Benjamin Beddome was born in 1717. In 1740, he became the pastor of the Baptist church in Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire and was one of England’s most respected and influential Baptist ministers of that time. Beddome ministered for fifty-five years at Bourton until he died in 1795. He was buried in the Baptist church graveyard there.
John Rippon, noted Baptist preacher and hymn writer-publisher, said concerning Beddome’s preaching, "though his voice was low, his delivery was forcible and demanded attention." Benjamin had taken his father’s advice when he was counseled early in his ministry: “If you deliver the great truths of the gospel with calmness, and with a soft, mellow voice, they will drop as the gentle rain or dew.”
Benjamin Beddome enjoyed writing poetry and is best known as a writer of hymns. There was some controversy over singing hymns in church, but eventually, with some dissent, churches decided to sing every Sunday, but only after the sermon. Beddome followed the practice of other ministers of the period, writing a hymn for each Sunday morning sermon. The hymn would help the congregation reflect and apply the truths preached in that particular sermon. He wrote more than 800 hymns, none of which he intended to publish. He allowed only a small number to be published; however, 830 of his hymns were published in “Hymns Adapted to Public Worship or Family Devotion” after his death. In America, a number of his hymns were included in “Sacred Harp” shape note collections. Only a few are found in hymnals today and are still being sung. James Montgomery, a hymn writer of a later time, spoke of the quality of Beddome’s hymns as having one central idea, “always important, often striking and sometimes ingeniously brought out.”
Originally, the first line of this hymn was “Love is the fountain,” using the word “love” as a title for the Lord. The small village of Bourton-on-the-Water has always had a small river running through it with fresh, clean water. The village has always been considered as one of the most picturesque in England, with businesses on one side of the river and residences on the other. This setting probably inspired the writing of this hymn of thanksgiving, a reminder of the fountain of God’s blessings in the past, present, and future. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
God is the fountain, whence
Ten thousand blessings flow;
To him my health, my wealth and friends,
And ev’ry good I owe.
The comforts he affords,
Are neither few nor small;
He is the source of fresh delights,
My portion and my all.
He fills my heart with joy,
My lips attunes for praise;
And to his glory I’ll devote
The remnant of my days.
To thee yield health and strength,
While health and strength shall last,
For future mercies humbly trust,
Nor e’re forget the past.
Lord, guide through wilderness,
To Canaan’s fertile land;
Through Jordan’s stream I’ll fearless pass,
If thou but give command.
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