372 



Old Church Plate in Wilts. 



indiscriminately, as a ready way of decoration. The collected 

 writings of George Herbert, consisting of his sacred poems, &c, were 

 printed soon after his death, under the title of " The Temple." Many 

 of these refer to different parts of a Church. To this was added a 

 somewhat similar work, called the " Synagogue or Shadow of the 

 Temple," written by Christopher Harvey, a devout admirer of 

 Herbert's. The usage and reverence of nearly two centuries and a 

 half have associated this work with " The Temple/'' in which Harvey 

 sought to imitate with distant footsteps the spirit of his master's 

 writings. Amongst his descriptions of things connected with the 

 Church, the following relates to the holy vessels : — 



" Communion-Plate. 



"Never was gold or silver graced thus 

 Before : 



To bring this Body and this Blood to us 

 Is more 



Then to crown kings, 



Or be made rings 

 For star-like diamonds to glitter in. 



No precious stones are meet to match this bread 

 Divine ; 



Spirits of pearls dissolved would but dead 

 This wine : 



This heav'nly food 



Is too — too good 

 To be compar'd to any earthly thing. 



" For such inestimable treasure can 

 There be 



Vessels too costly made by any man? 

 Sure he 



That knows the meat 



So good to eat 

 Would wish to see it richly served in. 



