Page:Our Hymns.djvu/375

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THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 355

" Whom should we love like Thee," No. 15,

his version of the long eighteenth Psalm, gives effectively in the compass of a few verses the spirit of that Psalm. And

" Praise, Lord, for Thee in Zion waits," No. 89,

is a " spiritual paraphrase" of Psalm Ixv., and a song of praise very suitable for public worship.

Lyte s hymns are free from harshness, correct in their versifica tion, and always full of Scriptural thought and spiritual meaning. Some of them are of a high order. There were eleven of his hymns in the old "Congregational Hymn Book;" there are twenty in the new.

Awake ye saints, awake!" No. 758,

deserves notice as very good.

" how blest the congregation ! No. 768, is a general favourite ; and

" Abide with me, fast falls the eventide," No. 941,

has at once taken its place as a universal favourite. We find in it an impassioned earnestness, and a familiarity with the Master, tender yet free from presumption, that reminds us of the best productions of St. Bernard and Gerhard. It was written when the author was approaching his end. It is the true utterance of a heart deeply feeling the need of Christ s presence, and strong in the confidence that it will not be denied.

HENRY USTICK ONDERDONK, D.D.

" The Spirit to our hearts." No. 519.

THIS hymn, given anonymously in the "New Congregational," is by the above-named American prelate of the Protestant Episco palian Church. It is the L31st in " Selections from the Psalms of David, in metre, with Hymns suited to the Feasts and Fasts of the Church, &c. New York. First edition, 1833." This work

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