The composer, William Gardiner, 1770-1853, was an English stocking manufacturer who travelled extensively at home and abroad, principally in the interests of his business, but also making acquaintance with musicians of all ranks and with their music. He published songs and duets of his own composition in his youth, over the _nom de plume_ of “W. G. Leicester.” His _Sacred Melodies_, referred to above, did valuable service in drawing attention to many fine compositions otherwise unknown. 198. Soldiers of Christ, arise _Charles Wesley_, 1707-88 For comments on Charles Wesley see Hymn 6. “The Whole Armor of God” is the title of this hymn in Wesley’s _Hymns and Sacred Poems_, 1749. It is based on Ephesians 6:10-18: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” etc. The entire poem contains 16 double stanzas, of which our hymn is a selection of the first, second, and sixteenth. _MUSIC._ DIADEMATA. For comments on this tune see Hymn 118. ASPIRATION AND HOPE 199. While Thee I seek, protecting Power _Helen M. Williams_, 1762-1827 A hymn of faith and trust in God. Helen Maria Williams, an English Unitarian, lived for some years with her sister who had married a French Protestant. It was during the period of the Revolution and the reign of terror. Being an outspoken republican, she was imprisoned by Robespierre, and was released only after his death in 1794. She was a woman of extraordinary intellectual strength and published many volumes on politics, religion, and literary questions, and finally her collected poems, entitled, _Poems on Various Occasions_. She lived in England and in France, and the closing years of her life were spent in Holland in the home of a nephew who was pastor of a Reformed Church in Amsterdam. _MUSIC._ BRATTLE STREET. For comments on the composer of this tune, Ignace Pleyel, see Hymn 238. 200. Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings _Robert Seagrave_, 1693-c. 1759 This hymn, entitled “The Pilgrim’s Song,” first appeared in _Hymns for Christian Worship_, by Robert Seagrave, London, 1742. Robert Seagrave, son of Rev. Robert Seagrave, was educated at Cambridge and was ordained a clergyman in the Church of England. He became interested in the Wesleys and Whitefield and published pamphlets and sermons designed to reform the clergy and Church of England. He wrote 50 original hymns, of which this one is still in use. The exact year of Seagrave’s death is not certain.