『성전』에 나타난 허버트의 성화(聖化)과정

Sanctification of George Herbert in The Temple

George Herbert, one of the metaphysical poets in the seventeenth century in England, tries to express the real meaning of divine love and grace through the consideration of his religious conflicts. The Temple, the only volume of Herbert's devotional poems, presents his process of religious maturity. The Temple, recognized by many critics as Herbert's spiritual autobiography, is the record of his religious experience and personal relationship with God. Herbert deals with the spiritual conflicts between his soul and God, the record of redemption, the restoration of his spiritual relation with God, and obedience to God's calling in The Temple. Herbert describes the steps of his sanctification in The Temple. Though he believes in God, Herbert expresses the conflicts between worldly temptation and religious duty. His conflicts caused by afflictions changes him into obedient attitude to the Lord by his religious self-recognition, and then he can enter the road of God's love. Herbert is finally convinced that God's grace and love always abides with him after he perceives himself as a wretched being, and that Christ's death is a sacrifice for man and His Salvation is secured by only God's grace and love. Herbert accepts God's calling with a humble bow. Herbert's religious experiences in The Temple are not confined within his personal ones but represent those of all Christians and are valuable to those who have no beliefs in God. In his short life, the evaluation on his poetry is being elevated. The main reason is in his sincere and serious attitude in expressing his religious experience. He tries to express his experience to help those who had a difficulty in leading a life due to the inner conflicts.