Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Thomas Traherne (1637?1674)Gods Love and Mans
HE seeks for ours as we do seek for His; | |
Nay, O my soul, ours is far more His bliss | |
Than His is ours; at least it so doth seem | |
Both in His own and our esteem. | |
His earnest love, His infinite desires, | 5 |
His living, endless, and devouring fires, | |
Do rage in thirst, and fervently require | |
A love ’tis strange it should desire. | |
We cold and careless are, and scarcely think | |
Upon the glorious spring whereat we drink. | 10 |
Did He not love us we could be content: | |
We wretches are indifferent! | |
’Tis death, my soul, to be indifferent; | |
Set forth thyself unto thy whole extent, | |
And all the glory of His passion prize, | 15 |
Who for thee lives, Who for thee dies. | |