Son of a doctor, Hast­ings grew up as a farm boy, walk­ing six miles to school in the win­ter. He be­gan his ca­reer as a mu­sic teach­er. In 1823, he be­came ed­it­or of the Re­cord­er in Ut­i­ca, New York. From 1832 un­til his death, Hast­ings trained choirs and de­vel­oped re­li­gious mu­sic. He penned al­most 1,000 hymn tunes and 600 hymn texts. His son, who be­came pres­i­dent of Union The­o­lo­gic­al Sem­in­ary, said of him:

He was a devout and ear­nest Christ­ian, a hard stu­dent, and res­o­lute work­er, not lay­ing aside his pen un­til three days be­fore his death.

Hastings’ works in­clude:

• Musica Sacra, 1816
• The Mu­sical Taste, 1822
• Spiritual Songs for So­cial Wor­ship (Uti­ca, New York: 1831-32), as­sist­ed by Low­ell Ma­son
• The Mother’s Hymn-Book, 1834, en­larged 1850
• The Christ­ian Psalm­ist (New York: 1836)
• Devotional Hymns and Po­ems (New York: 1850)
• Church Melodies (New York: 1858), as­sist­ed by his son

Sources

Hymns

1. Be Tranquil, O My Soul
2. Before Thy Footstool Kneeling
3. Bleeding Hearts Defiled by Sin
4. Child of Sin and Sorrow
5. Child of Sorrow, Child of Care
6. Children, Hear the Melting Story
7. Delay Not, O Sinner, Draw Near
8. Drooping Souls, No Longer Mourn
9. Dying Souls, Fast Bound in Sin
10. Father, We for Our Children Plead
11. For Those in Bonds as Bound with Them
12. Forbid Them Not, the Savior Cried
13. Forget Thyself, Christ Bids Thee Come
14. Forgive My Folly, O Lord Most Ho­ly
15. Forgive Us, Lord, to Thee We Cry
16. Gently, Lord, O Gently Lead Us
17. Go Forth on Wings of Fervent Pray­er
18. Go, Tune Thy Voice to Sac­red Song
19. God of Mercy, Hear Our Pray­er
20. God of the Morn­ing Ray
21. God of the Na­tions, Bow Thine Ear
22. Hail to the Brightness of Zion’s Glad Morn­ing!
23. He That Goeth Forth with Weeping
24. Heirs of an Immortal Crown
25. How Calm and Beautiful the Morn
26. Hosanna to the King
27. How Tender Is Thy Hand
28. I Look to Thee, O Lord, Alone
29. I Love the Lord, Whose Gracious Ear
30. In This Calm, Impressive Hour
31. In Time of Fear, When Trouble’s Near
32. Jesus, Full of Every Grace
33. Jesus, Merciful and Mild
34. Jesus, Save My Dying Soul
35. Jesus, While Our Hearts Are Bleeding
36. Lord, I Would Come to Thee
37. Lord Jehovah Lives, The
38. Lord of the Harvest, Bend Thine Ear
39. Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned
40. Now Be the Gospel Banner
41. Now from Labor, and from Care
42. O God of Abraham, Hear
43. O Lord, Behold Us at Thy Feet
44. O Savior, Lend a Listening Ear
45. O Tell Me, Thou Life and Delight of My Soul
46. O Why Should Gloomy Thoughts Arise?
47. Peace, Peace, I Leave with You
48. Peace to Thee, O Favored One
49. Pilgrims in This Vale of Sorrow
50. Return, O Wanderer, to Thy Home
51. Rosy Light Is Dawning, The
52. Savior Bids Us Watch and Pray, The
53. Savior, Hear Us Through Thy Merit
54. Savior, I Look to Thee
55. Savior of Our Ruined Race
56. Savior, Thy Gentle Voice
57. Soft and Ho­ly Is the Place
58. That Warning Voice, O Sinner, Hear
59. Thou God of Sovereign Grace
60. Today the Savior Calls
61. Wherever two or Three May Meet
62. Why That Look of Sadness
63. Why That Soul’s Commotion?
64. Within These Quiet Walls, O Lord
65. Zion, Dreary and in Anguish

Music

1. Byefield
2. Franconia
3. Illinois
4. Invitation
5. Luther
6. Monson
7. New Haven
8. Ortonville
9. Retreat
10. Robinson
11. Romberg
12. Toplady
13. Zion