The
overarching theme can be stated as restlessness pulls humankind
into God's arms. The premise of Herbert's poem provides an explanation for the weariness and
struggles humankind faces and provides insight into the hopeful foolproof means God allows to
draw humankind into his arms.
The poem explains God's perception that if the
"jewel" of "rest" had been bestowed on humankind along with the
"riches" of "strength," "beauty," "wisdom, honour,
pleasure," then humankind would "adore" the gifts of God instead of adoring him;
they would find "rest" in the
"beauty" of "Nature" instead of in him.
"For if I should," said he,
"Bestow this jewel also on my
creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the
God of Nature;...."
Therefore God allows humankind
all the "rest" of the riches except "rest." This double use of
"rest" can be confusing. In one sense it means all else, and in
the other sense it means repose, peacefulness, restfulness, tranquility,
even slumber. It is through withholding "rest" as
restfulness and leaving humankind in a perpetual state of "restlessness" that God
hopes to extend a "pulley" by which to "toss" humankind to his
"breast" when "goodness" fails to move the mind and spirit of humankind
God-ward.
Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep
them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If
goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.
Other themes the poem touches on are
(1) the intention of God in creating and (2) the purpose behind humankind's imprisonment in a
life of weariness (Herbert's struggles seem to have been on the milder side of the spectrum as
his language, "weariness" and "restlessness," doesn't seem to encompass deep
life struggles). First, Herbert posits as God's intention the act of bestowing on humankind a
full "glass of blessings" of the "the worlds riches." He has second
thoughts, "made a stay" on his actions and, with the intent of pulling human souls to
his arms, withheld "rest." Second, Herbert suggests that the reason all are bound by
"weariness" is so that their hearts will respond to the pull God-ward: "If
goodness lead him not, yet weariness / May toss him to my breast."
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