English Congregational Hymns in the Eighteenth CenturyHistorians of the English congregational hymn, focusing on its literary or theological aspects, have usually found the genre out of step with the rationalist era that produced it. This book takes a more balanced approach to the work of four writers and concludes that only eighteenth-century Britain, with its understanding of public verse, common truth, and the utility of poetry, could have invented the English hymn as we know it. The early hymns sought to inspire, teach, stir, and entertain congregations. The essential purpose shifted slightly in line with each poet's setting and in accord with the poetic thought of his day. For Isaac Watts's Independents, powerful traditional imagery was appropriate. Charles Wesley's enthusiasm proceeded from and served the spirit of the revival. John Newton's prophetic vision particularly suited the impoverished community at Olney. William Cowper's masterful handling of formal conventions and his idiosyncratic personal hymns reflect his poetic, rather than clerical, vocation. Despite such temporal variations, the great poetry by each man displays themes of general Christian relevance, suggesting common experience, showing normative features of the genre, and bearing a complex and intriguing relationship to secular literature. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 39
... Preachers IV. John Newton, Olney Prophet Newton at Olney History & Prophecy Of Things to Come V. William Cowper: Exemplary Tradition & the Loss of Control Master Craftsman Cowper's Private Vision VI. Conclusion Notes Index The ...
... preacher and educator, whose prose and piety won him the admiration of Dr. Johnson. He wrote treatises on the religious discipline of the passions, the practice of prayer, and the right use of logic. He wrote as well some 200 hymns,
... preach the universal availability of salvation. The Wesleyan hymns follow in theory the practice of Watts and the accepted use of the metrical psalms, but the religious focus has become almost totally individual. Watts wanted to teach ...
... preacher rather than providing for their expressive needs. In these unsuccessful attempts we may discern the passing of the great age of easy didactic verse that had nurtured the young hymn. William Cowper (1731–1800) brought to his ...
... preacher-hero, a dramatic inclination often indicated by a call to “Look,” “Behold,” “See,” “Hark,” or “Hear.” Finally, hymns provided more flexible means of Christian education, the teaching of Bible stories and doctrine, than did ...
Contents
Self Sense the Revival | |
John Newton Olney Prophet | |
Exemplary Tradition the Loss of Control | |
Conclusion | |
Notes | |
Other editions - View all
English Congregational Hymns in the Eighteenth Century Madeleine Forell Marshall,Janet Todd Limited preview - 1982 |
English Congregational Hymns in the Eighteenth Century Madeleine Forrell Marshall,Janet M. Todd No preview available - 2014 |