48 OUR HYMNS :
(1859) a reprint of the "Songs of Praise" and "Penitential Cries." There are by Mason thirty-four songs of praise, six penitential hymns, and a rendering of the 86th Psalm, consisting of twenty-one verses.
Mr. Mason was also the author of " A little Catechism, with verses and sayings for little children." Two sermons of his were published by the Rev. T. Shepherd, and entitled, " Mr. Mason s Remains : " and his letters and sayings were published with the title, " Select Remains of the Rev. John Mason, M.A." The letters were much commended by Dr. Watts. An account of Mr. Mason s life was written by John Dunton, in 1694, and another, in 1695, by the Rev. Henry Maurice, Rector of Tyring- ham, Bucks.
Of Mason s hymns, which were used in Congregational worship before Watts had written, Montgomery says, " The style is a middle tint between the raw colouring of Quarles, and the day light clearness of Watts. His talent is equally poised between both, having more vigour, but less versatility than that of either his forerunner or his successor." Quarles (1624 1665) was his contemporary, but Mason s poetry seems to have been more influenced by George Herbert (1593 1632), of Bemcrton, who had flourished just before. Without reaching the unique depth and beauty of Herbert, there are yet verses which might have been written by the elder poet ; and we notice similar expressions, as if Mason were intentionally following the great master, as, for instance, in his Sunday piece, beginning
" Blest day of God, most calm, most bright." Resembling Herbert s well known piece, which begins " ! day most calm, most bright."
It has been justly remarked of Mason s hymns that they " are often quaint and harsh in diction, but compact with thought, and luminous with imagery." And it has been justly said of him that "his name is amongst the honoured few who wrote good
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