In the Hour of Trial

Author: James Montgomery

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In the hour of trial. J. Montgomery. [In Trial and Temptation.] Montgomery's original manuscript of this hymn is dated "October 13, 1834;" and on it the names of twenty-two persons are written to whom he sent manuscript copies, together with the dates on which they were sent [M. MSS.]. The text is the same as that given in Montgomery's Original Hymns, 1853, No. 193, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, with the exception of stanza iii., line 4, which reads, "O'er the sacrifice." Four forms of the text (besides minor alterations, are in common use:--
1. The authorized text of 1853. This was given in Mercer's Church Psalms & Hymn Book, 1854, and has become exceedingly popular in Great Britain and America. This text is that given in the Hymnal Companion with stanza i., line 2, Jesu for "Jesus," and Bp. Bickersteth's note (in 1876) on his text: "This hymn, by J. Montgomery (1825) is given, as varied by F. A. Hutton (1861)," is in error both with regard to date and text.
2. An altered text by Mrs. Frances A. Hutton, given in Prebendary H. W. Hutton's (Lincoln) Supplement and Litanies, n.d. This text is easily recognised by comparing the concluding stanza with that by Montgomery:—

Montgomery.
"When, in dust and ashes,
To the grave I sink,
While heaven's glory flashes
O'er the shelving brink,
On Thy truth relying,
Through that mortal strife,
Lord, receive me, dying, To eternal life."

Mrs. Button.
“When my last hour cometh, [and pain];
Fraught with strife
When my dust returneth
To the dust again;
On Thy truth relying
Through that mortal strife.
Jesus, take me, dying,
To eternal life."

3. The text as in Thring's Collection, 1882, which is Mrs. Hutton's text slightly altered.
4. The text in Church Hymns, 1871. The alterations in stanzas iii., iv., are by the editors. This text may be easily recognised in any other collection by stanza iv., lines 1, 2:—

”When my lamp low burning
Sinks in death's last pain," &c.

The opening lines of this hymn have been the subject of much controversy, it being held by many that the petition,

"In the hour of trial,
Jesus, pray for me,"

is unscriptural. That Montgomery himself was not one time quite satisfied with the petition is evident from the fact that a copy of the hymn in his handwriting, dated "Sheffield, Apl. 25, 1835," (Wincobank Hall Manuscript) reads:

"In the hour of trial,
Jesus, stand by me."

The outcome of this difficulty is found in the following readings of this line:—
1. Jesus, pray for me. Original manuscript.
2. Jesus, stand by me. Wincobank Hall manuscript.
3. Jesus, pray for me. Montgomery, 0riginal Hymns, 1853.
4. Jesus, help Thou me. Mrs. Hutton.
5. Jesu, plead for me. Thring's Collection.
When these various forms of the text are taken into account, it is found that this hymn ranks in popularity with the best of Montgomery's productions.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Hymn Instance Hymns of Faith #425Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #568

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Christian Worship: Hymnal (2021), p.368