Love Took My Hand: The Spirituality of George Herbert

The impact of the seventeeth-century priest and poet George Herbert spans the centuries. His work continues to be widely loved and many number him among the greatest English poets. In "Love Took My Hand" Philip Sheldrake shares his own personal enthusiasm for Herbert and shows that, though his world is distant from our own, we may still enjoy an immensely fruitful encounter with him.

Sheldrake describes the background to Herbert's thoughts and surveys the main themes of his rich spirituality. Drawing from The Country Parson and the great collection of poetry known as The Temple, he explores Herbert's images of God, his sense of place, his understanding of discipleship and holiness, his teaching on prayer, and his spirituality of service.

We find in Herbert's poetry an evocative quality that touches the emotions and provokes a deep and complex response. When the poems are set alongside the more tightly ordered spirituality of The Country Parson, we are able to consider the richness and potential of Herbert's spiritual vision and to gain an insight into the passion that lay at the heart of Herbert's life and ministry. His fluctuating relationship with God and struggle to accept God's love will find particular resonance with the modern reader.

About The Author
Philip Sheldrake is vice principal of Sarum College in Salisbury, England. Formerly the editor of The Way, he is the author of a number of books, including Befriending Our Desires; Spirituality and History; and Living Between Worlds.


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