470 O Thou, in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight
Joseph Swain, 1761-96
Swain entitled this hymn, “A Description of Christ by His Grace and Power,” which was suggested to him by the description of the “Shepherd” in Solomon’s Song 1:7. The original poem has nine stanzas of eight lines each.
For comments on the author, John Swain, see Hymn 323.
MUSIC. MY BELOVED, also called “Beloved” and “Meditation,” is of uncertain origin. It appeared in a book, The Beauties of Harmony, compiled by Freeman Lewis in 1813 and was arranged by Hubert P. Main in 1869. Lewis, 1780-1859, was by profession a surveyor at Uniontown, Pa. Music was his avocation.
For comments on Hubert P. Main see Hymn 426.