The Wisdom of Saints: George Herbert

The Feast of George Herbert, Pastor and Poet, 1633

O GOD, who by thy Holy Spirit hast given unto one man a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, and to another the gift of tongues: We praise thy Name for the gifts of grace manifested in thy servant George, and we pray that thy Church may never be destitute of the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

While many Christian saints are remembered for their contributions to theology or as martyrs and confessors who stood up to persecution of Christianity, some are commemorated in honour of the extraordinary gifts and talents they received from God and exercised for his glory. George Herbert is one of these saints, being noted chiefly not as a priest but as a poet, whose prose has stirred the hearts of Christians now for centuries, inspiring other Christian writers including notably TS Eliot.

George Herbert was born in Wales in April of 1593, the son of Richard and Magdalen Newport Herbert. His parents were aristocratic and wealthy, able to provide him with an excellent education, despite being the fifth child born to them. His father died in 1597, when he was only three years old, but this did not prevent his mother from sending him—and his brothers—to Westminster School and in 1609 George was admitted to Trinity College at Cambridge University with the intention of eventually entering into Holy Orders as priest in the Church of England.
Early in his studies, evidence of his developing poetic talents and love of God survive in the form of his first recorded sonnets from 1610 which he sent to his mother. Both presented the idea that poetry was meant for expressing the love of God and not the love of women. Two years later in 1612 his first works were published, poetry commemorating Prince Henry upon his death.

He obtained his BA In 1613 and MA in 1616, and elected to continue on at Cambridge as a fellow at Trinity College. He continued to develop his oratory and poetry and in 1618 he was appointed Reader in Rhetoric at Cambridge, and then again two years later as the Public Orator, the person responsible for conveying the sentiments of the University to the King.

This seemed to forestall his possible call to Holy Orders and indeed he was subsequently elected to Parliament as the MP for Montgomery. His status as an MP and public orator led to speculation he could well be selected as Secretary of State. In 1627 his mother died, and some of his patrons, including King James I with whom George had found favour, also died. These setbacks may have contributed to his decision to abandon the secular life and return to his original goal of pursuing Holy Orders.

In 1629 he was ordained a priest. He was appointed rector at a small rural parish and he began a career of preaching and writing poetry. His career was relatively short-lived as he passed away in 1633 of consumption, however during this period he still managed a prolific and influential portfolio of poetry.

His works are viewed as being technically influential and unique in the era, and his subjects often were influenced both by his Christianity but also specifically by his Anglican context.

He wrote on many subjects. Displaying his Anglican influence is the poem Even-Song and The British Church. He wrote on prayer, Scripture and on Love. One of his more famous works, Love (III) which presents love as God:

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
        Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd 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 be here”;
        Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, the 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 marr’d 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. 

The poem illustrates a number of themes. From man’s sinfulness to God’s repeated calling to us to return, repent and feast with him. It captures the shame and distance felt between created and creator, and the creator’s loving desire to reconcile us all to himself.

George’s poem Colossians 3. III is based on Col 3. 3b: “your life is hidden with Christ in God,” and expresses that indwelled identity:

MY words and thoughts do both express this notion,
That LIFE hath with the sun a double motion.
The first IS straight, and our diurnal friend :
The other HID, and doth obliquely bend.
One life is wrapt IN flesh, and tends to earth ;
The other winds t’wards HIM whose happy birth
Taught me to live here so THAT still one eye
Should aim and shoot at that which IS on high—
Quitting with daily labour all MY pleasure,
To gain at harvest an eternal TREASURE. 

God graced George Herbert with a skill for language, and in loving devotion to him who he recognized as imparting that gift, George devoted his considerable talents to honouring God in a way that has inspired many through their simple reading and also inspired others to follow on in similar techniques. He is a testament to the right-use of God-gifted talents and abilities.