Welcome dear feast of Lent: who loves not thee,
He loves not Temperance, or Authority,
But is composed of passion.
The Scriptures bid us fast; the Church says, now:
Give to your Mother, what you would allow
To every Corporation.
It ’s true, we cannot reach Christ’s fortieth day;
Yet to go part of that religious way,
Is better than to rest:
We cannot reach our Savior’s purity;
Yet are bid, Be holy ev’n as he.
In both let ’s do our best.
Who goes in the way which Christ has gone,
Is much more sure to meet with him, than one
Who travels the by-ways:
Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more
May strengthen my decays.
Yet Lord instruct us to improve our fast
By starving sin and taking such repast
As may our faults control:
That ev’ry man may revel at his door,
Not in his parlor; banqueting the poor,
And among those his soul.
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[…] The Absurd Report - âThe Absurd Reportâ¦chasing liberals like villagers after … wrote an interesting post today on âLentâ by George HerbertHere’s a quick excerpt…and dishonest rheums,Revenging the delight.Then those same pendant profits, which the springAnd Easter intimate, enlarge the thing,And… […]
[…] Socyberty wrote an interesting post today on âLentâ by George HerbertHere’s a quick excerptWelcome dear feast of Lent: who loves not thee,He loves not Temperance, or Authority,But is compos’d of passion.The Scriptures bid us fast; […]
That is a poem one needs to read a few times, excellent! Should maybe go look for more of his work. Or your book on Him. Is it in your little trailer book section. I know it is expensive but it might sell a couple copies if you advertised it there.
Thanks, Bror. That was the first one I did, based on my dissertation. It’s out of print, though it is in most academic libraries and can sometimes be found as a used book.
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