Day Six

Psalm 141

O Lord, I call to you, make haste to help me:
and hear my voice when I cry.

2 Let my prayer be as incense before you:
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard, O Lord, on my mouth:
and keep the door of my lips.

Today George Herbert is remembered.

King of glory, King of Peace,
I will love thee;
and, that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
thou hast spared me.

2 Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
to enrol thee;
ev'n eternitiy's too short to extol thee.
—words by George Herbert

"George Herbert began to pursue an academic career at Cambridge; but in 1625 he was persuaded by Nicholas Ferrar to study for ordination. In 1630 he became rector of Bemerton, Wiltshire. He was a poet and writer on pastoral duty. His poems and writings breathe the spirit of simple piety and pastoral devotion which characterised his ministry." from "Times and Seasons" by Gilbert Sinden SSM 1980