O God, unseen yet ever near

O God, unseen yet ever near. Edward Osler* (1798-1863). First published in Psalms and Hymns adapted to the Services of the Church of England (1836), known as ‘The Mitre Hymn Book’, which William John Hall* edited with Osler’s assistance. It was headed ‘Spiritual Food’. Osler reprinted many of his hymns in his short-lived periodical Church and King (1836-37), and this one appeared in March 1837. It had a minor alteration in stanza 4 line 1 from ‘Thus may we all...’ to ‘Thus would we all...’. This turned the line from a prayer to a wish, which Osler may have intended; but when it was included in the First Edition of A&M (in the ‘Holy Communion’ section) his first text was used: O God,...