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George Herbert
George Herbert (April 3, 1593 – March 1, 1633) was an English preacher, poet, and priest whose ministry and writings shaped Anglican devotional life in the 17th century. Born in Montgomery, Wales, to Richard Herbert, a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament, and Magdalen Newport, a cultured patron of poets like John Donne, he was the fifth of ten children in an artistic, noble family. Educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge—where he earned a B.A. in 1613 and an M.A. in 1616—he excelled in Latin, Greek, and music, becoming Public Orator at Cambridge in 1620, a role that brought him favor with King James I and a brief stint in Parliament (1624–1625). Herbert’s preaching career emerged after a shift from secular ambition following King James’s death in 1625. Ordained a deacon in 1626 and a priest in 1630, he served as rector of Fugglestone St Peter and Bemerton, near Salisbury, until his death. His sermons, delivered with heartfelt conviction, reflected his care for parishioners—visiting the sick, aiding the poor, and rebuilding the church with his own funds—earning him the title "Holy Mr. Herbert." His poetry, collected in The Temple (published posthumously in 1633), doubled as sermons in verse, exploring spiritual conflicts and divine love, while his prose work A Priest to the Temple (1652) offered practical guidance for rural clergy. Married to Jane Danvers in 1629, with no children of their own, they adopted three orphaned nieces. Herbert died at age 39 in Bemerton from tuberculosis.
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George Herbert emphasizes the importance of offering a pure heart as a gift to God, highlighting the need for self-reflection and the cleansing power of Christ's dual nature. He encourages the congregation to seek unity within themselves, to overcome divisions caused by worldly desires and passions, in order to present multiple gifts as one. Herbert points to the healing and transformative power of God's grace, urging the listeners to find solace in God's mercy and to offer their praises and gifts with a heart converted from sadness to gladness.
Scriptures
An Offering
Come, bring thy gift. If blessings were as slow As men's returns, what would become of fools? What hast thou there? a heart? but is it pure? Search well and see; for hearts have many holes. Yet one pure heart is nothing to bestow: In Christ two natures met to be thy cure. O that within us hearts had propagation, Since many gifts do challenge many hearts! Yet one, if good, may title to a number; And single things grow fruitful by deserts. In public judgements one may be a nation, And fence a plague, while others sleep and slumber. But all I fear is lest thy heart displease, As neither good, nor one: so oft divisions Thy lusts have made, and not thy lusts alone; Thy passions also have their set partitions. These parcel out thy heart: recover these, And thou mayst offer many gifts in one. There is a balsam, or indeed a blood, Dropping from heav'n, which doth both cleanse and close All sorts of wounds; of such strange force it is. Seek out this All-heal, and seek no repose, ntil thou find and use it to thy good: Then bring thy gift; and let thy hymn be this; Since my sadness Into gladness Lord thou dost convert, O accept What thou hast kept, As thy due desert. Had I many, Had I any (For this heart is none), All were thine And none of mine: Surely thine alone. Yet thy favour May give savour To this poor oblation; And it raise To be thy praise, And be my salvation.
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George Herbert (April 3, 1593 – March 1, 1633) was an English preacher, poet, and priest whose ministry and writings shaped Anglican devotional life in the 17th century. Born in Montgomery, Wales, to Richard Herbert, a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament, and Magdalen Newport, a cultured patron of poets like John Donne, he was the fifth of ten children in an artistic, noble family. Educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge—where he earned a B.A. in 1613 and an M.A. in 1616—he excelled in Latin, Greek, and music, becoming Public Orator at Cambridge in 1620, a role that brought him favor with King James I and a brief stint in Parliament (1624–1625). Herbert’s preaching career emerged after a shift from secular ambition following King James’s death in 1625. Ordained a deacon in 1626 and a priest in 1630, he served as rector of Fugglestone St Peter and Bemerton, near Salisbury, until his death. His sermons, delivered with heartfelt conviction, reflected his care for parishioners—visiting the sick, aiding the poor, and rebuilding the church with his own funds—earning him the title "Holy Mr. Herbert." His poetry, collected in The Temple (published posthumously in 1633), doubled as sermons in verse, exploring spiritual conflicts and divine love, while his prose work A Priest to the Temple (1652) offered practical guidance for rural clergy. Married to Jane Danvers in 1629, with no children of their own, they adopted three orphaned nieces. Herbert died at age 39 in Bemerton from tuberculosis.