Who now in helpless infancy

Author: Charles Coffin

Coffin, Charles, born at Buzaney (Ardennes) in 1676, died 1749, was principal of the college at Beauvais, 1712 (succeeding the historian Rollin), and rector of the University of Paris, 1718. He published in 1727 some, of his Latin poems, for which he was already noted, and in 1736 the bulk of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary of that year. In the same year he published them as Hymni Sacri Auctore Carolo Coffin, and in 1755 a complete ed. of his Works was issued in 2 vols. To his Hymni Sacri is prefixed an interesting preface. The whole plan of his hymns, and of the Paris Breviary which he so largely influenced, comes out in his words. "In his porro scribendis Hymnis non tam poetico indulgendunv spiritui, quam nitoro et pietate co… Go to person page >

Translator: J. Williams

John Williams was born at Deerfield, Mass., in 1817; graduated at Trinity College, Hartford, in 1835; was ordained Deacon, 1838; Priest, 1841; Rector of S. George's, Schenectady, N.Y., 1842; President of Trinity College, 1848-1853; Assistant Bishop of Connecticut, 1851, and sole Bishop, by the death of Bishop Brownell, in 1865. He has edited a number of works of value. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >