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 33
... Method Hymns for 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 ...
... , Benson reveals a second problem, one of approach, that has frequently undermined the hymnologists' attempts to progress beyond cataloging and the textual study of hymns. Benson wrote: The truth is that if the methods of the literary.
Madeleine Forrell Marshall, Janet M. Todd. The truth is that if the methods of the literary historian are not misapplied to Hymnody, they are at least inadequate. A hymn may or may not happen to be literature; in any case it is something ...
... methods of the literature of sensibility to the ends of evangelical education. John Newton (1725–1807), like Charles Wesley an ordained Anglican minister, was a noted Calvinist evangelical leader and propagandist. His hymns were written ...
... method he had used in stimulating the desirable delight: The most frequent Tempers and Changes of our Spirit, and Conditions of our Life are here copied, and the Breathings of our Piety exprest according to the variety of our Passions ...
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 |