THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 435
while in Italy. We very often heard distinctly the cadence of the Dies Irae ; and I think the very last stanza that we could make out was the first of a still greater favourite, Stabat Plater dolorosa?
Sir Walter Scott once spoke some faithful words to Byron, who replied, Would you have me turn Methodist ? No, was the reply, I cannot conceive of your being a Methodist, but you might be a Catholic Christian. He did not forget the warning. I have known Sir Walter Scott, he said, long and well, and in occasional situations which call forth the real character. I say that Walter Scott is as nearly a good man as man can be, because I know it by experience to be the case.
Hymn 810. Great God! what do I sec and hear?_. WILLIAM BKNGO COLLYER, D.D. ; altered by CoTTKKiu,(i68).
Dr. Collyer was born at Blackhcath in 1782, and in 1801 became pastor of a Nonconformist church with ten com municants at Pcckham. He laboured there with great success till December n, 1853, when he preached his last sermon. He died in 1854. He was an eloquent preacher, in great favour both with rich and poor. The Duke of Kent chose him as his private chaplain. He was much beloved by the Duke of Sussex. Dr. Collyer often closed his sermon by a hymn written to accompany it, as was done by Watts and Doddridge. He published a series of lectures on Divine Revelation in seven volumes, and a hymn-book with fifty-seven pieces written by himself, of which this is one. Dr. Collyer added a note, This hymn, which is adapted to Luther s celebrated tune, is universally ascribed to that great man. As I never saw more than this first verse, I was obliged to lengthen it for the completion of the subject, and am responsible for the verses which follow. The ascription to Luther has no foundation. The first verse cannot be traced back farther than to 1802, when it appeared in Psalms and Hymns for Public ami Private Devotion, published in Sheffield. How greatly Dr. Collyer s verses were improved by T. Cotterill (168) may be seen by comparing their original form with that given in The Methodist Hymn-Book
The dead in Christ are first to rise,
And greet th archangel s warning ; To meet the Saviour in the skies,
On this auspicious morning :
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