After a collegiate course in Oxford
he was inducted to the Vicarage of his native parish, and received
successively afterwards the appointments of Prebendary, and Chancellor of
St. David's. He composed a multitude of religious poems and pious
carols, which were universally popular among his contemporaries and had
great influence upon the Welsh of after-times. They were collected and
published after his death under the title of "Canwyll y Cymry," or "The
Candle of the Welsh," of which about twenty editions have appeared. The
"Welshman's Caudle" has for the last two hundred and fifty years found a
place beside the Holy Bible in the bookshelf of almost every native of
the Principality, and has been consecrated by the nation. It consists of
pious advice and religious exhortation suited to all conditions and
circumstances of life. An English translation of the poems was published
by Messrs. Longman & Co., in 1815.]
O Thou! by whom the universe was made,
Mankind's support, and never failing aid,
Who bid'st the earth her various products bear,
Who waterest the soft'ned soil with rain,
Who givest vegetation to the grain,
Unto a peasant's ardent pray'r give ear!
I now intend, with care, my land to dress,
And in its fertile womb to sow my grain;
Which, if, O God! thou deignest not to bless,
I never shall receive, or see again.
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