George Herbert was a Welsh poet and Anglican priest who is known for his religious poetry that explores themes of devotion, spiritual discipline, and the search for a closer relationship with God. Herbert's poetry is characterized by its use of imagery and metaphor to convey complex spiritual ideas in a simple and accessible way, and his work has had a lasting influence on English literature and Christian devotion.
One of the key themes that runs throughout Herbert's poetry is the importance of discipline in the spiritual life. Herbert believed that discipline was necessary for the soul to grow and flourish, and he often used his poetry to encourage others to embrace the discipline of prayer and meditation as a way to connect with God.
For Herbert, discipline was not just about following rules or adhering to a set of regulations. Rather, it was about cultivating a mindset of humility, obedience, and surrender to God's will. In his poem "The Collar," Herbert writes about his own struggle with the discipline of obedience, describing it as a "yoke" that he must willingly take upon himself in order to grow closer to God.
Herbert also believed that discipline was essential for spiritual growth because it helped to cultivate the virtues of patience and endurance. In his poem "The Flower," Herbert writes about the way in which discipline helps us to bear the trials and difficulties of life with grace and fortitude. He writes, "Who would have thought my shrivelled heart/Could have recovered greenness? It was gone/Quite underground: as flowers depart/To see their mother-root, when they have blown;/Where they together all the winter sleep,/And then in the spring time with joyous leap/Awake, and with fresh coats do their disport."
In addition to its role in spiritual growth, Herbert also saw discipline as a way to express our love and devotion to God. In his poem "Love (III)," Herbert writes about the way in which discipline is a natural expression of love for God, saying "Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,/Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack/From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning/If I lack'd anything. 'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here:'/Love said, 'You shall be he.' 'I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,/I cannot look on Thee.' Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,/'Who made the eyes but I?' 'Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them: let my shame/Go where it doth deserve.' 'And know you not,' says Love, 'Who bore the blame?'/'My dear, then I will serve.'"
In conclusion, George Herbert's poetry explores the theme of discipline as a key aspect of the spiritual life. For Herbert, discipline was about cultivating humility, obedience, and patience, as well as expressing our love and devotion to God. His work has had a lasting influence on English literature and Christian devotion, and his insights into the importance of discipline continue to inspire and challenge readers to this day.