Elisha Albright Hoffman was born May 7, 1839 in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. Elisha’s parents, Frances A. and Rebecca A. Hoffman. were both of German descent. His father worked as a minister in the Evangelical Association for over 60 years, which likely influenced Hoffman’s decision to enter the ministry. The son of an evangelical minister, Hoffman grew up singing sacred hymns both in church and in the home with his parents. After completing high school, Hoffman furthered his education at Union Seminary in the Berlin, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1873.

Following his seminary education, Hoffman began work with the publishing branch of the Evangelical Association in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving in this position for 11 years, Hoffman held several pastoral positions in the Midwest. He pastored churches in both Cleveland and Grafton, Ohio in the 1880s; moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan and the First Presbyterian Church in the mid-1890s; and finished his ministry and Cabery Illinois from 1911-22.

Hoffman’s musical education was obtained from his parents. While possessing natural musical abilities, Hoffman never attended a school of music. Any musical instruction he received came from his experience at his father’s church or at home. In addition to singing at church, the Hoffman household had a daily family worship time, of which hymn singing was an important part. Elisha therefore, became very familiar with the musical and spiritual tradition of Evangelical hymnology at a very early age. It was during these times of family worship that Elisha developed a love for sacred music and a belief that song was “as natural as a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body. ”

During the American Civil War, when Hoffman was 24, he enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on July 9, 1863. He served with Company A, 47th Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania. He was discharged just over a month later on August 14, 1863.

In 1866 at 26, Hoffman married married Susan M. Orwig who was 22 at the time. Hoffman was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in 1873, at the age of 34. Two years later in 1876, his wife Susan died, leaving him a single parent of their three sons. In early 1879, at the age of 40, Elisha remarried to Emma, a woman who was 26 years old. The couple had a baby boy in December of that same year, adding to the family’s three other boys. At the time, they were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and had Hoffman’s sister-in-law living with them and working as a dress maker.

After leaving his position with the Evangelical Association, Hoffman began his pastoral ministry. From 1880 until his retirement in 1922, Hoffman pastored several churches in Cleveland and Grafton, Ohio; Benton Harbor, Michigan; and Cabery, Illinois. His longest post was held at the Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church in Michigan where he served for 33 years. It was during these years in ministry that Elisha composed the bulk of his hymns. There were over two thousand hymns composed by Hoffman in print. Among his most popular and widely recognized songs are: “ What a Wonderful Savior! ” “Enough for Me, ” “Are You Washed in the Blood? ,”

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, ” “ No Other Friend Like Jesus, ” “I Must Tell Jesus, ” and “Is Your All on the Altar? ” Hoffman also assisted in the compilation and editing process of over 50 different song books.

In 1906, his daughter Florence married Barrat O’Hara who eventually served the state of Illinois as Lieutenant Governor (1913-17) and a Democratic US Congressman in (1949-1951 & 1953-1969). Hoffman died on November 5, 1929 in Chicago Illinois, and is buried there in Oak Woods Cemetery.

This hymn in the Baptist hymnal, reminds us that there's no peace and blessings in this world outside of Jesus Christ the Prince of peace. This peace and sweet rest can only be attained as we we daily offer our bodies as living sacrifices and secondly lay every other pursuits in the altar of sacrifice. Jesus help me

Jesus

Nothing but the good old hymns.

Thank You Jesus.

Very good

I love that

I prayed for you all in Jesus name he sent is blessing to all of us

A warm and reassuring hymn of God's enduring promise to be with us always, if we give him our all.

Lord help me never to run with the crowd anymore. Draw me always to thy throne of grace, where mercy is available and grace to help is abundant.

I was waiting on The LORD for a meeting on Peace and this hymn dropped in my spirit. For days on end now, it has remained!

Can’t say for sure where I learnt it but it is most likely from Peace House in the late nineties or early 2000s...

The hymn helps to draw close to God. I learnt it from bro Gbile Akanni in 2013, God bless him greatly

Wonderful, wonderful Hymn. One of my favourites.

This hymn struck me when Bro Gbile Akanni sang it in"The making of God's Battle axe".

Verse 1 says it all- But you cannot have peace or be perfectly blessed Until all on the altar is laid.