32 OUR HYMNS I
carefully, have found scattered in his writings many gems of poesy. Along with the warmth of a polemic, we find in his works the fervour of a pious Puritan, and sometimes the fire of true poetry,
Of his domestic union, he was able to say
" Now sing we will thy praise, For that thou dost as well prolong, Our loving as our days."
His political troubles appear to have arisen from his thoroughness in word and deed in favour of what he thought the right cause. It is consoling to know that, though he had again and again lived in prison, he did not die there, but was released four years before his death ; and that, notwithstanding his various troubles, he was able to sing on nearly fourscore years in this suffering world.
This poet, patriot, and Christian, is represented in the "New Congregational Hymn Book " by only two hymns.
" The Lord is King, and weareth," No. 137,
Is his rendering of the brief 93rd Psalm. It will be seen to keep close to the original, and to possess much poetic force.
" Come, come, with sacred lays." No. 255.
This is extracted from his paraphrastic version of the 148th Psalm, and altered to adapt it to this collection.
��ERNEST CHRISTOPHER HOMBURG. 16051681.
" Man of sorrows, and acquainted." No. 373.
THIS ancient and most touching Christian hymn is No. 77 in the " Liturgy and Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren, 1836 ; " and Montgomery, in his " Christian
�� �
