age in 1755. His end was peace. After his decease, a poem was found in his pocket, written in anticipation of the final summons, entitled "Nunc Dimittis." The following stanza will show the spirit of resignation in which he viewed the change: "O Lamb, I languish Till the day I see When thou shalt say, 'Come up and be with Me!' Twice seven years Have I thy servant been, My service and my sin." "FATHER, WHATE'ER OF EARTHLY BLISS." THE most unfortunate people are sometimes the most useful. Socrates purblind, Seneca withered, Milton blind, Collins and Cowper distressed with the fear of insanity, Dr. Johnson carrying with him physical and mental infirmity from youth to age, were among the world's benefactors notwithstanding these obstacles to success. From a blighted youth and life-long misfortune have often. sprung works of benevolence and sympathy, such as only could result from the discipline of trial. "There is a secret in the ways of God With his own children, which none others know, In nearly every collection of hymns, and especially in collections used in Baptist churches, the name of Mrs. Steele" is more frequently found than any other female writer. The address "Mrs." is usually placed before her name, though the lady was never married. This usage is common, in England, with maiden ladies entitled to especial respect, and it has been retained by American compilers of devotional poetry and hymns. She was the daughter of Rev. William Steele, an English Baptist minister in Hampshire. She united with the church under her father's care, and was greatly beloved for her humility, piety, and Christian activities. She was a great sufferer, and from a life of severe discipline grew those sweet Christian graces which find expression in her hymns. She met "Father, whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, “Give me a calm and thankful heart, The blessings of thy love impart, And help me live to Thee." with an accident in childhood which made her an invalid for life. She was also engaged to be married to a gentleman whom she dearly loved, and the preparations were fully made for the wedding. At the very moment when she was expecting the bridegroom's arrival, the guests being already in part assembled, a messenger came with the news that he had just been drowned. Her life, now doubly blighted, sought only consolation in the exercises of piety, charity, and the inspirations of her pen. Her father's death deepened her sorrows in her helpless situation, and weaned her heart from the vanishing things of the world. But she bore her lot in her most shadowed hours with resignation, "looking unto Jesus." Her exit was serene and happy. Wrinkled with sorrow and worn with age, she at last realized a full answer to the burden of her life-long prayer: "Let the sweet hope that thou art mine My life and death attend; Thy presence through my journey shine, Shortly before her departure, she said: "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Her life was told in that hymn. Earthly bliss" was denied her, but she had a "calm and thankful heart," God's "presence" shone through her "journey," and crowned the "journey's end." "JESUS, AND SHALL IT EVER BE!" This hymn was written by a pious youth, named Joseph Grigg, when only ten years old. Little is known of his personal history. His early life was passed in humble circumstances. Dr. Joseph Belcher mentions that he continued to exercise his poetical gifts, so early developed. He says: "About half a century ago, we saw a small pamphlet containing nineteen hymns, written by a young man named Grigg, when he was a laboring mechanic." His early piety seems to have had a steady growth and ripe development. He became a Presbyterian minister, and preached for a time in the Presby terian Chapel, Silver street, London. He died in 1768. The following lines composed on his death by Thomas Green, a local poet, show that his memory was one of those that "smell sweet and blossom in the dust:" "Death has, in silence, sealed th' instructive tongue No more he stands to plead a Saviour's name, Grigg's hymn beginning, "Jesus, and shall it ever be," discovers remarkable maturity of thought for a youth of ten years. It not unfavorably compares with Milton's Psalm, "Let us with a gladsome mind," written at the age of fifteen. The hymn was originally published in five double stanzas in the Gospel Magazine for April, 1774, under the title, "SHAME OF JESUS CONQUERED BY LOVE, BY A YOUTH OF TEN YEARS." It was sent to the magazine by Rev. Benjamin Francis, who interested himself in the young Author. JESUS, and shall it ever be! A mortal man ashamed of thee! Scorned be the thought by rich and poor: Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far 'Tis evening with my soul till He, Ashamed of Jesus! of that Friend Ashamed of Jesus! yes I may; Till then, (nor is the boasting vain,) "VITAL SPARK OF HEAVENLY FLAME.” THE Construction of this funeral anthem and chant is very peculiar, and illustrates how thought may be improved in its expression. (1.) The heathen emperor Adrian, a philosopher as well as a ruler, addressed his soul on his death-bed, in the Latin lines, beginning, "Animula, blandula, vagula, Hospes comesque corporis," etc. which are familiar to scholars as "Adrian's Address to his Soul when Dying," and which many poets have trans |