Lord, with what care hast Thou begirt us round!
Parents first season us; then schoolmasters
Deliver us to laws;-they send us bound
To rules of reason, holy messengers,
Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow dogging sin,
Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes,
Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in,
Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,
Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness,
The sound of glory ringing in our ears;
Without, our shame; within, our consciences;
Angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears:
Yet all these fences and their whole array
One cunning bosom-sin blows quite away.
(George Herbert)
More Poetry from George Herbert:
George Herbert Poems based on Topics: Fear, Sadness, Sin, Law & Regulation, Success, Angels, Reasoning, Blessings, Eternity, Parents- The Church-Porch. Perirrhanterium (George Herbert Poems)
- The Church Militant (George Herbert Poems)
- Longing (George Herbert Poems)
- Miserie (George Herbert Poems)
- Home (George Herbert Poems)
- The Search (George Herbert Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Sadness Poems, Fear Poems, Success Poems, Sin Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Angels Poems, Eternity Poems, Reasoning Poems, Blessings Poems, Parents PoemsBased on Keywords: fences, sundays, bibles, stratagems, sorted, surprises, sizes, consciences, begirt, afflictions, pulpits