1745 - 1788 Author of "Religion's form is vain" Hoskins, Joseph, was born in 1745, but at what place is unknown. He was a Congregational Minister, who for ten years laboured with great success at Castle Green Chapel, Bristol, and died Sept. 28, 1788, aged 43. During the three years previous to his death ho had written 384 hymns, which in the year following, after correction and revision, were published by Messrs. Moody & Bottomley, Congregational Ministers. The book is entitled, Hymns on Select Texts of Scripture and Occasional Subjects (Bristol, 1789). From this work the following hymns are in common use:—
1. Alas! my [the] Lord my Life is gone. Spiritual darkness and death.
2. Great Light of life, Thou nature's Lord. God, the True Light.
3. In Thy great Name, 0 Lord, we come. Divine Worship.
4. 0 how the hearts of those revive. Joy in Salvation.
5. Prisoners of sin and Satan too. Hope.
6. Saviour of sinners, deign to shine. Christ's light desired.
7. The time is short, ere all that live. Shortness of Time.
Hoskins's hymns are said to have been greatly esteemed by his friends and hearers, but they have little poetic merit. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology
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Hoskins, J., p. 535, ii. Additional pieces from his Hymns, &c, 1789, in common use, in America include:— (1) "Let thoughtless thousands choose the road" (Life in Christ), p. 312; (2) "To-day the Saviour rose" (Easter), p. 364; (3) "Behold, behold the Lamb of God" (Invitation!), p. 242.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II
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Hoskins, Joseph, pp. 535, ii., 1571, ii. The following additional hymns by Hoskins are in The New Psalms and Hymns (Presbyterian), Richmond, Va., 1901:—
1. It shall be well, let sinners know. The Promises of God.
2. Sinners, behold the Lamb of God. The Atonement; and in the Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes ... of the Evang. Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, 1899:—
3. On Christ, by faith, my soul would live, from "Let thoughtless thousands," &c. p. 1571, ii. These hymns are from his Hymns, &c, 1789. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
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