. His hymns helped them more than his teaching to free men of terror and learned to realise that religion is a joyful thing in life and to look up to the Lord.

We also owe a great debt to the Wesley Brothers for their contribution to the hymn book. John Wesley wrote the bulk of the hymns while brother Charles exceeded him to write about 6500. No single man has written so much in so many little time. Charles was a great missionary, who gave all his life to the Lord and refused to accept the fortune it brought him. In most hymn books, there are at least a dozen hymns written by Dr. Issac Watts who wrote over 500. Among them we treasure and, feel great to sing 'When I survey the wondrous Cross' and 'O' God our help in ages past. Both hymns happen to be my favourites. Watts was the son of a Southampton schoolmaster and received his gift of poetry from his father and in turn, dedicated his talent to the Lord.

Bishop Reginald Herber who qualified from the University of Cambridge was a more gifted poet than Tate and wrote many an endearing hymn. He was offered to be a country clergyman but scorned at such an existence because he preferred the perils and anxieties of mission work in India and extended his days as Bishop of Calcutta. The writers of our hymns have woven their spirit into the life of the world for hymns are the glorious songs made sacred by our most exalted thoughts and tenderest memories that echo and re-echo round the world for ever and teach religion direct to the human heart. For those Christians who wish to keep a tab on the writers and their hymns;

Cecil Frances Alexander - There is a green hill far away. Once in Royal David's city

Charlotte Elliot - Just as I am without one plea

John Ellerton - The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended.

Edward Perronet - All hail the power of Jesus

John Henry - Lead kindly, Light

Martin Luther - A sure strength in our Lord

John Milton - Let us with gladsome mind

Bishop Ken - Glory to thee my God, this night

Issac Watts - O' God our help in ages past

Augustus M Toplady - Rock of ages cleft for me

John and Charles Wesley - Thousands of hymns around the world

William Cowper - God moves in a mysterious way

Bishop Herber - From Greenland's icy mountains

John Keble - Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear

Sir John Bowring - In the cross of Christ I glory

Henry Francis Lyte - Abide with me

Frances Havergel - Take my life and let it be

M L Moody/Ira de Sankey - Wrote a famous hymn book as American evangalists

Bishop Walsham How - Summer suns a glowing

All these hymnists dedicated their lives to God and showered praise upon Him for the survival of man for him to abide with Him to reach His everlasting Kingdom, the promise of God.