in the English language.8 Herbert and the other devotional poets produced ground-breaking compositions clearly intended to enhance private devotion; however, establishing English hymnody was neither the goal nor the result.9 Herbert did not compose texts for congregational singing; thus, many of his most beautiful and substantial poems could not be adapted for that setting. Over a century later, John Wesley endeavored to convert many of these texts into hymns, but his success was limited.10 Shortly