Revolution and criticising the political conduct of a certain Bishop Watson, now fortunately forgotten. Perhaps the sole permanent result and chief end of this Bishop Watson's life was to contribute remotely and unintentionally to the production of this hymn. He was a not unimportant link in the chain of circumstances of which this hymn, with its far-reaching influence, is but the latest outcome. For instance, if Mr. Flower Mrs. Adams's maiden name was Flower - had not been moved to indignation by the turpitude of Bishop Watson's political conduct, he would never, even in 1789, have been fined £100 and sent to Newgate for six months. If he had never been sent to gaol, Miss Eliza Gould would never have been prompted to visit him there, and so lay the foundation of an acquaintance which ripened into love and marriage. Of that marriage Mrs. Adams was the fruit. If her parents had never met, of course she would never have been born, and this hymn never would have been written. Therefore may we not say that the causa causans of one of the most touching hymns in the Christian hymnal was some long-ago-forgotten political offence perpetrated by an Anglican Bishop. Here is the hymn as Mrs. Adams wrote it, untinkered by jealous Trinitarians who feel twinges of conscience at the thought of deriving spiritual benefit from a Unitarian hymn.

The hymn is as dear to the peasant as it is to the prince. Bishop Marvin, wandering homeless in Arkansas during the war, and almost inclined to despair, found himself marvellously cheered and reproved when in the midst of the wilderness he overheard a widowed old woman singing, "Nearer, my God, to Thee" in the midst of a dilapidated log cabin. Her wretched poverty was forgotten as she sang.

Another story of the American Civil War tells how a little drummer boy, whose arm had been shot off at the battle of Fort Donelson, died on the battlefield singing with his last breath, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." It might fairly be called the most popular hymn among all sorts and conditions of men in America.

73-TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE. AFTER the Jesuit and the Unitarian comes the devout Churchwoman. Miss Havergal's hymn is not unworthy of its predecessors.

AKE my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take
my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be,
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou dost choose.

Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.

This hymn bubbled up from the depths of a thankful heart. Miss Havergal tells the story of how it came to be written: —

66

And He

Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the consecration hymn, 'Take my life.' I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted, but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, 'Lord, give me all in this house!' just did. Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart, one after another, till they finished with 'Ever, only, all for Thee.'"

74-O FOR A HEART TO PRAISE MY GOD. CHARLES WESLEY'S hymn is in unison with those which precede it.

FOR a heart to praise my God;

A heart from sin set free;

A heart that's sprinkled with the blood
So freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My dear Redeemer's throne:
Where only Christ is heard to speak:
Where Jesus reigns alone.

A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true, and clean,

Which neither life nor death can part
From Him that dwells within.

A heart in every thought renewed,
And filled with love divine;
Perfect and right, and pure and good;
A copy, Lord, of Thine.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
Come quickly from above:

Write Thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new best name of Love.

TUNE "WInchester Old."

75-O GOD OF TRUTH.

THIS is Tom Hughes's hymn, which, says Mr. Horder, seems to gather up and embody the distinctive thoughts and feelings which animated his life. It was probably suggested by Maurice's sermon, 'the Word of God conquering through Sacrifice.'"

GOD of Truth, Whose living word

Oph of whatever bath breath,

Look down on Thy creation, Lord,
Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that they
Who claim a heavenly birth

May march with Thee to smite the lies
That vex Thy ransom'd earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,
And follow in the might

Of Him, the Faithful and the True,
In raiment clean and white?

We fight for truth, we fight for God,
Poor slaves of lies and sin,