THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIX. 117
death. Dr. Dodclriclge had intended to publish them himself, but, on the failure of his health, he committed the work to his faithful biographer, Job Orton. The collection is entitled, " Hymns founded on various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, 1755." The book was designed as a supplement to Dr. Watts . The hymns are 364 in number, and are arranged in the Biblical order of the texts. In the year 1838, some additional hymns were published, taken from Doddridge s MSS., in a book with the title, " Doddridge s Scripture Hymn Book," by John Dod- dridge Humphreys.
Of the hymns of Doddridge, Montgomery says, " They shine in the beauty of holiness ; these offsprings of his mind are arrayed in the fine linen, pure and white, which is the righteous ness of saints ; " and, like the saints, they are lovely and accept able, not for their human merit (for in poetry and eloquence they are frequently deficient), but for that fervent unaffected love to God, His service, and His people, which distinguishes them. "
In the number of hymns contributed, Doddridge stands third in the list of contributors to the " New Congregational Hymn Book," having supplied fifty hymns. Like all his other works, they are marked by their self-forgetful devotion to the high cause he served. As hymns, many of them are not above mediocrity, but some are of a high order, and others have some special excellencies. As one thoroughly familiar with the various public occasions in the history of Congregational Churches, Doddridge provided several very useful hymns for such occasions. For instance, he has supplied hymns 891, 893, and 896, to be sung at the " Ordination of Pastors," hymn 893 containing the characteristic verse :
t: Tis not a cause of small import
The pastor s care demands ; But what might fill an angel s heart, And filled a Saviour s hands."
We also owe to him three good New-year Hymns (Nos. 954,
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