George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Holy Baptism (1) | Christian Poems | Metaphysical Poetry

Christian Art | George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Holy Baptism (1)

George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Holy Baptism (1)

As he that sees a dark and shadie grove,

Stayes not, but looks beyond it on the skie;

So when I view my sinnes, mine eyes remove
More backward still, and to that water flie,
Which is above the heav’ns, whose spring and rent

Is in my deare Redeemers pierced side.

O blessed streams! either ye do prevent
And stop our sinnes from growing thick and wide,
Or else give tears to drown them, as they grow.

In you Redemption measures all my time,

And spreads the plaister equall to the crime:
You taught the book of life my name, that so

What ever future sinnes should me miscall,

Your first acquaintance might discredit all.

George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Holy Baptism (1)

The poem centres on a reflection of sin and redemption, using a natural metaphor to illustrate the poet’s spiritual journey. In the opening lines, the poet likens himself to someone who stands at the edge of a dark, shadowy grove but looks beyond it toward the sky. This image suggests the poet’s desire to move past his sins, as represented by the grove, and seek out the purity and grace symbolized by the open sky above. Rather than remaining fixated on his wrongdoings, he wishes to direct his gaze toward salvation.

The poem shifts its focus to water, a symbol of cleansing and purification, as the poet’s spiritual ‘destination’. The poet’s gaze ‘flies’ to a higher, celestial body of water, described as the fountain above the heavens. This water flows from the pierced side of the ‘Redeemer’, a clear reference to Christ’s crucifixion and the subsequent outpouring of blood and water from his side. This specific allusion links the poet’s personal redemption with Christ’s sacrifice, establishing a direct connection between the source of divine grace and the poet’s journey toward forgiveness.

Following this revelation, the poet addresses the streams from Christ’s side as ‘blessed’. He attributes a dual role to these streams in his salvation: they either prevent his sins from ‘growing thick and wide’ or provide him with ‘tears to drown them’ as they emerge. In both cases, these streams contain the power to overcome sin, whether through prevention or through the cleansing act of penitential tears. Tears, often seen as an outward sign of genuine contrition, are here seen as part of the ongoing process of purification. The poet imagines that these tears flow from the same divine source, marking each step in his path toward redemption.

The poem then expresses how divine redemption functions as a timeless, continual force, ‘measuring all [his] time’. By aligning his entire life with the redemptive sacrifice, the poet perceives Christ’s atonement as encompassing and compensating for all his transgressions. In a metaphorical sense, Christ’s sacrifice acts as a ‘plaster’ or healing balm, one that is ‘equal to the crime’, covering over the wound of sin and enabling the poet to find spiritual wholeness again. This ‘plaster’ suggests not only a corrective but also a protective layer, covering the poet’s vulnerabilities against future transgressions.

In the concluding lines, the poet contemplates his name in ‘the book of life’. Through divine forgiveness, his name is recorded in this book, which traditionally symbolizes eternal salvation. The poet notes that this record of his identity, established through his ‘first acquaintance’ with redemption, would ‘discredit all’ future sins. This statement implies an enduring assurance of grace, as the initial divine intervention holds a lasting effect on the poet’s soul, offering a protective permanence. Even if new sins arise, they will be outweighed by his standing with God through the original redemptive act.

The poem portrays an intricate relationship between the human soul, sin, and divine forgiveness, presenting a vision of redemption that is both immediate and ongoing. Through personal penitence, Christ’s sacrifice, and the constant flow of divine grace, the poet describes his own spiritual restoration, finding assurance in an abiding source of salvation.