George Herbert

George Herbert: Montgomery

In 1630, in his fortieth year, just three years before his early death, George Herbert became parson in the parish of Bemerton, near Salisbury. He devoted himself wholly to the work of pastoral care and ministry until his health, which had never been strong, completely gave way.

Herbert put these few years at Bemerton to lasting usefulness. Not only in caring for his flock with unflagging commitment and gentle wisdom but also producing the works for which he is now remembered.

It was during this time that he wrote his manual for pastoral ministry, A Priest to the Temple, or The Country Parson. This short, beautifully written book, evinces Herbert's great wisdom and his thorough understanding of the work of a minister of the gospel.

The 27 chapters of The Country Parson cover the entire range of pastoral ministry, as the chapter titles indicate: Of a Pastor; The Parson's Life; The Parson's Preaching; The Parson's Courtesy; The Parson in Mirth, and so on. Writing of the pastor's duty, Herbert says, he 'is to do that which Christ did, and after his manner, both for doctrine and life.' Herbert saw this calling to be the most demanding and responsible. Nevertheless, speaking of 'the parson's mirth', Herbert can say, 'pleasantness in disposition is a great key to do good … instructions seasoned with pleasantness enter sooner and root deeper.'

Writing of the Parson's life Herbert advises that, 'his apparel is plain but reverend and clean, without spots, or dust, or smell; the purity of his mind breaking out and dilating itself even to his body, clothes, and habitation.'

Which observation may be illustrated by a telling little story of an incident in Isaac Walton's short but attractive biography of Herbert.

In another walk to Salisbury, he saw a poor man with a poorer horse, that was fallen under his load: they were both in distress, and needed present help; which Mr. Herbert perceiving, put off his canonical coat, and helped the poor man to unload, and after to load, his horse.

The poor man blessed him for it, and he blessed the poor man; and was so like the Good Samaritan, that he gave him money to refresh both himself and his horse; and told him, 'That if he loved himself he should be merciful to his beast.' Thus he left the poor man: and at his coming to his musical friends at Salisbury, they began to wonder that Mr. George Herbert, which used to be so trim and clean, came into that company so soiled and discomposed: but he told them the occasion.

And when one of the company told him 'He had lowered himself by so dirty an employment,' his answer was, 'That the thought of what he had done would prove music to him at midnight; and that the omissionof it would have grieved his conscience, whenever he should pass by that place: for if I am to pray for all that be in distress, I am sure that I am bound, so far as it is in my power, to practice what I pray for. And though I do not wish for the like occasion every day, yet let me tell you,

I would not willingly pass one day of my life without comforting a sad soul, or showing mercy; and I praise God for this occasion. And now let's tune our instruments.'

Throughout this Parson's handbook it may be seen that Herbert was both a sincere believer and genuine aristocrat. He had distinguished himself at Cambridge and attracted the favourable attention of the King, James 1. For a while he served as a Member of Parliament. But, in 1630, he decided to enter the Christian ministry rather than the royal court.

It was during his few years at Bemerton that Herbert wrote his large collection of Christian verse, The Temple. The poems touch on almost every aspect of Christian life and worship. There are poems that meditate on Church rituals, the church calendar, the special days and feasts, but predominantly Herbert's interest is the inner experience of the believer's soul before God. This collection ranks among the most comprehensive collections of truly Christian poetry in the English language.

George Herbert was born 3 April 1593 in Montgomery, Montgomeryshire, Wales; his father, Richard Herbert (died 1596). George was one of 10 children. The Herbert family was wealthy and powerful, George descended from the same stock as the Earls of Pembroke. His mother was a patron and friend of John Donne and other poets, writers and artists. As George's godfather, Donne stood in after Richard Herbert died, when George was three years old. Herbert and his siblings were then raised by his mother, who pressed for a good education for her children. The family tomb, in the Montgomery parish church, is ancient, ornate and well-worth a visit.

Herbert's poetry uses an attractive simplicity of language to weave highly complex and intricate imagery into verse that has influenced poets from his own times, through the Victorian era and in our own century. Significant among those most influenced are Henry Vaughan, Gerard Manley Hopkins and T. S. Elliot.

The great strength of his poetry is that it speaks to the heart of the believer; he writes on themes closest to the believer's chief concern: our heart communion with God in Christ.