The Windows

In George Herbert's poem, "The Windows," the narrator asks many questions about God's action. Herbert wonders how any man can "preach the eternal word" when "he is a brittle crazy glass." He wonders how can men teach the word of God, when they are destructive of their own righteousness.

Herbert wonders why God would let imperfect beings teach and enter into his temples. The temple is "a window through thy grace," which is symbolic of what God wants to reveal to us mere mortals. If God shines his light onto us, he will make the knowledge of him "shine within" us. Herbert wonders if through church God's light "reverend grows" or if it goes bleak and thin." He wonders if a person has to go to a church or temple to feel God or can they be spiritual on their own.

"Doctrine and life, colors and lights, in one" is Herbert's way of saying, people can live with the doctrine of God, as well as have their own truth about the world. It's like the religious saying, "Be in the world, but not of the world."

When Herbert writes, " . . .but speech alone doth vanish like a flaring thing," he is wondering if people can truly remain faithful through hearing others speak of God's truth. He believes people need to discover the truth on their own, and have evidence for themselves. "And in the ear, not conscience, ring" is a reference to the narrator wanting God to speak to him and other people directly, so they will have proof and know if God really exists or not.