1799 - 1876 Hymnal Number: 131-1 Author of "Soldiers of the Cross" in The Quartet Waterbury, Jared Bell, D.D., was born in New York City, Aug. 11, 1799, and graduated at Yale College, 1822. He was for some time pastor of a Congregational church at Hudson, New York, and then of Bowdoin Street Congregational church, Boston. He died at Brooklyn, Dec. 31, 1876. He published Advice to a Young Christian; The Officer on Duty, and other works. To the Rev. J. Leavitt's Christian Lyre, vol. i., 1830, he contributed the following hymns, each of which was headed, "Written for the Lyre," and signed "J. B. W.":—
1. My Jesus, Thou hast taught. The Love of Jesus.
2. Met, O God, to ask Thy presence. Repentance.
3. 0 fly, mourning sinner, saith Jesus to me. Promise of Pardon.
4. See Sodom wrapt in fire. Warning.
5. Sinner, is thy heart at rest? The Voice of Conscience.
6. Soldiers of the Cross, arise! Lo! your Leader from the skies. Soldiers of the Cross.
7. When, O my Saviour, shall this heart? Desiring Jesus.
In vol. ii. of the same work, 1830, also:--
8. I have fought the good fight; 1 have finished my race. Martyr's Death Song.
Another of his hymns is given in the Songs for the Sanctuary, 1865, as:—
9. Infinite love, what precious stores. Riches of Divine Grace. Sometimes dated 1862.
Of these hymns, Nos. 5, 6, and 9 are the best known. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
J. B. Waterbury