James Hogg

Hogg, James, second son of Robert Hogg, was born in Ettrick Forest, Selkirkshire, January 25, 1772, according to his own account, though the baptismal date is December 9, 1770. He is perhaps best known as the Ettrick Shepherd, and friend of Professor John Wilson and Sir Walter Scott. He died November 21, 1835, on his farm of Altrive in Yarrow. An edition of his Poetical Works was published in 1822 in 4 vols. (Edin., A. Constable) including the best of his poems—- The Queen's Wake, 1813; The Pilgrims of the Sun, 1815; Mador of the Moor, 1816, &c. The two hymns by him which have come into use are, "Blessed be Thy name for ever," and "O Thou that dwellest in the heavens high." A complete edition of his prose and verse was pub. in 2 vols., 1865 (Glas., W. G. Blackie).
1. Lauded be Thy Name for ever. Morning. This is "The Palmer's Morning Hymn" (in 32 lines), which forms a part of Canto iv. of his poem Mador of the Moor, 1816. It is sometimes given in this form, but more frequently as "Blessed be Thy Name for ever" (2 stanzas of 8 lines), as in the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Hymns, 1852, and others. It is also altered as "Lord of life, the Guard and Giver," as in Mercer, &c.
2. 0 Thou that dwellest in the heavens high. Midnight. This was given,together with music, as "A Cameronian's Midnight Hymn," in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, in his tale of The Brownie of Bodsbeck, 1818. Although found in several collections its use is not so great as that of No. 1. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology