Love III Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lacked anything. “A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here”: Love said, “You shall be he.” “I, the unkind,…
Aaron
Holinesse on the head, Light and perfections on the breast, Harmonious bells below, raising the dead To leade them unto life and rest. Thus are true Aarons drest. Profanenesse in my head, Defect and darknesse in my breast, A noise of passions ringing me for dead Unto a place where is no rest, Poore priest…
Love
Wonderful lines from George Herbert, on the eve of Trinity 2 (Luke 14:15-24) LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack'd anything. 'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to…
Holiness and Sinfulness
It is a truism of the Christian life that the most saintly are the most conscious of sin. R.S. Thomas, 'Introduction' in A Choice of George Herbert's Verse (Faber & Faber, 1967)
Denial
[I was reminded of this, one of my all-time favourite poems, by today's Gospel reading, Luke 18:1–8.] When my devotions could not pierce Thy silent ears; Then was my heart broken, as was my verse: My breast was full of fears And disorder: My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow, Did fly asunder: Each took…
SimonPotamos 