| Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903. | | | | The Ministry of Angels | | By Edmund Spenser (1552?–1599) |
| | | AND 1 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 oh, th’ exceeding grace | 5 |
| 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 men, to serve His wicked foe. | |
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| How oft do they their silver bowers leave | 10 |
| To come to succour us that succour 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, | 15 |
| 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? | |
| | | Note 1. “The Ministry of Angels” is from the “Faerie Queene,” II. viii. 1, 2; “The Love of Christ,” from “A Hymn of Heavenly Love.” [back] | | |
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