1802–1872

Introduction

Born: March 6, 1802, Bun­hill Row, Fins­bu­ry, Lon­don, Eng­land.

Died: De­cem­ber 23, 1872, Hack­ney, Lon­don, Eng­land.

Buried: West Nor­wood Ce­me­te­ry, Lam­beth, Lon­don, Eng­land.

Biography

Henry des­cend­ed from the De Voeux, a Hu­gue­not fa­mi­ly. He was the hus­band of Ma­ry Hunt Pi­per.

A po­pu­lar writ­er of hymns for child­ren, he worked as a tim­ber merchant, and for the great­er part of his life wrote po­et­ry. His hymns were most­ly writ­ten 1856–64.

Works

Poem

Jesus Christ, the Same Yesterday—Today—Forever

Part First

Just as Thou art—my Sav­ior, Lord, and King!
Of all true bless­ed­ness and peace the spring,
Full trea­sure house of ev­ery glo­ri­ous thing,
Be ev­er, Lord, to me!

Just as Thou art the source of pur­est joy,
With never pas­sing sha­dow or al­loy,
Heart’s ease and rest—thought’s most se­rene em­ploy,
Be ev­er, Lord, to me!

Just as Thou art! through all life’s worst dis­tress,
Its oft­en sor­row and much wea­ri­ness,
The Com­fort­er di­vine, to soothe and bless,
Be ev­er, Lord, to me!

Just as Thou art—in lone­li­ness and grief,
When world­ly so­lac­ings are scant and brief,
The strong, kind hand to help with quick re­lief,
Be ev­er, Lord, to me!

Just as Thou art—dear Lord, of all things best,
The soul’s de­light, God’s good­ness ma­ni­fest,
Time’s sweet­est sol­ace, life’s glad hope and rest,
Be ev­er, Lord, to me!

Henry Bateman
Fret Not, and Oth­er Po­ems, 1869

Sources

Lyrics

Help Needed

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bate­man (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),