Beddome, Benjamin

Beddome, Benjamin an English Baptist minister, was born Jan. 23. 1717. his father being also a Baptist minister. He was baptized in London in 1738, and in 1746 became pastor of a Church in Bourton-on-the-Water. Some time after this he had a severe illness, upon his recovery from which he wrote a hymn found in some collections, commencing,

"If I must die, oh, let me die Trusting in Jesus' blood!"

His ability as a preacher attracted the attention of the Church in London with which, on his conversion, he had connected himself, and they vainly endeavored to obtain his services as a successor to their pastor, who had died. Mr. Beddome remained in his pastorate at Burton till his death, Sept. 5, 1795. A volume of his hymns was published in 1818, with a preface by Robert Hall, who says, "The man of taste will be gratified with the beautiful and original thoughts which many of them exhibit; while the experimental Christian will often perceive the most sweet movements of his soul strikingly delineated, and sentiments portrayed which will find their echo in every heart." See Belcher, Historical Sketches of Hymns, p. 83-87. (J. C. S.)