James Montgomery (says Dr. Breed) is “distinguished as the only layman besides Cowper 214 / 176 among hymn-writers of the front rank in the English language.” How many millions have recited and sung his fine and exhaustively descriptive poem,—
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
—selections from almost any part of which are perfect definitions, and have been standard hymns on prayer for three generations. English Hymnology would as unwillingly part with his missionary hymns,—
The king of glory we proclaim.
Hark, the song of jubilee!
—and, noblest of all, the lyric of prophecy and praise which heads this paragraph.
Hail to the Lord's anointed,
King David's greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed
His reign on earth begun.
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