Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/273

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THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 261

Hymn 409. In heavenly love abiding.

ANNA LAETITIA WARING.

Safety in God, from Hymns and Meditations, 1850.

Miss Waring, daughter of Elijah Waring, was born at Neath, Glamorgan, 1820, where she has spent her life. Her Hymns and Meditations, published in 1850, contained nineteen pieces. It was enlarged in 1863 to thirty-eight hymns. Additional Hymns appeared in 1858.

Hymn 410. Dear Lord and Father of mankind. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER (118).

From The Brewing of Soma, 1872, beginning at stanza 12.

The poem is headed " These libations mixed with milk have been prepared for Indra ; offer Soma to the drinker of Soma," Vashista, translated by Max Miiller. Whittier describes the prayers to Soma, and then runs on

As in that child-world s early year,

Age after age has striven By music, incense, vigils drear, And trance, to bring the skies more near,

Or lift men up to heaven !

And yet the past comes round again,

And new doth old fulfil ; In sensual transports wild as vain We brew in many a Christian fane

The heathen Soma still !

Then follows the verse, Dear Lord and Father of man kind.

Hymn 411. Jesu, nay Truth, my Way. CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749; Works, v. 22. Hymns for Believers. Seven verses of eight lines.

John Wesley made some changes in 1780. The original reads

I. On Thee my feeble soul I stay, Which Thou wilt lead aright.

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