Logos Virtual Library: George Herbert: The Temple: The Church: The Holy Communion

George Herbert

George Herbert (1593-1633)

The Temple

The Holy Communion

Not in rich furniture, or fine aray,

Nor in a wedge of gold,

Thou, who from me wast sold,

To me dost now thy self convey;
For so thou should’st without me still have been,

Leaving within me sinne:

But by the way of nourishment and strengh

Thou creep’st into my breast;

Making thy way my rest,

And thy small quantities my length;
Which spread their forces into every part,

Meeting sinnes force and art.

Yet can these not get over to my soul,

Leaping the wall that parts

Our souls and fleshly hearts;

But as th’ outworks, they may controll
My rebel-flesh, and carrying thy name,

Affright both sinne and shame.

Onely thy grace, which with these elements comes,

Knoweth the ready way,

And hath the privie key,

Op’ning the souls most subtile rooms;
While those to spirits refin’d, at doore attend

Dispatches from their friend.

Give me my captive soul, or take

My bodie also thither.
Another lift like this will make

Them both to be together.

Before that sinne turn’d flesh to stone,

And all our lump to leaven;
A fervent sigh might well have blown

Our innocent earth to heaven.

For sure when Adam did not know

To sinne, or sinne to smother;
He might to heav’n from Paradise go,

As from one room t’another.

Thou hast restor’d us to this ease

By this thy heav’nly bloud;
Which I can go to, when I please,

And leave th’ earth to their food.