This great hymn has a double claim on the name of Williams. We do not have it exactly in its original form as written by Rev. William Williams, "The Watts of Wales," familiarly known as "Williams of Pantycelyn." His fellow countryman and contemporary, Rev. Peter Williams, or "Williams of Carmarthen," who translated it from Welsh into English (1771) made alterations and substitutions in the hymn with the result that only the first stanza belongs indisputably to Williams of Pantycelyn, the others being Peter's own or the joint production of the two. As the former, however, is said to have approved and revised the English translation, we may suppose the hymn retained the name of its original author by mutual consent. Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me by Thy powerful hand; Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more. Open Thou the crystal Fountain Whence the healing streams do flow, Let the fiery cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield! When I tread the verge of Jordan Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee. Musing on my habitation, Musing on my heavenly home, Fills my heart with holy longing; Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come. Vanity is all I see, Lord, I long to be with Thee. The second and third stanzas have not escaped the touch of critical editors. The line,-- Whence the healing streams do flow --becomes,-- Whence the healing waters flow, --with which alteration there is no fault to find except that it is needless, and obliterates the ancient mark. But the third stanza, besides losing its second line for-- Bid the swelling stream divide, --is weakened by a more needless substitution. Its original third line-- Death of death, and hell's destruction, --is exchanged for the commonplace-- Bear me through the swelling current. That is modern taste; but when modern taste meddles with a stalwart old hymn it is sometimes more nice than wise. It is probable that the famous hymn was sung in America before it obtained a European reputation. Its history is as follows: Lady Huntingdon having read one of Williams' books with much spiritual satisfaction, persuaded him to prepare a collection of hymns, to be called the _Gloria in Excelsis_, for special use in Mr. Whitefield's Orphans' House in America. In this collection appeared the original stanzas of "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah." In 1774, two years after its publication in the _Gloria in Excelsis_, it was republished in England in Mr. Whitefield's collections of hymns.