268
��OUR HYMNS :
��JAMES BODEN. 17571841.
IN the house at Chester, -where the eminent commentator Matthew Henry once resided, James Boden first saw the light, and in the garden where he played there was a summer-house, where it is said a large part of the commentary was written. The youth often heard of his great forerunner, and at length desired to tread in his steps. At the age of sixteen, he made a profession of his faith in Christ. Subsequently, he studied for the ministry at Homerton College. He commenced his ministry as pastor of the Congregational Church at Hanley, in Stafford shire, where he laboured for about fifteen years.
In the year 1795, he was one of the founders of the London Missionary Society, and he lived to be the last survivor of that noble band. In 1796, he succeeded the Rev. Jehoiada Brewer at Queen Street, Sheffield, where he retained the pastorate for nearly forty-three years. During his ministry he preached three times every Sunday, and was indefatigable in promoting the interests of local religious and benevolent institutions. Two years before the end of his long and laborious life, his growing infirmities made it necessary that he should retire from public life. During his last illness he gave full proof of his peaceful confidence in Christ. He died at Chesterfield, on the 4th of June, 1841, aged eighty-four years.
In the year 1801, Mr. Boden, with the assistance of Dr. Williams, theological tutor of Rotherham College, prepared a collection of hymns, entitled " A Collection of above Six Hundred Hymns, designed as a New Supplement to Dr. Watts s Psalms and Hymns. By the Rev. Edward Williams, D.D., and the Rev. James Boden." This was a carefully prepared collection. It had reached a fifth edition in 1812. It contained seven hymns by Mr. Boden, numbered in that collection 100, 130, 133, 167,
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