Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Edmund Spenser (1552?1599)
The Ministry of Angels
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AND 1 is there care in heaven? And is there love | |
In heavenly spirits to these creatures base, | |
That may compassion of their evils move? | |
There is: else much more wretched were the case | |
Of men than beasts. But oh, th’ exceeding grace | 5 |
Of highest God that loves His creatures so, | |
And all His works with mercy doth embrace, | |
That blessed angels He sends to and fro, | |
To serve to wicked men, to serve His wicked foe. | |
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How oft do they their silver bowers leave | 10 |
To come to succour us that succour want! | |
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave | |
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant, | |
Against foul fiends to aid us militant! | |
They for us fight, they watch and duly ward, | 15 |
And their bright squadrons round about us plant; | |
And all for love, and nothing for reward. | |
O why should heavenly God to men have such regard? | |
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Note 1. “The Ministry of Angels” is from the “Faerie Queene,” II. viii. 1, 2; “The Love of Christ,” from “A Hymn of Heavenly Love.” [back] |
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