Question: Relationship between Herbert and God.
Introduction
George Herbert (1593-1648) is a religious poet who belongs to the school of metaphysical poetry. His poetry has expressed the notion of theology. George Herbert was a country priest. He has used his poetry via media to set up a deep relationship with God.
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Close connection
As a priest, Herbert has established a direct connection with God. His poem Easter-Wings illustrates his desire to be one with God. He profoundly desires that Christ gives him spiritual wings so that he would be spiritually strong. By this expression, we can easily understand Herbert’s deep relationship with God.
Parentage relation
Herbert’s poetry is replete with the parentage relation with God and himself. The poem The Collar is an example of a parentage relationship. Here, we notice that Herbert’s heart is filled with some rebellious desire for being a clergyman like a child. So, he would be as free as road and wind but for being a churchman he could not be able to enjoy the happiness of worldly life. But at the end of the poem, we see that when he listens to a divine voice addressing him as “Child”, his rebellious heart is sublimed as an obedient child.
“Me thought I heard one calling, Child!
And I reply’d, My Lord.”
Lover of God’s glory
As a religious poet, Herbert is a pure lover of God and God’s glory. Almost all the poems of Herbert are based on God’s glory. In the poem “Easter Wings”, Herbert has expressed that he has a poor wing and it is damaged. In the poem, wings mean spiritual ecstasy. He explains Christ’s glory and wants a strong wing that means a strong spiritual heart so that he could prayer better than before.
Submissive servant
We are the servant of the supremely powerful God. In Christianity, Christ is the God of the Christian people. Herbert was an Anglican Priest and his poetry has depicted the theme of the submissive servant. The poem “The Collar” represents the relationship between master and servant.
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Conclusion
In fine, we can say that Herbert’s loyalty to God is expressed in his poems.
