Hi help me with the poem

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sympathy

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What Love is this of thine, that Cannot bee
In thine Infinity, O Lord, Confinde,
Unless it in thy very Person see,
Infinity, and Finity Conjoyn'd?
What hath thy Godhead, as not satisfide
Marri'de our Manhood, making it its Bride?


Oh, Matchless Love! filling Heaven to the brim!
O're running it: all running o're beside
This World! Nay Overflowing Hell; wherein
For thine Elect, there rose a mighty Tide!
That there our Veans might through thy Person bleed,
To quench those flames, that else would on us feed.


Oh! that thy Love might overflow my Heart!
To fire the same with Love: for Love I would.
But oh! my streight'ned Breast! my Lifeless Sparke!
My Fireless Flame! What Chilly Love, and Cold?
In measure small! In Manner Chilly! See.
Lord blow the Coal: Thy Love Enflame in mee.


Can you explain the first four lines of this poem? I have no idea.
 

apex2000

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What Love is this of thine, that Cannot bee
In thine Infinity, O Lord, Confinde,
Unless it in thy very Person see,
Infinity, and Finity Conjoyn'd?

This is posing a question to God about the timelessness of his love - infinite and finite.
 

Anglika

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Paraphrase:


What is this love that cannot be confined within your Infinity, God, unless infinite and finite together are found within your Person.
 

sympathy

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Thanks,
Now I understood the first stanza.
Can you check my understanding of the next two lines?
Paraphrase: What has your Godhead, as if not satisfied, married our Manhood, and made it [the Godhead] its [the Manhood] Bride?
Is that correct?
 

sympathy

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Can you help me with the second stanza?
What's "O're"?
 

sympathy

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'over' makes sense. Thank you.
Can you explain what does "Nay Overflowing Hell" mean? What's 'Nay'?
What does 'for thine Elect' mean? What is 'our Veans'?
What does the 12th line mean?
 

Anglika

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'over' makes sense. Thank you.
Can you explain what does "Nay Overflowing Hell" mean? What's 'Nay'?
What does 'for thine Elect' mean? What is 'our Veans'?
What does the 12th line mean?

Nay Overflowing Hell; wherein
For thine Elect, there rose a mighty Tide!
That there our Veans might through thy Person bleed,
To quench those flames, that else would on us feed.

Nay = No >> "No, overflowing Hell" = No, it has even overflowed Hell - filled it to excess

"thine elect" = those who are chosen

"Veans" = "veins"

"That the blood from Christ's wounds, through our veins, will quench the flames [of passion] that otherwise will feed on us".
 

apex2000

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'over' makes sense. Thank you.
Can you explain what does "Nay Overflowing Hell" mean? What's 'Nay'?No, (or not)

What does 'for thine Elect' mean? thy (your) chosen
What is 'our Veans'? possibly our veins, I cannot locate the old English I believe this comes from

What does the 12th line mean?
Put out the flames of Hell which would otherwise burn us
Which book did you find this in?
 

sympathy

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Put out the flames of Hell which would otherwise burn us
Which book did you find this in?
No, I find this poem on the Internet. It's the "Meditation 1" of Edward Taylor.

Nay = No >> "No, overflowing Hell" = No, it has even overflowed Hell - filled it to excess

"thine elect" = those who are chosen

"Veans" = "veins"

"That the blood from Christ's wounds, through our veins, will quench the flames [of passion] that otherwise will feed on us".

I thought it was the flames of hell? What does "the flames of passion" mean?
If we are encouraged by passions, it will be a very good thing for us????
 

Anglika

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I thought it was the flames of hell? What does "the flames of passion" mean?
If we are encouraged by passions, it will be a very good thing for us????

"...To quench those flames, that else would on us feed."

The flames of passion is a figure of speech indicating that passion has taken over and that you are no longer capable of rational or reasonable thought or behaviour. It is not generally regarded as a good state to be in.
 

sympathy

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Thanks, I think it could be either the flame of hell or of pass.
Anyway, thanks so much for your helps :D
 
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