The Works of George Herbert in Prose and Verse Volume 2; Poetry (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ...at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast. 130. The Priesthood. I LEST Order, which in power doth so excel, That with the one hand thou liftest to the sky, And with the other throwest down to hell In thy just censures; fain would I draw nigh; Fain put thee on, exchanging my lay sword For that of the holy word. But thou art fire, sacred and hallow'd fire; And I but earth and clay: should I presume To wear thy habit, the severe attire My slender compositions might consume. I am both foul and brittle, much unfit To deal in holy Writ. Yet have I often seen, by cunning hand And force of fire, what curious things are made Of wretched earth. Where once I scorn'd to stand, That earth is fitted by the fire and trade Of skilful Artists, for the boards of those Who make the bravest mows. But since those great ones, be they ne'er so great, Come from the earth, from whence those vessels So that at once both feeder, dim, and meat, come; Have one beginning and one final sum: I do not greatly wonder at the sight, If earth in earth delight. But the holy men of God such vessels are, As serve him up, who all the world commands. When God vouchsafeth to become our fare, Their hands convey him, who conveys their hands: O what pure things, most pure must those things be, Who bring my God to me Wherefore I dare not, I, put forth my hand To hold the Ark, although it seem to shake Through the old sins and new doctrines of our land. Only, since God doth often vessels make Of lowly matter for high uses meet, I throw me at his feet. There will I lie, until my Maker seek For some mean stuff whereon to shew his skill: Then is my time. The distance of the meek Doth flatter power. Lest good come short of ill In praising might, the poor do by submission Wh...