the Church, 1623, of George Wither (1588–1667), which received an exclusive patent from James I.

A few good hymns come down to us from the sacred poets of this age, Herbert and his school, who are noticed elsewhere in this volume. Bishop Jeremy Taylor (1655) may here be mentioned, and Richard Baxter (1681). John Austin, a Catholic writer, in his "Devotions," 1668, published forty hymns, some of them very good and still in use. The "Songs of Praise" (1683) of John Mason, Rector of WaterStratford, Bucks, have very great merit. They went through several editions, and were then forgotten until recent years. William Barton's "Six Centuries of Hymns" (i. e. 600) had reached a fourth edition in 1688; as poetry they are very poor. Equally worthless is a volume of hymns by R. Davis, of which the third edition appeared in 1700. Joseph Stennett, D.D. (1663–1713), a Baptist, published, in 1697, thirtyseven hymns for the Lord's Supper, which have some merit; and Mrs. Rowe in 1704 put forth five of a somewhat pretentious character. Nor must we omit to mention the few masterpieces of Bishop Ken (1700), and of Addison (1712).

English Hymnody as such began with Dr. Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

Watts was an Independent minister, but ill-health confined him chiefly to a life of literary retirement. His last thirty-six years were spent at Sir Thomas Abney's, in Hertfordshire. In addition to his sacred verse, Dr. Watts wrote a work on Logic, and another on the Improvement of the Mind, both of which have been extensively used as school-books. His Catechisms for Children and Youth have also been much used, and have been the forerunners of innumerable other works of the same kind. His complete Works have been published in 7 vols., 8vo.

Watts's Hora Lyricæ appeared in 1705-9, his Hymns in 1707-9, his Divine Songs in 1715, and his Psalms in 1719. Altogether, he is the author of over eight hundred hymns, counting the "Psalms," which are free paraphrases.

No such body of sacred verse as Watts's had been seen or imagined before by Englishmen, and its effect was immense. For a long time his Psalms and Hymns entire were used, exclusively, or nearly so, by the great bulk of Dissenters in Britain and of Calvinists in America.

Wesleyan Hymns.

Within the same generation with Dr. Watts another school of hymnody was founded by a yet more fertile writer, Charles Wesley (1708-1788).

Charles Wesley's works, beginning in 1739, number some fifty, large and small, and in a reprint now nearly completed fill twelve volumes. Of his separate hymns there must be fully six thousand. His life was one of great activity, but his thoughts naturally ran into rhyme and metre. He composed on horseback, and under all conceivable cir

cumstances.

John Wesley possessed a poetic talent hardly inferior to that of his brother Charles, but it was less exercised. He often revised the other's writings, and some of their books appeared under their joint names.

The Wesleyan Collection. The choicest of the Wesleyan hymns appeared in John Wesley's great Collection, 1779, for which its editor claimed, with entire truth, that "no such hymn-book as this had yet been published in the English language." See also “Charles Wesley seen in his finer and less familiar Poems," N. Y., 1867, for further information in regard to this most voluminous and brilliant of English sacred lyric poets.

Successors to Watts and Wesley.

Dr. Watts had many imitators or followers, of whom the most conspicuous and useful were Philip Doddridge, D. D. (1702–1751), Independent pastor and teacher at Northampton, whose three hundred and seventy-four hymns appeared after his death, in 1755, and have passed through several editions; and Anne Steele (1716-1778), daughter of a Baptist minister at Broughton in Hampshire, whose hymns, amounting to some two hundred (including versions of Psalms), with other poems, appeared under the name of "Theodosia" in 1760 and 1780, and have been twice reprinted since. Other respectable writers of the same school, Baptist and Independent ministers, were Simon Browne (1680-1732), two hundred and seventy-three hymns, 1720; Thomas Gibbons, D. D. (1720-1785), over four hundred hymns, 176269-84; Benjamin Beddome, D. D. (1717–1795), eight hundred and thirty hymns, 1818; John Fawcett, D. D. (1739–1817), one hundred and sixtyseven hymns, 1782; Thomas Haweis (1732-1820), two hundred and fifty-six hymns, 1792–1808; Samuel Stennett, D. D. (1727-1795), thirtyeight hymns, 1787; Thomas Scott, 1773, one hundred and four hymns; John Needham, 1768, two hundred and sixty-three hymns.

Some hymnists wrote under the influence both of Watts and of Wesley.

The most eminent of these are the Olney hymnists, Cowper and Newton, mentioned elsewhere; Toplady (1740-1778), among whose one hundred and twenty-four lyrics is what is generally allowed to be the finest English hymn, "Rock of Ages;" and Joseph Hart (1712-1768), whose two hundred and twenty-three hymns appeared in 1759-65.

