Another Wonderful 17th Century Poet
American Poet, and virtual unknown Edward Taylor. While Calvinist to the core, his meditations are quite beautiful.
Meditation 1 Edward Taylor
What Love is this of thine, that Cannot bee
In thine Infinity, O Lord, Confinde,
Unless it in thy very Person see,
Infinity, and Finity Conjoyn'd?
What hath thy Godhead, as not satisfide
Marri'de our Manhood, making it its Bride?
Oh, Matchless Love! filling Heaven to the brim!
O're running it: all running o're beside
This World! Nay Overflowing Hell; wherein
For thine Elect, there rose a mighty Tide!
That there our Veans might through thy Person bleed,
To quench those flames, that else would on us feed.
Oh! that thy Love might overflow my Heart!
To fire the same with Love: for Love I would.
But oh! my streight'ned Breast! my Lifeless Sparke!
My Fireless Flame! What Chilly Love, and Cold?
In measure small! In Manner Chilly! See.
Lord blow the Coal: Thy Love Enflame in mee.
"Lord blow the Coal: Thy Love Enflame in mee." Reminiscent of the poems of Donne, and a prayer for all hearts that seek to move ever closer to our Lord. We cannot set ourselve on fire, no more can we fan those flames. What we need to do is remove the obstacles to the fanning, so set the fire to rights so that when it is fanned, it bursts into greater, warmer, more welcoming fire, rather than going out. Too often we smother the flame that the Lord would ignite as a beacon for all, and we do it through our sloth, selfishness, self-centeredness, and even through the squandering of time in endeavors that would be good in measure. So I repeat, "Lord blow the Coal: Thy Love Enflame in mee."
