George Herbert(1593–1633)
The Windows
Lord, h o w c a n m a n p r e a c h thy eternal word
He is a brittle crazy glass;flawed, distorting
Yet i n thy t e m p l e t h o u dost h i m afford
T h i s glorious a n d t r a n s c e n d e n t p l a c e ,
To be a w i n d o w , t h r o u g h thy grace.
B u t w h e n t h o u d o s t a n n e a l i n glass9 thy story,
M a k i n g thy life t o s h i n e w i t h i n
T h e h o l y p r e a c h e r s , t h e n t h e light a n d glory
M o r e r e v e r e n d grows, a n d m o r e d o t h w i n ;
Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin.
D o c t r i n e a n d life, c o l o r s a n d light, i n o n e
W h e n t h e y c o m b i n e a n d m i n g l e , b r i n g
A s t r o n g regard a n d a w e ; b u t s p e e c h a l o n e
D o t h v a n i s h like a flaring t h i n g ,
A n d in t h e ear, n o t c o n s c i e n c e , ring.1