Father of peace, and God of love

Father of peace, and God of love. Philip Doddridge* (1702-1751). Published posthumously by Doddridge’s friend Job Orton as no. 325 in Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures (1755) under the heading ‘The Christian perfected by divine Grace through Christ’. It is based on Hebrews 13: 20-21. The original wording of stanza 2 emphasized Puritan covenant theology, albeit with a false rhyme: We triumph in that shepherd’s name, Still watchful for our good; Who brought th’eternal cov’nant down, And seal’d it with his blood. Similarly, the last couplet of stanza 3 wished that the believer’s ‘fond heart’ might keep God’s ‘covenant’ still. The final stanza conveyed assurance of...