102 OUR HYMNS :
Mr. Seagrave prepared his Hymn-book for his congregation at Lorimers Hall, in 1742. It is entitled "Hymns for Christian Worship, partly composed and partly collected from various authors." The third elition followed in 1744, and the fourth in 1748. Mr. Daniel Sedgwick has published all Mr. Seagrave s Hymns (1860), with a biographical sketch of the author. The hymns are fifty in number. As hymns, they are all good, and some are of great excellence. They are rich in Christian expe rience, and full of scriptural and spiritual meaning.
" Kise, my soul, and stretch thy wings," No. 703,
erroneously attributed in the " New Congregational Hymn Book" to Madan. This remarkably fine hymn, which Seagrave calls " The Pilgrim s Song," is given with the omission of a third verse a similar verse that we regret to spare.
" Now may the Spirit s holy fire." No. 787.
This is four verses of a piece of nine verses designed to be sung "at the opening of worship." It is erroneously attri buted in the "New Congregational Hymn Book" to Toplady. The omitted verses are not less excellent than those that are given.
��GERARD TERSTEEGEN.
1G97 17G9.
TERSTEEGEN has been called the greatest poet of the mystical school of the 17th and 18th centuries. This school was founded by Angelus (1G24 1077) of Silesia, who was an enthusiastic mystic, and whose works are in direct contrast to those of Luther, substituting as they do sentiment for strength.
Gerhard and several of the early German hymn-writers, follow ing Luther in doctrine as well as in poetic skill, were of the Lutheran church, but Tersteegen belonged to the Reformed. A philanthropist as well as a poet, he devoted himself unreservedly
�� �� �
