Page:Our Hymns.djvu/171

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THEIR AUTHOES AND ORIGIN. 351

wrote an " Elegy on the death of the Eev. Joseph Grigg," in which he speaks of him as the friend of the poor, the charm of the social circle, and the attractive and useful preacher. He says

" The pious Grigg has bid our world adieu ! Who long dispensed delight and profit too. Death has in silence seal d th instructive tongue, That used to captivate the list ning throng : No more he stands to plead a Saviour s name, And these cold hearts of ours with love inflame ; No more he shows the path where duty lies, That path of pleasure leading to the skies."

" Beyond the glittering starry skies," No. 389,

attributed in the " New Congregational" to Grigg is not by him, but by Daniel Turner and James Fanch, vide page 1-17.

" Behold a stranger at the door." No. 509.

Five verses not inferior in excellence are omitted from this hymn. Slight alterations are made in other verses, and in what stands here as the 5th verse, an important alteration, and we think, an improvement, is made.

The original is

" Admit Him ; for you can t expel ; Where er He comes, He comes to dwell."

The altered reading is

" No mortal tongue their joys can tell, With whom He condescends to dwell."

" Jesus, and can it ever be ? " No. 622.

This was composed when the author was ten years of age. As a marvel of precocious talent it takes its place along with Milton s psalm

" Let us with a gladsome mind," No. 229,

written at the age of fifteen. It was first altered from the original by the Rev. Benjamin Francis. He is said to have

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