Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/355

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 343

His two most popular hymns are O er those gloomy hills of darkness and Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, which was published in Welsh in his Alleluia, in five stanzas. Rev. Peter Williams, of Carmarthen, was a student at Carmarthen College. His tutor warned the men not to go to hear White- field, that fanatical preacher ; but he went, and was converted. He published a translation into English of three stanzas in 1771. The first of these William Williams adopted, translated his own stanzas 3 and 4, and added a new stanza

Musing on my habitation,

Musing on my heav nly home, Fills my soul with holy longings ;

Come, my Jesus, quickly come ; Vanity is all I see ; Lord, I long to be with Thct j.

This he issued about 1772 as a leailct, headed

A Favourite Hymn,

Sung by

Lady Huntingdon s young Collegians.

Printed by the desire of many Christian friends.

Lord, give it Thy blessing !

It was included in the Lady Huntingdon Collection, 1772 or 1773, and had already appeared in the hymn-book used by the Countess of Huntingdon s chapels in Sussex, 1771.

It was the favourite hymn of Richard Knill (the missionary and missionary advocate), and was constantly on his lips when he lay dying in 1857. During the last months of his life he often said to his daughter, I cannot sing ; sing for me my favourite hymn. She sang it to Rousseau s Dream. Her father always tried to join in the last verse. Mr. Spurgeon gives a charming account of the veteran s visit to his grand father s parsonage in 1844, when on a deputation tour for the London Missionary Society, and the famous prophecy about the boy : This child will one day preach the gospul, and he will preach it to great multitudes.

Hymn GIG. To God, the only Wise. ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707. Preserving Grace. Jude 24,

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