139. Spirit divine, attend our prayer
Andrew Reed, 1787-1862
Samuel Longfellow, 1819-92
This is a revision by Samuel Longfellow of a hymn written by Andrew Reed, an English Congregational minister. Reed, a philanthropist and great organizer, and founder of six asylums and orphanages, wrote 21 hymns and published several hymn books. He was an ardent supporter of missionary work at home and abroad. Writing to his son who suggested that the father should write his autobiography, Dr. Reed summed up his own life in these words:
I was born yesterday, I shall die tomorrow, and I must not spend today in telling what I have done, but in doing what I may for HIM who has done all for me. I sprang from the people, I have lived for the people—the most for the most unhappy; and the people when they know it will not suffer me to die out of loving remembrance.
MUSIC. BRECON. The origin of this tune has not been traced. It is a useful tune as a choir response after the prayer.
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE—THE CALL OF CHRIST
140. Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Cecil Frances Alexander, 1823-95
A hymn of consecration which has had far-reaching influence especially over young people. It is based on Matt. 4:18, 19: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” There is also a reference to the incident by the lake recorded in John 21:15: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”