The Nature of Heaven

Greetings,

      From the modern easy grace of Ann Weems yesterday to old and have to read carefully Edmund Spenser.  But the effort is worthwhile.  Read and reread and meditate upon it.

      From Spenser’s  The Faerie Queene, II,  Canto VIII, 1 and 2.

And 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, O! th’exceeding grace

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 man, to serve his wicked foe.

How oft do they their silver bowers leave,

      To come to succor us, that succor 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,

      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?

      We give thanks to God for such love and care for us, and to quote one of Spenser’s contemporaries we pray, “Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.”

Yours & His,

DED