I lay my sins on Jesus, p. 556, ii. The Rev. H. N. Bonar, in his Hymns by Horatius Bonar, 1904, pp. x., xi., xxxi., says that his father's hymn-writing began during his residence at Leith, 1834-1837, in a desire to provide something which children could sing and appreciate in divine worship. Selecting two tunes, "Heber," and "The Flowers of the Forest," he wrote to the former "I lay my sins on Jesus," and to the latter "The morning, the bright and the beautiful morning." These were printed on leaflets and distributed in the schools, and were the first of Dr. Bonar's long series of hymns. Mr. Bonar continues the history:—
"After a little it became obvious that, if the interest and improvement in the service were to be maintained, more hymns must be provided. My father made careful search through various books, and selected a few pieces which seemed to be suitable; these he caused to be printed on sheets along with three new ones from his own pen : 'I was a wandering sheep' [p. 559, ii.] . . . 'There was gladness in Zion' . . . and 'For thee we long and pray' [p. 161, ii. 1].
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
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