Back to series
Poem: The Windows
Click here to open a Print-Friendly PDF
Lord, how can man preach thy eternal word?
He is a brittle, crazy glass
Yet in thy temple thou dost him afford
This glorious and transcendent place,
To be a window, through thy grace.
But when thou dost anneal in glass thy story,
Making thy life to shine within
The holy Preacher’s, then the light and glory
More rev’rend grows, and more doth win;
Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin.
Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one
When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe; but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience, ring.
Davie Donald, The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse (Oxford University Press, 1981), p. 76-77.
George Herbert
George Herbert, Poet, (1593 – 1633) was known for his humility and self-scrutiny. His poems and lyrics point to the amazing juxtaposition of contrition and gospel-boldness. Born in Wales, raised in England, and educated at Cambridge, he then served as a priest in the Church of England. Although never a healthy man, he tirelessly served the people in his small congregation, being remembered as one who traveled to parishioners’ homes to pray for them and also to bring food and clothing to anyone who needed them.
COPYRIGHT: This publication is published by C.S. Lewis Institute; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301; Springfield, VA 22151. Portions of the publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church or ministry use without prior permission. Electronic copies of the PDF files may be duplicated and transmitted via e-mail for personal and church use. Articles may not be modified without prior written permission of the Institute. For questions, contact the Institute: 703.914.5602 or email us.
-
Recent Podcasts
The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis used imaginative depiction to enable readers...Read More
- From Addiction to Freedom – Bill Scott’s Story
- Questions That Matter – Randy Newman – Can We Prove that God Exists?
-
Recent Publications
Does the Modern World Face a Crisis of Meaning?
In recent years it seems like politics has...Read More
- The Impact of Technology on the Christian Life
- C.S. Lewis and the Crisis of the Modern Self
Next coming event
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
GLOBAL EVENT: CSLI Annual Fundraiser – Surprised by Joy with Steve King – 7:30 PM ET
Surprised by Joy – CSLI Annual Fundraiser
