Meeting Authors -- Francis Scott Key

Did you automatically recognize the name? How much do you know about the man?

*He wrote the words (not the music, because it was, indeed, a popular bar song that had made it ways to Colonies from jolly, old England) to our national anthem.
*He was a devout Christian.
*He was educated in a classical school.
*He was a lawyer.
*He wrote at least one hymn in 1817.

"Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise Thee for the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pard'ning grace that saves me, and the peace that from it flows;
Help, O God, my weak endeavor; this dull soul to rapture raise;
Thou must light the flame, or never can by love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee, wretched wand'rer far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee from the paths of death away;
Praise, with love's devoutest feeling, Him who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And, the light of hope revealing, bade the blood-stain'd cross appear.

Praise thy Saviour God that drew thee to that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood-sealed pardon to thee, bade thee look to Him and live;
Praise the grace who threats alarmed thee, roused thee from thy fatal ease,
Praise the grace whose promised warm'd thee, praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom's ardent feeling vainly would my lips express;
Low before thy footstool kneeling deign thy supplicant's pray'r to bless;
Let Thy love, my soul's chief treasure, love's pure flame within me raise;
And since words can never measure, let my life show forth Thy praise."