Behold what witnesses unseen. [Cross and Consolation.] First appeared as No. 12 in the Draft Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, as a version of Hebrews xii. 1-13, in 12 stanzas of 4 lines. The author is unknown. In the revised edition, issued in 1751, a new stanza was added as iii., and slight alterations were made in other stanzas. In the Draft of 1781, the 1751 was repeated with various alterations, as No. 59; and with further alterations of 16 lines, in the public worship edition issued in that year by the Church of Scotland, and still in use. In the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron (q.v.), the alterations of 1781 are ascribed to Logan and Cameron. The text of 1781 has passed, in abridged forms, into a few modern hymnals, as Maurice's Choral Hymn Book, 1861, No. 209, omitting stanza ix.; and the English Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, 1867; and Church Praise, 1883, reduced to 6 stanzas. In the American Prayer Book Collection, 1826, No. 212 (edition 1871, No. 183), and others it began, "Lo! what a cloud of witnesses;" while in Rorison's Hymns adapted to the Church Services, I860, it is, "A witness-host, by us unseen." In Anderson's Collection, Edinburgh, 1818, No. 359 begins with stanza vi. altered to, "Like Christ, have ye, to blood or death," and No. 360, with stanza x., "A father's voice, with reverence, we." It is included, considerably altered, as No. 85 in Miss Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns, 1853, in three parts, pt. ii. beginning, "Lo! for the joy before Him set," and pt. iii., "Through all the hard experience led." [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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