1718 - 1782 Hymnal Number: d30 Author of "Burst, ye emerald [pearly] gates, and bring" in Select Melodies, comprising the Best of Those Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use Kempenfelt, Richard, of Swedish descent, was born Oct., 1718. In Jan., 1741, he obtained a lieutenant's commission in the British Navy. He became captain in 1757, and admiral in 1780. He was drowned in the "Royal George," which sank in harbour at Portsmouth on Aug. 29, 1782. Admiral Kempenfelt was an admirer of Whitefield and the Wesleys, and interested himself much in evangelistic work. His hymns were published as Original Hymns and Poems. By Philotheorus. Exeter, printed by B. Thorn, 1777, and were dedicated "To the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, in Shropshire." They were reprinted, with a Preface, by D. Sedgwick, in 1861. Although most of these hymns are given in the older collections, only a few re¬main in modern hymn-books, and, including centos, are:—
1. Bear me on Thy rapid wing. Praise to Jesus in Heaven.
2. Burst, ye emerald gates, and bring. Praise to Jesus in Heaven.
3. Gentle Spirit, waft me over. Heaven desired.
4. Hail, Thou eternal Logos, hail. Adoration of Jesus.
5. Hark, 'tis the trump of God. The Last Day.
6. O my Redeemer, come. The Last Day.
Of these Nos. 1 and 2 are from the same hymn; and Nos. 5 and 6 also from another. The original texts of Nos. 3, 5, and 6 are in Lyra Britannica 1867, pp. 349-52.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Richard Kempenfelt
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