An Elusive Hymn Writer

I suspect that the title to this Post is a little misleading, but readers will easily grasp what is meant by it.

Only last Lord's Day in Breaking Bread we sang the beautiful hymn that begins with "A mind at perfect peace with God." My habit is to always look to see who wrote the words of or hymns; I am especially pleased if the writer had connections with the Assemblies. I do not denigrate other writers at all, but I am interested in the history of these things. Remember we spend much time in singing, it forms a significant part in our worship. it is lovely to feel an intimacy with the composer.

In many hymn books this hymn is attributed to Catesby Paget who was born in 1868 and "called home" in 1938. It is recorded of him that he "belonged to those known as Plymouth Brethren and engaged in published controversy in response to (mainly Anglican) contemporaries; including both Lord Shaftesbury and Bp. Ryle.

Another stating that this hymn was quoted by Spurgeon in 1869, attribute this lovely hymn to his father, Berkely Thomas Paget, who was married to Sophia Askell Bucknall. Paget was born on November 29th 1809 in London and died on July 16th 1878, in Apsley Guise, Woburn, Bedfordshire.

The Hymnary.org informs us that it is published in 35 Hymnals, but add to the confusion as to Paget, recording his lifetime as 1814-1899.

Stem Publishers merely state it to be a 19th Century hymn.

Finally to exasperate me even more, Hymnal.net lists the hymn as the composition of Horatius Bonar 1808-1889. This is fairly certain to be erroneous.

I cannot close this Post without quoting two of its most beauteous verse; inexplicably omitted by Harold S. Paisley in his book "The Believers Hymn Book Companion." 

                                  So nigh, so very nigh to God,                                                               I cannot nearer be;                                                                             For in the person of His Son,                            I am as near as He.    

                                  So dear, so very dear to God,                                                               More dear I cannot be;                                                                      The love wherewith He loves the Son,                    Such is His love to me.