In the preparation of the "Psalm-book," there was no one on whom Archbishop Wallin leaned so heavily for help and counsel as Johan Astrom, parish priest in Simtuna and Altuna. This man, who was born in 1767, was a lyric poet of unusual ability, and Wallin valued his judgment very highly, even to the extent of seeking his criticism of his own hymns. Eighteen of the hymns in the "Psalm-book" are from Astrom's pen. Many of them, however, are unfortunately tinged by the spirit of rationalism, from which influence Astrom had not quite been able to free himself. Instead of emphasizing trust in the Saviour's merits as the true way to eternal life, there is a strong suggestion in Astrom's hymns that the heavenly goal is achieved by walking in the Saviour's footsteps. Witness, for example: Lord, disperse the mists of error, In Thy light let me see light; Give Thou me that faith and visior Whereby I may walk aright, In my Saviour's path discerning, Through this vale of doubt and strife, Footsteps to eternal life. We are immeasurably indebted to Astrom, however, for the present form of the glorious All Saints' hymn, "In heaven above, in heaven above." This hymn, in which we almost may discern something of the celestial radiance and beauty of the heavenly country, is ranked as one of the finest hymns in the Swedish "Psalm-book." It is more than three centuries old, dating back in its original form to 1620. It was written by L. Laurentii Laurinus, parish pastor in Haradshammar, at the time of his wife's death, and was appended to the funeral sermon preached by a brother pastor. Astrom recognized the rare beauty of the hymn and through his poetic genius it was clothed in immortal language. William Maccall, a Scotchman, has in turn rendered it into English in such a faithful manner that much of its original beauty is preserved. In heaven above, in heaven above, Where God our Father dwells: How boundless there the blessedness! No tongue its greatness tells: There face to face, and full and free, Ever and evermore we see-- We see the Lord of hosts! In heaven above, in heaven above, What glory deep and bright! The splendor of the noon-day sun Grows pale before its light: The mighty Sun that ne'er goes down, Around whose gleam clouds never frown, Is God the Lord of hosts. In heaven above, in heaven above, No tears of pain are shed: There nothing e'er shall fade or die; Life's fullness round is spread, And like an ocean, joy o'erflows, And with immortal mercy glows Our God the Lord of hosts. In heaven above, in heaven above, God hath a joy prepared Which mortal ear hath never heard, Nor mortal vision shared, Which never entered mortal breast, By mortal lips was ne'er expressed, O God the Lord of hosts!