In point of fact, these differences were all merely superficial.  Penetrate a little deeper, and it will be found that in reality they were thoroughly kindred spirits.  On the one side, Cowper’s apparent effeminacy was all on the surface; his mind, when it was not unstrung, was of an essentially masculine and vigorous type.  All his writings, including his delightful letters as well as his poetry, are remarkably free from mawkishness and mere sentimentality.  On the other side, Newton’s roughness was merely superficial.  Within that hard exterior there beat a heart as tender and delicate as that of any child.  It is the greatest mistake in the world to confound this genial, sociable man, full of quiet, racy humour, smoking that memorable pipe of his, which was the occasion of so much harmless fun between him and Cowper and the worthy sisters More—­with the hard surly Puritan of the Balfour of Burley type.  Newton had a point of contact with every side of Cowper’s character.  He had at least as strong a sympathy with the author of ’John Gilpin’ as with the author of ‘The Task.’  For one of the most marked features of John Newton’s intellectual character was his strong sense of humour.  Many of his ‘ana’ rival those of Dr. Johnson himself; and now and then, even in his sermons, glimpses of his humorous tendency peep forth.[814] But his wit never degenerated into buffoonery, and was never unseasonable like that of Berridge and Grimshaw.  Again, he could fully appreciate Cowper’s taste for classical literature; considering how utterly Newton’s education had been neglected, it is perfectly marvellous how he managed, under the most unfavourable circumstances, to acquire no contemptible knowledge of the great classical authors.  Add to all this that Newton’s native kindness of heart made him feel very deeply for the misfortune of his friend, and it will be no longer a matter of wonder that there should have been so close a friendship between the two men.  It is readily granted that there was a certain amount of awe mingled with the love which Cowper bore to Newton, but Newton was the very last man in the world to abuse the gentle poet’s confidence.

The part which William Cowper (1731-1800) took in the Evangelical movement is too important to pass unnoticed.  The shy recluse of Olney and Weston Underwood contributed in his way more towards the spread of the Evangelical revival than even Whitefield did with all his burning eloquence, or Wesley with all his indomitable activity.  For those who despised Whitefield and Wesley as mere vulgar fanatics, those who would never have read a word of what Newton or Romaine wrote, those who were too much prejudiced to be affected by the preaching of any of the Evangelical clergy, could not refrain from reading the works of one who was without question the first poet of his day.  This is not the place to criticise Cowper’s poetry; but it may be remarked that that poetry exercised an influence greater than that which its intrinsic