An  examination  of  the  hymns  in  Samson  Occom's  collection
reveals  the  fact,  hitherto,  we  think,  unknown,  that  there  are  a
considerable  number  which  are  not  found  in  earlier  books,
and  are  not  noted,  or  are  unassigned  by  hymnologists. The
conclusion  is  that  he  was  himself  the  author  of  such. Was
not  this  probably  the  reason  why  the  book  was  announced  as
"  Mr. Occom's  Collection  of  Poems "  ?  The  collection  con-
tains one  hundred  and  eight  numbered  hymns,  with  some
doxologjes  and  graces. Of  these  the  greater  part  are  known
as  by  Watts,  Wesley,  Madan  and  others. He  undoubtedly
took  them  from  hymn-books  which  were  at  hand. As  to  the
remainder,  some,  which  are  unclaimed  by  authors  so  far  as  we
are  aware,  do  not  seem  to  exhibit  his  style  of  composition,
while  others  have  distinctly  his  earmarks  in  certain  expres-
sions. We  give  the  first  lines  of  a  number  of  these,  which
must  be  assigned  to  Occom,  unless  other  authorship  is  proven  :
"  Lord,  I  confess   my  sin  is  great,"  "  Weary  of  struggling  with


l82  SAMSON  OCCOM

my  Pain,"  "The  Prodigal's  return'd,"  "Laden'd  with  guilt
sinners  arise,"  "Awake  sad  heart,  whom  sorrows  drown,"
"  Christ  Jesus  is  the  chiefest  Good,"  "  Now  his  the  ever-rolling
Year,"  "  Behold  that  Splendor,  hear  the  Shout,"  "  Most  gra-
cious God  of  boundless  Might,"  "  O  Sight  of  Anguish,  view  it
near,"  "  I  bless  the  Lord,  who  gives  his  word,"  "  Ye  that  seek
the  Lord,  who  dy'd,"  "  Welcome,  welcome,  blessed  Servant,"
"Behold  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Clouds,"  "Hail  thou  happy  Morn
so  glorious,"  "Come  to  Jesus,  come  away,"  "  Hark  ye  Mortals,
hear  the  Trumpet,"  "  Why  was  unbelieving  I,"  "  By  sin  my
God  and  all  was  lost,"  "  Today  Immanuel  feeds  his  sheep,"
"  Christ  in  that  Night  he  was  betray'd,"  "  Farewell  to  my  Pain
and  farewell  to  my  Chain,"  "Lord  from  thy  Throne  of  flowing
grace,"  and  "Blest  be  the  God  whose  tender  care."  Six  of
these  hymns  are  found  in  Joshua  Smith's  collection. Some  of
Occom's  hymns  have  appeared  in  later  hymn-books. It  is,
of  course,  possible  that  he  supplied  some  hymns  for  collec-
tions issued  by  others  before  his  own,  but  we  think  not. All
his  hymns  must  be  assigned  to  that  period  of  despondency
which  followed  his  return  from  England. He  has  wrought  his
experience  into  them. 