Give us this day our daily bread;
And us forgive Thou so,
As we, on them that us offend,
Forgiveness do bestow.
Into temptation lead us not,
But us from evil free:
For Thine the kingdom, power, and praise,
Is, and shall ever be.”
I proceed now to notice a few original productions. Jeremy Taylor wrote hymns, which he describes as “celebrating the mysteries and chief festivals of the year, according to the manner of the ancient Church; fitted to the fancy and devotion of the younger and pious persons: apt for memory, and to be joined to their other prayers.” In much of his poetry we miss the exquisite rhythm of his prose; nor can there be said to be in it much of that Divine power, or that human pathos, which kindles devotion in Christian bosoms. The first hymn for Christmas Day is perhaps the best of all:—
“Mysterious truth! that the self-same should be