George Herbert, Poet/Hymnist, Priest, Pastor (1593-1633)
AM Psalm 55 • PM Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23)
Deut. 11:18-28 • Heb. 5:1-10 • John 4:1-26
“A verse may find him whom a sermon flies.”
Today the Anglican community honors the birth of George Herbert, one of England's finest metaphysical poets and recognized in literary history as the greatest of English devotional poets. Born into a wealthy Welsh family with aristocratic connections, Herbert attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained academic success, earning his BA, an MA, and a major fellowship as tutor and lecturer, and further being named university orator in 1620, a position of such prestige that it almost assured him a career at the royal court.
As orator, Herbert was the spokesperson for the university, thanking and complimenting the rich and famous through speeches and letters, capturing even the attention of King James I, whose gift of his Latin works to Cambridge Herbert facetiously compared to those of the Vatican’s and Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries! When King James’ patronage died with him in 1625, cancelling Herbert’s chances for a life at court, he turned again to his original intention of entering the priesthood, and in 1626, he was ordained and became a country parson. As he put it, “Methought I heard one calling, ‘Child.’ And I replied, ‘My Lord.’”
At his rural parish near Salisbury, Herbert rebuilt the church with his own money and went about his duties with diligence, visiting the poor with food and clothing and bringing the sacraments to the sick and dying. So generous was he with his time and resources that he became known as “Holy Mr. Herbert.” But he served for only three years, his life cut short by tuberculosis at the age of 39.
On his deathbed, Herbert sent the collection of his English poems, as yet unpublished, through a friend to Nicholas Ferrar, founder of the religious community at Little Gidding, Cambridgeshire. "If he can think it may turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul," he wrote in his instructions, “let it be made public; if not, let him burn it, for I and it are the least of God's mercies.” We must praise God and thank Ferrar for not burning the poems, for contained within them are some of the most loved hymns of the Episcopal church and greater Anglican communion.
His poems have been set to music by such luminaries as Henry Purcell, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Benjamin Britten; the Wesley brothers adapted some forty for the Methodist hymnal. In our Episcopal hymnal we have four of his best: “Let all the world in every corner sing…” (p.402); “Come my Way, my Truth, my Life...” (p.487); “Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see...” (p.582); and my own favorite, (p.382), which I quote in part,
Praise III
King of Glorie, King of Peace,
I will love thee:
And that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
….
Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
….
Sev’n whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee.
In my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
….
Small it is, in this poore sort
To enroll thee:
Ev’n eternitie is too short
To extoll thee.
Written by Kay DuVal
Please join me in today’s prayer commemorating George Herbert, who vowed that his “poor abilities in poetry, shall be all, and ever consecrated to God’s glory”:
Almighty God, you called your servant George Herbert from the pursuit of worldly honors to be a poet, a pastor of souls, and a priest in your temple: 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.