Picturing religious experience

"Although a number of studies have associated George Herbert with English Calvinism, the links between Herbert's writings and those of John Calvin have not been sufficiently investigated. Yet the latter, especially his commentaries on Scripture, were abundant and influential in Herbert's Church of England. Accordingly, Picturing Religious Experience explores Herbert's poetry in relation to those writings, particularly regarding 'spiritual conflicts,' which the poet himself said would be depicted throughout his book of poems. Much more than is generally realized, Calvin wrote about the experience of living the Christian life - also Herbert's subject in many of his poems. Altogether, this study maintains that Herbert owes to his religious orientation not just themes or details, but an impulse to observe and depict the inner life and scriptual patterns which significantly contribute to the substance and literary excellence of The Temple." -- Back cover.