The Life And Ministry Of Daniel Herbert
John Gadsby, “Memoirs Of The Principal Hymn-Writers And Compilers Of The 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries”:
Daniel Herbert was born about the year 1751. He had to wade through a long series of losses and crosses, that bore down upon him like a torrent, and so shattered his nerves that he never finally recovered. But though God tried him in the furnace of temporal affliction, he balanced his stroke, when the barrel of meal and cruse of oil had been nearly spent, by raising him up some friendly aid; so that he often said. “How good is God to me, a poor, discontented, murmuring, rebellious worm!” The editor of the “Gospel Magazine,” 1833, says of him, “He was a plain, unadorned, though faithful and honest, messenger to dispense the word of eternal life to the helpless family of Zion. In early life it pleased Jehovah to meet him with omnipotent grace, and put him into the happy possession of gospel peace, at which period he gave him a promise that ‘his shoes should be iron and brass, and as his day so should his strength be;’ which in the after stages of Christian conflict was truly verified. This indeed was exemplified in the conduct and experience of our beloved friend, who for more than 60 years knew what it was, by a living faith, to view his multiplied transgressions buried in the great fountain of a Redeemer’s blood. His dear Lord imparted to him a clear perception, spiritually to enter into the great mystery of iniquity so opposed to the reign of grace in the hearts of God’s elect, so that he knew how to speak a word of advice to the tempted and tried followers of the Lamb; and his Lord had designed him to be an instrument in his hand for good to his chosen seed, scattered abroad.” “Respecting the last few months of his frail abode, his friends evidently saw the gradual approach of dissolution; and for some weeks prior to that period, the Lord was pleased for wise ends to suffer the great foe to shoot his fiery darts; yet under those dark seasons light sprang up, and faith would say, ‘All, all is well. I know in whom I have believed. Jesus is mine; he paid down a price for me, and I should be the basest wretch were I not to declare it.’ Sometimes he would say, ‘Satan is at his old work again, but he cannot come near. No, no! My precious Jesus will not leave me; he has promised me that which I am sure he will perform. He does supply my need. Ah! my precious Christ, what a sink of iniquity I am! I feel it, but I am washed I will praise free grace as long as I have breath. All my hope beyond the grave is Christ. I am justified by his righteousness. I have peace within, and will glory in my enfeebled state. I have been called an Antinomian for many years, but tell the professing world my faith is fixed on Christ, the rock, who is the self- existent, independent God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
I feel his power, and love his dear name, and I care not a rush for what they say. I have an anchorage steadfast and sure, and shall outride the storm and enter the port, where envy and malice cannot come.’ Drawing near his end, he added, ‘It will soon be over. Redeemed by precious blood, saved by sovereign grace, rich and free, I shall soon sing as loud as Paul the apostle. Come, Lord, with thy smiles, and take thy poor servant home!’ This prayer his God answered, and gave him to enjoy a peace of mind that passeth all understanding. On the evening of the day he died, his spirit was calm and joyous. He entered the valley and shadow, exclaiming, as his last words, ‘Ah, my Father! My Father! my Father!’ and fell asleep upon his couch by his fire side without a sigh.” He died Aug. 29th, 1833. His hymns were written at Sudbury. They consist of three volumes, but the third volume is more scarce than the first two volumes. The preface to Vol. I. is dated 1801. In this Preface he says, “I flatter myself that the hymns will be received by those who know the plague of their own hearts and have felt the powder of efficacious grace…While the poor saved sinner, who is enabled to credit the report of the gospel of salvation, full and free, without money and without price, will find satisfaction in reading these lines, whatever the man untaught of God may say will give the writer no concern.”
Daniel Herbert (1751-1833) was a sovereign grace preacher and hymn-writer. For many years he served as Minister of a Congregational church meeting at Sudbury, Suffolk. His hymns were published in three volumes.
