It is from Beda's _Church History_, Book IV, chap. 24 (or 22),
that we learn the story of C{ae}dmon, the famous Northumbrian poet, who
was a herdsman and lay brother in the abbey of Whitby, in the days
of the abbess Hild, who died in 680, near the close of the seventh
century. He received the gift of divine song in a vision of the night;
and after the recognition by the abbess and others of his heavenly
call, became a member of the religious fraternity, and devoted the
rest of his life to the composition of sacred poetry.
He sang (says Beda) the Creation of the world, the origin of the
human race, and all the history of Genesis; the departure of Israel
out of Egypt and their entrance into the land of promise, with many
other histories from holy writ; the incarnation, passion, and
resurrection of our Lord, and His ascension into heaven; the coming
of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of the Apostles. Likewise of
the terror of the future judgement, the horror of punishment in
hell, and the bliss of the heavenly kingdom he made many poems;
and moreover, many others concerning divine benefits and judgements;
in all which he sought to wean men from the love of sin, and to
stimulate them to the enjoyment and pursuit of good action.
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