The Dwelling-Place

By Henry Vaughan

John 1:38-39

What happy secret fountain,

Fair shade or mountain,

Whose undiscovered virgin glory

Boasts it this day, though not in story,

Was then thy dwelling? Did some cloud,

Fixed to a tent, descend a shroud

My distressed Lord? Or did a star,

Beckoned by Thee, though high and far,

In sparkling smiles haste gladly down

To lodge light and increase her own?

My dear, dear God! I do not know

What lodged Thee then, nor where, nor how;

But I am sure Thou dost now come

Oft to a narrow, homely room,

Where Thou too hast but the least part:

My God, I mean my sinful heart.