me

 

for man to act as if his soul did see the very brightness of eternity

for man to act as if his love did burn above the spheres, even while it's in its urn...

. . .

in this a man a Seraphim exceeds

Thomas Traherne ( 1636 - 1674 ) : From "Christian Ethicks"

For man to act as if his soul did see

The very brightness of eternity;

For man to act as if his love did burn

Above the spheres, even while it's in its urn;

For man to act even in the wilderness

As if he did those sovereign joys possess

Which do at once confirm, stir up, inflame

And perfect angels - having not the same!

It doth increase the value of his deeds;

In this a man a Seraphim exceeds.

. . .

From "Flowers of Heaven" - One Thousand Years of Christian Verse

Compiled by Joseph Pearce

Ignatius Press, 1999

Flowers of Heaven