at the early age of thirty-seven years.

To Cennick we are indebted for the majestic hymn on the theme of Christ's
second coming, "Lo! He comes, with clouds descending." James King, in his
"Anglican Hymnology," gives this hymn third place among the hymns of the
Anglican Church, it being excelled in his estimation only by Bishop Ken's
"All praise to Thee, my God, this night" and Wesley's "Hark! the herald
angels sing." Cennick has also bequeathed to the Church the lovely hymn,
"Children of the heavenly King." Though he wrote and published many more
hymns, they are mostly of an inferior order.

Williams, a Welshman by birth, has also left a hymn that has gone singing
down through the centuries. It is the rugged and stirring hymn that sets
forth in such striking imagery the experiences of the Israelites in the
wilderness, "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah."

Williams, who earned the title of the "Watts of Wales," wrote the hymn
originally in Welsh. Of him it has been said that "He did for Wales what
Wesley and Watts did for England, or what Luther did for Germany." His
first hymn-book, "Hallelujah," was published in 1744, when he was only
twenty-seven years old.

The Welsh hymnist originally intended to enter the medical profession,
but, after passing through a spiritual crisis, he was ordained as a
deacon in the Church of England. Because of his free methods of
evangelism, he was denied full ordination, and later identified himself
with the Wesleyan revival. Like Cennick and Perronet, however, he soon
forsook the Wesleys, and now we find him a Calvinistic Methodist, having
adopted Wales as his parish. He was a powerful preacher and an unusual
singer, and for forty-five years he carried on a blessed work until, on
January 11, 1791, he passed through "the swelling current" and was landed
"safe on Canaan's side."

In Praise of the Word of God

Father of Mercies, in Thy Word
What endless glory shines!
Forever be Thy Name adored
For these celestial lines.

Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be Thou forever near;
Teach me to love Thy sacred Word,
And view my Saviour there.