Around the throne a glorious band

Around the throne a glorious band. Rowland Hill* (1744-1833). Part of this hymn is from Hill’s  A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, Chiefly Intended for Public Worship (1783). It was originally in the form of a dialogue. The stanzas were labelled alternately ‘Q’ and ‘A’, and the hymn was entitled ‘The Same’, referring to the previous hymn entitled ‘A Dialogue’. The present one followed Revelation 7: 12-17, in which the interlocutor asks ‘What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?’  Q. Exalted high, at God's right hand,Nearer the throne than cherubs stand,With glory crown'd in white array,My wond'ring soul says, Who are they?               A. These are the saints...