Hart, Joseph , was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years many of his most earnest and impassioned hymns were written. These appeared as:—
Hymns composed on Various Subjects, with the Author's Experience, London, 1759. During this year he became the Minister of the Independent Chapel, Jewin Street, London. In 1762 he added a Supplement to his Hymns; and in 1765 an Appendix. In modern editions of his Hymns these three are embodied in one volume as:— Hymns composed on Various Subjects: With the Author's Experience, The Supplement and Appendix. By the Rev. Joseph Hart, late Minister of the Gospel in Jewin Street, London. Allott & Co. [no date].
Hart died on May 24, 1768. At one time his hymns were widely used, especially by Calvinistic Nonconformists. Many of them are of merit, and are marked by great earnestness, and passionate love of the Redeemer. The best known are: “Come, Holy Spirit, come"; “Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched"; "This God is the God we adore"; and "Lord, look on all assembled here." Those which are more limited in their use include:—
i. From his Hymns, &c, 1759.
1. Descend from heaven, celestial Dove. Whitsuntide. No. 6, in 6 st. of 6 1. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory., 1872, No. 374, st. iv., v. are omitted. It is in extensive use in America.
2. Great High Priest, we view Thee stooping. High Priesthood of Christ. No. 56, pt. ii., in 3 st. of 8 1. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 236; Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, N. Y., 1872, No. 435, &c.
8. How wondrous are the works of God. Redeeming Love. No. 21, in 9 st. of 4 1. In the Scottish Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, st. i.-iv. are given as No. 11.
4. If ever it could come to pass. Final Perseverance. No. 58, in 3 st. of 6 1. Repeated in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 729.
6. Jesus is our God and Saviour . Faith and Repentance. No. 54, in 7 st. of 8 1. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 146, st. iv. is omitted. In the London Hymn Book (enlarged), 1879, st. iii. and v. are given as "Nothing but Thy blood, 0 Jesus."
6. Jesus, while He dwelt below. Gethsemane. No. 75, in 23 st. of 6 1. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 230, sixteen stanzas are broken up into three parts: (i.) "Jesus, while He dwelt below"; (ii.) "Full of love to man's lost race"; (iii.) "There my God bore all my guilt." A cento is also given in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, N. Y., 1872, No. 441, as "Many woes had Christ [He] endured." It is composed of st. viii., ix., xiii., xx., xxiii., slightly altered. In the Scottish Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, No. 34, 8 st. are given in two parts: pt. i. as, "Jesus, while He dwelt below"; pt. ii. "Eden from each flowery bed."
7. Lamb of God, we fall before Thee. Christ All in All. No. 17 in 4 st. of 8 1. It is in various collections, and as altered in Kennedy , 1863, No. 1171, is much improved.
8. Let us all with grateful praises. Christmas. No. 14 in 7 st. of 8 1. In Spurgeon's 0ur Own Hymn Book, 1866, it is reduced to 4 st. of 41.
9. Lord, look on all assembled here. For a Public Fast. No. 96, in 8 st. of 4 1. It is in several of the older hymnbooks.
10. Lord, we lie before Thy feet. Lent. No. 74, in 6 st. of 6 1., and based on 2 Chron. xx. 20. In Spurgeon's 0ur Own Hymn Book, 1866, st. i., iii., vi. are given as No. 585.
11. Mercy is welcome news indeed. God's Mercy in pardoning Sin. No. 51, in 6 st. of 4 1., on St. Luke vii. 42. In Spurgeon, 1866, No. 544.
12. Much we talk of Jesu's blood. Passiontide. No. 41, in 4 st. of 8 1., on Lam. i. 12. In Spurgeon, 1866, it is abridged to 4 st. of 4 1.
13. Bow from the garden to the cross. Good Friday. No. 63, in 9 st. of 4 1., and entitled, "The Crucifixion." In Spurgeon, 1866, No. 274, st. ii.-v., vi.-ix. are given as "See how the patient Jesus stands."
14. The Fountain of Christ Assist me to sing. The Fountain. No. 86, in 8 st. of 8 1. on Zech. xiii. 1. In Spurgeon, 1866, st. i., v., vii., viii., are given as No. 375.
15. The moon and stars shall lose their light. Advent. No. 48, in 4 st. of 41., on St. Matt. xxiv. 35. In Spurgeon, 1866.
16. The sinner that truly believes. Saving Faith. No. 88, in 5 st. of 4 1., and entitled, "Saving Faith" In Spurgeon, 1866, No. 533, st. ii. is omitted, and the opening line is altered to "The moment a sinner believes."
ii. From his Supplement, 1762.
17. Behold what awful pomp. Advent. No. 52, in 8 st. of 4 1. It is usually abridged as in the American Methodist Episcopal Hymns, 1849, No. 1107.
18. Christ is the Eternal Rock. The Offices of Christ. No. 27, in 6 st. of 8 1. In Windle's Metrical Psalter & Hymnal, 1862, st. i., ii., v. are given as No. 53.
19. Christians, dismiss your fear. Easter. No. 33, in 4 st. of 8 1. into Dr. Alexander's Augustine Hymn Book, 1849, No. 79, in 7 st. of 4 1.
20. Dismiss us with Thy blessing, Lord. Close of Service. No. 78, in 2 st. of 4 1. In a few collections.
21. Gird thy loins up, Christian soldier. The Christian Armour . No. 29, in 5 st. of 8 1., on Eph. vi. 11. Found in several of the older, and a few of the modern collections.
22. Glory to God on high, Our peace, &c. Holy Communion. No. 3, in 6 st. of 4 1. In Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, No. 704, st. v., vi. are omitted.
23. Holy Ghost, inspire our praises. On behalf of Ministers. No. 77, in 5 st. of 81. In the Scottish Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, No. 412, st. iii.-v. are given as, "Happy soul that hears and follows."
24. Jesus once for sinners slain. Holy Communion. No. 18, in 6 st. of 4 1. In American use.
25. Lord, help us on Thy word to feed. Close of Service . No. 80, in 2 st. of 4 1. In several modern hymnbooks.
26. O for a glance of heavenly day. Lent. No. 64, in 5 st. of 4 1. In Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, 1872, and other American collections it is usually repeated in full. In Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, it was given as, "Lord, shed a beam of heavenly day," and this is repeated in modern hymnbooks.
27. Once more before we part. Close of Service. No. 79, in 2 st. of 4 1. Popular in Great Britain and America.
28. Once more we come before our God. Before a Sermon. No. 21, in 6 st. of 41., into Hatfield, 1872, No. 111, and others.
29. Sons of God by bless'd adoption. Burial. No. 45, in 3 st. of 8 1., into Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 981, as "Sons of God by blest adoption."
30. Suffering Saviour, Lamb of God . Holy Communion. No. 14, in 8 st. of 4 1. In W. F. Stevenson's Hymns for Church & Home, 1873, st. iii., vii. are omitted.
31. That doleful night before His death. Holy Communion. No. 17, in 2 st. of 8 1. In the Scottish Evangelical Union Hymnal, 1878, st. i. 11. 4-8, and st. ii., are given as, "To keep Thy Feast, Lord, we are met."
iii. From his Appendix, 1765.
32. Christians, in your several stations. Christian Duty. No. 7, in 5 st. of 6 1. It is slightly altered in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 742, and dated 1759 in error.
33. Prayer was [is] appointed to convey. Prayer. No. 12 in 6 st. of 4 1. into Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 542, with alterations and the omission of st. ii., v. In some American collections it begins, "Prayer is to God, the soul's sure way."
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
