These notes are from the Little Flock Hymn Book by Adrian Roach:
Josiah Hopkins was born April 18th. 1786 at Pittsford, Vermont, U.S.A. Details are missing as to how he was converted to Christ. His confession of faith in the Lord Jesus and His precious work is told out so touchingly in the hymn he has written. He was found wandering in a desert wide and the Lord's love drew him from it.
He was linked with the Congregational Church from 1803 to 1830. He received his M.A. degree (1813) and that of D.D. (1843) from Middlebury College. He was twice married; first to Miss Orril Dike of Pittsford in 1808, and later to Lavinia Fenton of Rutland, Vermont. He had one daughter and was survived by his wife. His work of ministry began in New England after he graduated from Auburn Theological Seminary at New Haven, Connecticut, where he laboured from 1809 to 1830. He is next found with the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, N.Y. from 1830 to 1846. He next preached the word in the vicinity of Seneca Falls from 1851 to 1855. He went to be with the One who had found him in the desert wide on June 21st. 1862 at Geneva, N.Y. where he was a patient in the Water Cure, receiving treatment for asthma. He also wrote that challenging gospel hymn, "Oh turn ye, oh turn ye, for why will ye die?" See Echoes of Grace Hymn Book.
Hopkins' hymn in 'Spiritual Songs' is no. 370. "Lord, Thy love has sought and found us Wandering in this desert wide", a hymn to remind us forcibly that Jesus, the Son of God, gave Himself for us.