Part 1
Truth

THE THEOLOGICAL LIFE

OH Book! infinite sweetnesse! let my heart

Suck ev’ry letter, and a hony gain,

Precious for any grief in any part;

To cleare the breast, to mollifie all pain.

Thou art all health, health thriving till it make

A full eternitie: thou art a masse

Of strange delights, where we may wish & take.

Ladies, look here; this is the thankfull glasse,

That mends the lookers eyes: this is the well

That washes what it shows. Who can indeare

Thy praise too much? thou art heav’ns Lidger here,

Working against the states of death and hell.

Thou art joyes handsell: heav’n lies flat in thee,

Subject to ev’ry mounters bended knee.

—George Herbert, “The Holy Scriptures I”

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

—2 Timothy 3:16–17