Noticeable though minor members of the same school, are Samuel Medley (17381799), two hundred and thirty-two hymns; Wm. Williams (1717-1791), one hundred and twenty-three hymns; John Ryland (1753-1825), ninety-nine hymns; Joseph Grigg (d. 1768); Edward Perronet (d. 1792); Robert Seagrave; Robert Robinson; and Walter Shirley.

John Cennick (1717-1755), over six hundred hymns, 1741-44, William Hammond, (d. 1783), one hundred and sixty-five hymns, 1745, and Thomas Olivers (1725-1799), were closer followers of Charles Wesley.

The authors of the "Scotch Paraphrases," 1751 and 1775, Mrs. Barbauld (1743–1825), James Merrick (1720-1769), whose Version of the Psalms appeared in 1765, and John Byrom (1691-1763), must be mentioned separately. The latter was a man of singular ability and character, a Christian philosopher of no common type, who wrote good epigrams as well as hymns and meditations, and might had he cared for it-have won enduring fame.

Some of these old authors, otherwise nearly or quite inaccessible, have been reprinted by Mr. Daniel Sedgwick, the London hymnologist, to whom much of the exist ing knowledge of this whole subject is due.

Hymnists of the Present Century.

During the first half of the present century, the leading hymnist was the poet James Montgomery. One hundred of his hymns appeared in his Christian Psalmist, 1825. In 1853 he published three hundred and fifty-five. The most voluminous was Thomas Kelly of Dublin (1769-1855), whose eighth edition, 1853, contained seven hundred and sixty-five hymns. The work which exerted the deepest influence and gained the widest and most permanent popularity was Keble's Christian Year, 1827; not, however, a book of hymns, though there are hymns in it. The few hymns of Bishop Heber (1783-1826) are of high character and repute. Sir John Bowring (born 1792) is still living, but his lyrics appeared in 1823-25. Other hymnists of noticeable ability and usefulness were Sir Robert Grant (1785–1838); Josiah Conder (1789-1855); Andrew Reed (1787-1862); James Edmeston (1791-1867); Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), author of " Abide with Me," one of the most exquisite hymns in our language; Harriet Auber (1773-1832), the title of whose very valuable Spirit of the Psalms, 1829, was borrowed, in 1834, by Lyte; and Sarah Flower Adams, (1805-49), who wrote "Nearer, my God, to Thee."

Of names that come to our own time are Charlotte Elliott, author of "Just as I am;" Dr. Horatius Bonar (1808-69), many of whose hymns

are largely used; and not to enumerate too many, George Rawson, Thomas Toke Lynch, and Thomas H. Gill, whose names will be better known hereafter than they are now.

Present Aspect of English Hymnody.

The aspect of English Hymnody has greatly changed within the last decade or two: witness the most popular Church-of-England hymnals of the day.

In 1836, Dr. Newman, then beginning to be famous, translated a few of the old Breviary hymns, long forgotten or overlooked. This was the commencement of a revival of the generous stores of Latin hymnody, ancient and mediaval. Newman was followed, on a much larger scale, in 1837, by John Chandler, whose work is very valuable and important, and by Bishop Mant, who has given us some excellent originals; in 1839, by Isaac Williams; and in still later days by E. Caswall, 'R. Campbell, J. D. Chambers, W. J. Blew, Dr. Neale, and others, who have immensely enlarged, in value as in extent, our hymnic stock. The treasures of German hymnody were also opened by Miss F. E. Cox, A. T. Russell, R. Massie, Miss Bothwick, and Miss Catherine Winkworth. The last named lady's Lyra Germanica and Choral Book are priceless acquisitions, and she is entitled to rank with our greatest hymnic benefactors, Dr. Watts, Charles Wesley, James Montgomery, and Dr. Neale.

The field thus widened, and new models furnished from abroad, native hymns began to be written in the style and spirit of these foreign ones, ancient or modern, so that now translations and originals, harmonizing well together, increase in number every year. In no age have more or better hymns been produced. One great name may be especially mentioned, that of John Mason Neale, D. D. (1818-1866), Warden of Sackville College, whose exquisite versions from the Greek and Latin are beyond praise. As a translator of lyric poetry Dr. Neale has probably no superior. Of lesser names we may mention, beyond those already cited, F. W. Faber, Bishop Wordsworth, Mrs. C. F. Alexander, Dean Alford, Dr. Monsell, Sir H. W. Baker, M. Bridges, F. T. Palgrave, and W. C. Dix.

