192 OUR HYMNS I
1799. His educational advantages were small, yet he composed several hymns of very great excellence. Of these the most known are the two given in the " New Congregational Hymn Book."
" The God of Abraham, praise," No. 256,
is part of a piece consisting of twelve stanzas. In the " New Congregational Hymn Book," seven stanzas are omitted between verses 4 and 5. Of the whole piece, Montgomery says, "This noble ode, though the essay of an unlettered man, claims special honour. There is not in our language a lyric of more majestic style, more elevated thought, or more glorious imagery : its struc ture, indeed, is unattractive ; and, on account of the short lines, occasionally uncouth ; but like a stately pile of architecture, severe and simple in design, it strikes less on the first view, than after deliberate examination, when its proportions become more graceful, its dimensions expand, and the mind itself grows greater in contemplating it " And Lord Henley mentions in his collec tion (1833) that this hymn was a source of great consolation to Henry Martyn, when with mingled feelings of regret and anxious hope he was bidding adieu to his native land, and setting out on his important missionary career. This hymn. was written (1772) to a celebrated air, sung by Leoni at the Jews Synagogue, in Londoa. The hymn and tune reached their thirtieth edition in 1779. The hymn
" Lo ! He comes, with clouds descending." No. 418,
is erroneously attributed to Olivers. He composed the tune Helmsley for it, and several other tunes. It is by Cennick and C. Wesley, vide Cennick, p. 168.
Mr. Olivers wrote a " Descriptive and Plaintive Elegy on the death of the late Kev. John Wesley," 1791. He was also the author of some tracts on the Calvinistic controversy, written in defence of Wesley. In his later years he took the charge of Wesley s printing, and undertook the supervision of the " Armi-
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