Earth below is teeming

Author: John S. B. Monsell

Monsell, John Samuel Bewley, L.L.D., son of Thomas Bewley Monsell, Archdeacon of Londonderry, was born at St. Columb's, Londonderry, March 2,1811, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin (B.A. 1832, LL.D. 1856). Taking Holy Orders in 1834, "he was successively Chaplain to Bishop Mant, Chancellor of the diocese of Connor, Rector of Ramoan, Vicar of Egham, diocese Worcester, and Rector of St. Nicholas's, Guildford. He died in consequence of a fall from the roof of his church, which was in the course of rebuilding, April 9, 1875. His prose works include Our New Vicar, 1867; The Winton Church Catechist, &c. His poetical works are:— (1) Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems, Dublin, W. Curry, Jun., & Co., 1837; (2) Parish Musings, or Devotional Poem… Go to person page >

Earth below is teeming, heaven is bright above. J. S. B. Monsell. [Harvest.] In his Hymns of Love and Praise, &c, 1863, this hymn is given in 4 stanzas of 8 lines and a chorus. It is based upon the words, "They joy before Thee, according to the joy in harvest." For his Parish Hymnal, 1873, No. 197, stanzas iii. and iv. were partly rewritten, and materially improved. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872. No, §51, the Methodist Sunday School Hymn Book, 1879, the American Laudes Domini, 1884, the 1863 text is followed, Monsell's later text being apparently unknown to the compilers.

--John Julian Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)