Theology of the Sacraments

 Life is sweet and death is cold

And, though the world is hard to tread,

The morning glow and sunset red

And Earth’s bright treasures manifold

Say, Life is sweet and death is cold.

Love is warm and hate is chill

And, though the world is strange and proud,

Yet like a rainbow shines the cloud

When eyes and lips and laughter still

Say, Love is warm and hate is chill.

 

Life is sweet and love is warm,

And what of all the woes that come

When Winds are loud and birds are dumb?

Forget the woes and, for a charm,

Say, Life is sweet and love is warm.

 

D.M. Baillie, Theology of the Sacraments

 

The Bread and the Wine

The Bread and the Wine

Poem by George Herbert

Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack from my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, if I lacked any thing.

A guest, I answered, 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 marred 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. You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat: So I did sit and eat.

Love (III) 

By George Herbert