While Thee I Seek, Protecting Power.

Helen Maria Williams wrote this sweet hymn, probably about the year 1800. She was a brilliant woman, better known in literary society for her political verses and essays than by her hymns; but the hymn here noted bears sufficient witness to her deep religious feeling:

While Thee I seek, Protecting Power, Be my vain wishes stilled, And may this consecrated hour With better hopes be filled. Thy love the power of thought bestowed; To Thee my thoughts would soar, Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed, That mercy I adore.

Miss Williams was born in the north of England, Nov. 30, 1762, but spent much of her life in London, and in Paris, where she died, Dec. 14, 1827.