Joseph Stennett

Joseph Stennett
Short Name: Joseph Stennett
Full Name: Stennett, Joseph, 1663-1713
Birth Year: 1663
Death Year: 1713

The author was a Baptist preacher in London, from 1690, to his death in 1713.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.

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Stennett, Joseph, the earliest English Baptist hymnwriter whose hymns are now in common use, was born at Abingdon, Berks, in 1663. He received a superior education at the Grammar School of Wallingford, and at the age of 22 removed to London, where for several years he engaged in tuition. In 1688 he married a daughter of George Guill, a French Protestant refugee, another of whose daughters was the wife of the celebrated Presbyterian minister, Dr. Daniel Williams, who became a generous friend to Stennett. In the following year he was called to preach by the Baptist Sabbatarian congregation then meeting in Devonshire Square, London, afterwards in Pinners' Hall; and in 1690 became its pastor, a position he retained to his death, July 4, 1713. Since the meetings of this congregation for worship were on the seventh day of the week, he was free to preach to other congregations on the Sunday, which he did very frequently, especially to the General Baptist Church in the Barbican. Such was Stennett's repute for piety, learning and practical wisdom that his advice was very much sought by his Christian friends, and by the "great Whig Lords” of that day he was occasionally consulted as to the feeling of the Dissenters concerning national affairs. His published works include:—
(1) Hymns in commemoration of the Sufferings of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, compos'd for the Celebration of his Holy Supper, 1697; 2nd ed. 1703 (This is entitled in Stennett's Works, 1732, Hymns for the Lord's Supper). These were 37 in number, increased to 50 in the 3rd edition, 1709. (2) In 1700 he published a poetical Version of Solomon's Song of Songs, together with the XLVth Psalm. A second edition, corrected, appeared in 1709. (3) In 1712 he published twelve Hymns composed for the Celebration of the Holy Ordinance of Baptism; 2nd ed. 1722.

Stennett also translated Dacier's Plato and other works from the French, and published several sermons preached on days of National Thanksgiving and other public occasions. His Works were collected after his death and published in 1732, in 4 vols. They contain a Memoir, Sermons and Letters, the Hymns and Poems mentioned above, and a few other poetical pieces. A controversial work, An Answer to Mr. Russen's Book on Baptism, 1702, may be reckoned as a 5th vol. Of his hymns, that which, in the form of varying centos, is most widely known is, "Another six days' work is done". Others in common use include:—
1. Gracious Redeemer, how divine. Holy Communion. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, first edition, 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 98.) Usually abbreviated.
2. Immortal praise be given. Holy Communion. Published in his Hymns for The Lord's Supper, first ed., 1697. (Works, 1732, ii. p. 97.) From this "We'll praise our risen Lord," is taken.
3. Jesus, O word divinely sweet. Redemption through Jesus. Published in Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 3rd ed. 1709, No. 47.
4. Lord, at Thy Table I behold. Holy Communion. This hymn is not in Stennett's Works. From it "With humble faith and trembling heart," is taken.
5. My blessed Saviour, is Thy love? Self-Consecration to God. Appeared in his Hymns for the Lord's Supper, 1697, No. 22. Usually abbreviated.
6. The great Redeemer we adore. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712.
7. Whene'er one sinner turns to God. Holy Baptism. Published in his Hymns for Baptism, 1712, No. 12. From this "See how the willing converts trace" is taken. It begins with st. iii.
Several of his hymns additional to these are given in the older collections, but have passed out of use. We may add that the Joseph Stennett, the subject of this article, had a son, Joseph Stennett, D.D., who also became an eminent Baptist minister, and was the father of Samuel Stennett. [Rev.W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]

--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by Joseph Stennett (62)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Again our weekly labors endJoseph Stennett (Author)English16
All the created works, O LordJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Another six days work is done, another Sabbath is begunJoseph Stennett (Author)English318
Behold the grave where Jesus layJoseph Stennett (Author)English3
Behold the king of glory sitsJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Behold the Savior of the world, Embrued with sweat and goreJoseph Stennett (Author)English4
Behold the Savior on the cross, A spectacle of woe!Joseph Stennett (Author)English4
Come every pious heartJoseph Stennett (Author)English1
Come let us all, who here have seenJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Come, lowly souls, that mournJoseph Stennett (Author)7
Gracious Redeemer, how divineJoseph Stennett (Author)4
Happy are they our Lord has choseJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Hast thou, my soul, thy Savior viewedJoseph Stennett (Author)2
How many miracles of loveJoseph Stennett (Author)2
How shall the sons of men appearJoseph Stennett (Author)English1
How sweet, how beauteous is the placeJoseph Stennett (Author)2
How various and how newJoseph Stennett (Author)English3
Immortal praise be givenJoseph Stennett (Author)2
In grateful hymns, ye saints, displayJoseph Stennett (Author)2
In that most dark and doleful nightJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Jehovah, we in hymns of praiseJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Jesus, O word divinely sweetJoseph Stennett (Author)English17
Let all who love our [the] Savior's nameJoseph Stennett (Author)2
لما نرى مائدتكJoseph Stennett (Author)Arabic1
Lord, at thy table I beholdJoseph Stennett (Author)English148
Lord, at thy table we standJoseph Stennett (Author)1
Lord, how divine's this gift of thineJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Lord, thou hast given to usJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Lord, we approach thy throneJoseph Stennett (Author)2
My soul, let all thy nobler powersJoseph Stennett (Author)2
My blessed Savior, is Thy loveJoseph Stennett, 1663-1713 (Author)English29
O Lord, how shall we frame a songJoseph Stennett (Author)2
O Lord, thou dost a broken heartJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Others may tell of famous thingsJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Our Lord a banquet has preparedJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Our Savior's bleeding sacrificeJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Prostrate dear Jesus at thy feetJoseph Stennett (Author)English1
Return, my soul, enjoy thy restJoseph Stennett (Author)English43
See how the willing converts traceJoseph Stennett (Author)English40
Sing Hallelujah to our LordJoseph Stennett (Author)2
That doleful night, when our dear LordJoseph Stennett (Author)2
The great Redeemer we adoreJ. Stennett (Author)English51
Thou art all love, my dearest LordJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Thus was the great Redeemer plungedJ. Stennett (Author)English8
Thus we commemorate the dayJoseph Stennett (Author)English26
'Tis finished; so the Savior cried, And meekly bowed His head and diedJ. Stennett (Author)English3
'Tis finished, the Redeemer criesJoseph Stennett (Author)English7
To us our God commends his loveJoseph Stennett (Author)2
We'll praise our risen LordJoseph Stennett (Author)2
What mighty conqueror do we seeJoseph Stennett (Author)2
What wondrous things do we beholdJoseph Stennett (Author)English2
Whate'er to thee, our Lord belongsStennett (Author (v. 3, 8))English1
When first the God of boundless graceJ. Stennett (Author)English1
When sin had brought deathJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Whene'er one sinner turns to GodJoseph Stennett (Author)2
Wherewith shall I, a sinful wormJoseph Stennett (Author)2
With humble boldness, trembling joyJoseph Stennett (Author)2
With humble faith and thankful heartStennett (Author)1
With lowly minds and lofty songStennett (Author)4
我的救主,你愛何以這真!這寬!這奇!(Wǒ de jiù zhǔ, nǐ ài héyǐ zhè zhēn! Zhè kuān! Zhè qí!)Joseph Stennett (Author)Chinese2
You that the holy Jesus loveJoseph Stennett (Author)2
You who our Lord's great banquet shareJoseph Stennett (Author)2
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