There is nothing in these simple lines of the exquisite beauty of Keble’s poem on St. Matthew’s Day, one verse of which would reconcile the least ecclesiastical of us to the observance of saints’ days— There are in this loud stunning tide Of human care and crime, With whom the melodies abide Of the everlasting chime; Who carry music in their heart, Through dusky lane and wrangling mart; Plying their daily task with busier feet, Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat. But as a hymn to be sung in church or to be read in the hour of private devotion, Wither’s lines compare very favourably with those of Bishop Ken,[83] Bishop Wordsworth, and even Dr. Monsell. Wither’s hymn for Whit Sunday is a very appropriate ‘devotion’ for that festival. Here are four of its six verses— Exceeding faithful in Thy word, And just in all Thy ways, We do acknowledge Thee, O Lord, And therefore give Thee praise: For as Thy promise Thou didst pass, Before Thou went’st away, Sent down Thy Holy Spirit was, At His appointed day. Now, also, Blessed Spirit, come, Unto our souls appear; And of Thy graces shower Thou some On this assembly here: To us Thy dove-like meekness lend, That humble we may be, And on Thy silver wings ascend, Our Saviour Christ to see. O let Thy cloven tongues, we pray, So rest on us again, That both the truth confess we may And teach it other men. Moreover, let Thy heavenly fire, Inflamèd from above, Burn up in us each vain desire, And warm our hearts with love. Vouchsafe Thou likewise to bestow On us Thy sacred peace; We stronger may in union grow, And in debates decrease; Which peace, though many yet contemn, Reformèd let them be; That we may, Lord, have part in them, And they have part in Thee. Other poems in this series are well worth preserving, though perhaps few would find favour with the average congregation. For the most part they run smoothly; the language is that of plain men, and the spirit of the festival finds happy expression in praise or prayer. His Communion hymn is intended to be sung during the administration. It is interesting to find that those who are now adopting this custom are but reviving an ancient order. ‘We have a custom among us,’ he says, ‘that during the time of administering the blessed Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper there is some psalm or hymn sung, the better to keep the thoughts of the communicants from wandering after vain objects.’ But the piece which is most easily adapted to modern use is the poem, a paraphrase of Ps. cxlvii., which he prefixed to his _Preparation for the Psalter_. I give the poem as Wither published it. Mr. Horder and Miss Wood[84] have shown how well it may be adapted to public worship.