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The hymns and songs of the Church. With an introd. by Edward Farr

The hymns and songs of the Church. With an introd. by Edward Farr

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INTRODUCTION.<br />

MONG <strong>the</strong> numerous poets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> six.<br />

teenth <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> seventeenth centuries <strong>the</strong>re<br />

is scarcely a name more worthy <strong>of</strong><br />

honour th<strong>an</strong> that <strong>of</strong> George Wi<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

Some writers have, indeed pronounced<br />

Wi<strong>the</strong>r a f<strong>an</strong>atical rhymer <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>an</strong> intemperate<br />

Purit<strong>an</strong>. Such was <strong>the</strong> judgment <strong>of</strong> Ritson, Heylin,<br />

Dryden, Swift <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Pope all writers <strong>of</strong> undoubted<br />

:<br />

talent, but whose criticism <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> taste must have<br />

been governed <strong>by</strong> prejudice. In <strong>the</strong> " neglected<br />

leaves " <strong>of</strong> Wi<strong>the</strong>r, Dr. Sou<strong>the</strong>y discerned "felicity<br />

<strong>of</strong> expression;" "tenderness <strong>of</strong> feeling;" <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />

" " elevation <strong>of</strong> mind ; <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Sir Egerton Brydges,<br />

Mr. Park, Mr. Willmott, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> that truly Christi<strong>an</strong><br />

poet <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> critic, James Montgomery, have all borne<br />

testimony to Wi<strong>the</strong>r's merits. <strong>The</strong> cloud which<br />

obscured his merits as a poet, arose from his<br />

mingling in <strong>the</strong> political warfare <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> turbulent<br />

period in which he lived.<br />

Sir Egerton Brydges in his Bestituta has thus<br />

given <strong>the</strong> pedigree <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poet.<br />

" Thomas Wi<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> County <strong>of</strong> L<strong>an</strong>caster,<br />

Esq., left three sons.<br />

b

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