February 27: George Herbert, Priest and Poet, 1633

The Collect of the Day

George Herbert

Almighty God, who called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a poet and a pastor of souls: Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to dedicate all our powers to your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

George Herbert

Almighty God, who didst call thy servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a poet and a pastor of souls: Give us grace, we pray, joyfully to dedicate all our powers to thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4:13–5:7
Psalm 23
Mark 9:2–8

George Herbert is famous for his poems and for his prose work, A Priest to the Temple: or The Country Parson. He described his poems as “a picture of the many spiritual conflicts that have passed betwixt God and my soul, before I could submit mine to the will of Jesus my Master; in whose service I have found perfect freedom.”

Herbert was born in Montgomery, Wales, on April 3rd, 1593, a cousin of the Earl of Pembroke. Through his official position as Public Orator of Cambridge, he was brought into contact with the Court of King James I and Prince (later King) Charles. Whatever hopes he may have had as a courtier were dimmed, however, because of his associations with persons who were out of favor with King Charles I—principally John Williams, Bishop of Lincoln. Herbert had begun studying divinity in his early twenties, and, in 1626, he was ordained as a priest. In 1630, King Charles provided him with a living as rector of the parishes of Fugglestone and Bemerton. His collection of poems, The Temple, was given to his friend, Nicholas Ferrar, and published posthumously. Two of his poems are well known hymns: “Teach me, my God and King,” (The Hymnal 1982, #592) and “Let all the world in every corner sing” (The Hymnal 1982, #402; #403). Their grace, strength, and metaphysical imagery influenced later poets, including Henry Vaughan and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Lines from his poem “Love 3” have moved many readers:

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, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on thee.”

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

“Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.”

“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”

“My dear, then I will serve.”

“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”

So I did sit and eat.

Herbert was unselfish in his devotion and service to others. His words, “Nothing is little in God’s service,” have reminded Christians again and again that everything in daily life, small or great, may be a means of serving and worshiping God. ”

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

Psalm

¹The Lord is my shepherd; *I shall not be in want.

²He makes me lie down in green pastures *and leads me beside still waters.

³He revives my soul *and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

⁴Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

⁵You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

⁶Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Gospel

¹³Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. ¹⁴One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom. ¹⁵I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king; ¹⁶there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. ¹Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. ²Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few. ³For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s voice with many words. ⁴When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. ⁵It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. ⁶Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words, and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.