It is, however, more difficult to specify here than among the earlier hymnists; and the historian of ten or twenty years hence will, by all appearances, have a more extensive and complicated task than we have to-day.

EXTRACTS

From the Versions of the Bible described in this Chapter.

A.

1. THE WYCKLIFFITE VERSION.

THE ORIGINAL, BY WYCKLIFFE, 1382. THANNE Jerusalem wente out to hym, and al Jude, and al the cuntre aboute Jordan; and thei weren cristenyd of hym in Jordan, knowlechynge there synnes. Sothely he seeynge many of Pharisees and of Saducese commynge to his bapteme, saide to hem, Generaciouns of eddris, who shewide to you for to flee fro wrath to cumme? Therefore do yee worthi fruytis of penaunce, and nyl ye say with ynne you, We han the fadir Abraham; sothely Y saye to you, for whi God is miyti to reyse vp of these stonys the

sonys of Abraham. For now the axe is putt to the rote of the tree; sothely euery tree that makith nat good fruyt, shal be kitt doun, and shal be sent in to fijr. Forsothe Y cristene you in water, in to penaunce; forsothe he that is to cumme after me is strenger than Y, whos shon Y am not worthi to bere; he shal baptise, or cristen, yow in the Holy Goost and fijr (Math. iii, 5-11)... Fro thennus Jhesus bygan for to preche, and say, Do penaunce, forsothe the kyngdom of heuens shal cume niye (Math. Iv, 17).

B.THE REVISION, BY PURVEY, 1388.

Thanne Jerusalem wente out to hym, and al Judee, and al the cuntre aboute Jordan; and thei weren waischun of hym in Jordan, and knowlechiden her synnes. But he siy manye of the Farysees and of Saduceis comynge to his baptym, and seide to hem, Generaciouns of eddris, who shewide to you to fle fro the wraththe that is to come? Therfor do ye worthi fruyte of penaunce, and nyle ye seie with ynne you, We han Abraham to fadir; for Y seie to you, that God is myyti to reise vp of these stoones the sones of Abraham. And now the ax is put to the roote of the tree; therfore euery tree that makith not good fruyt, shal be kit doun, and shal be cast in to the fier. Y waische you in water, in to penaunce; but he that shal come after me is strongere than Y, whos schoon Y am not worthi to bere; he shal baptise you in the Hooli Goost and fier. For that tyme Jhesus bigan to preche, and seie, Do ye penaunce, for

the kyngdom of heuenes schal come niy.

2. TYNDALE'S VERSION, 1534.

Then went oute to hym Ierusalem, and all Jury, and all the region rounde aboute Jordan, and were baptised of him in Jordan, confessynge their synnes. When he saw many of the Pharises and of the Saduces come to hys baptim, he sayde vnto them: 0 generacion of vipers, who hath taught you to fle from the vengeaunce to come? Brynge forth therefore the frutes belongynge to repentaunce. And se that ye ons thynke not to saye in your selues, we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones to rayse up chyldern vnto Abraham. Euen nowe is the axe put vnto the rote of the trees: soo that every tree which bringeth not forthe goode frute, is hewen doune and cast into the fyre. I baptise you in water in token of repentaunce: but he that cometh after me, is myghtier then I, whose shues I am not worthy to beare. He shall baptise you with the holy gost and with fyre... From that tyme Jesus beganne to preache, and to saye: repent, for the kingdome

of heven is at honde.

3. COVERDALE'S VERSION, 1535.

Then went out to hym Ierusalem, and all Jury, and all the region rounde aboute Jordan, and were baptised of him in Jordan, confessynge their synnes. Now when he sawe many of the Pharises and of the Saduces come to hys baptim, he sayde vnto them; ye generacion of vipers, who hath certified you, that ye shal escape the vengeaunce to come? Bewarre, brynge forth due frutes of pennaunce. Thinke not now, to saye in your selues, we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham. Enen now is the axe put vnto the rote of the trees: therfore euery tre which bringeth not forth good frute, shalbe he wen downe, and cast into the fyre. I baptise you with water to repentaunce: but he that cometh after me, is myghtier then I, whose shues I am not worthy to beare, He shall baptise you with the holy goost and with fyre. From that tyme forth beganne Jesus to preach, and to saye: Amende youre selues, the kingdome of heauen is at honde.

4. MATTHEW'S VERSION, 1537.

Then went oute to hym Jerusalem and all Jewry, and al the region rounde aboute Jordan, and were baptysed of hym in Jordan, confessinge theyr synnes. When he saw many of the Pharises and of the Saduces come to his baptyme he said unto them: 0 generation of vypers, who hath taught you to fle from the vengeaunce to come. Bring