When first Thou on me, Lord, wroughtest Thy sweet print,
My heart was made Thy tinder-box,
My 'ffections were Thy tinder in't,
Where fell Thy sparks by drops.
Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came
Did ever catch and often out would flame.
But now my heart is made Thy censer trim,
Full of Thy golden altar's fire,
To offer up sweet incense in
Unto Thyself entire:
I find my tinder scarce Thy sparks can feel
That drop from out Thy holy flint and steel.
Hence doubts out bud for fear Thy fire in me
'S a mocking ignis fatuus,
Or lest Thine altar's fire out be,
It's hid in ashes thus.
Yet when the bellows of Thy spirit blow
Away mine ashes, then Thy fire doth glow.
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Explanation
From guest Ryan (contact)
Can anyone please give me an explantion on what Taylor meant by this poem -
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My interpretation for what it is worth, is that the poet is describing his faith in God as he grows older.
As a Youth he accepted everything and his faith was strong and his belief firm
==Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came==
==Did ever catch and often out would flame.==
Then as he grew into adulthood he was attacked by doubts and his faith waxed and waned and he found it harder to reconcile the new things he was discovering to his Christian beliefs.
==I find my tinder scarce Thy sparks can feel==
==That drop from out Thy holy flint and steel.==
But he ends by saying he has not given up completely and his dwindling faith is occasionaly rekindled by the glories of nature which he sees (possibly) as a sign from God
==Yet when the bellows of Thy spirit blow==
==Away mine ashes, then Thy fire doth glow.==
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