Welcome to Episode 4. This is a special episode because for the first time we are welcoming a guest to the show. Our guest is the Reverend Dr Greg Peters. Father Peters is the author of several books, including Anglican Spirituality: An Introduction, published in 2024, and it is this book which is the primary topic for our discussion in this Episode. Here is the Amazon link to Father Peters’ superb book, which I highly recommend.

Please note that there was an unfortunate production error in the recording of our conversation. The audio is perfectly fine, but for the first 28 minutes, the video only displays Father Peters. Not until minute 28 did I realize the split screen was not on. At that point, the problem was fixed.

So, the audio is good for the whole episode, and 2/3rds of the video has the proper split screen. Apologies to all for this faux paus. Still on a learning curve when it comes to podcast production.

I think know that you will find this episode edifying. As a help, I have included below several poems by John Donne and George Herbert, which come up in different ways during our conversation. Also below is a diagram which illustrates Father Martin Thornton’s teaching on the Threefold Regula, derived from Acts 2:42, upon which the Book of Common Prayer is based.

As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments section. I love hearing your feedback!

Prayer of Jeremy Taylor, Bishop, d. 1667

O Holy and ever blessed Spirit, Who didst overshadow the Holy Virgin-Mother of our Lord, and caused her to conceive by a miraculous and mysterious manner; be pleased to overshadow our souls, and enlighten our spirit, that we may conceive the holy Jesus in our hearts, and may bear Him in our mind, and may grow up to the fullness of the stature of Christ, to be perfect in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Poem: John Donne, “Divine Meditations 5”

I am a little world made cunningly Of elements and an angelic sprite, But black sin hath betray'd to endless night My world's both parts, and oh both parts must die. You which beyond that heaven which was most high Have found new spheres, and of new lands can write, Pour new seas in mine eyes, that so I might Drown my world with my weeping earnestly, Or wash it, if it must be drown'd no more. But oh it must be burnt; alas the fire Of lust and envy have burnt it heretofore, And made it fouler; let their flames retire, And burn me O Lord, with a fiery zeal Of thee and thy house, which doth in eating heal.

From the theology of Father Martin Thornton:

Poem: George Herbert, “The Holy Communion”

Not in rich furniture, or fine aray,

Nor in a wedge of gold,

Thou, who for me wast sold,

To me dost now thy self convey;

For so thou should’st without me still have been,

Leaving within me sinne:

But by the way of nourishment and strength

Thou creep’st into my breast;

Making thy way my rest,

And thy small quantities my length;

Which spread their forces into every part,

Meeting sinnes force and art.

Yet can these not get over to my soul,

Leaping the wall that parts

Our souls and fleshy hearts;

But as th’ outworks, they may controll

My rebel-flesh, and carrying thy name,

Affright both sinne and shame.

Only thy grace, which with these elements comes,

Knoweth the ready way,

And hath the privie key,

Op’ning the souls most subtile rooms;

While those to spirits refin’d, at doore attend

Dispatches from their friend.

Give me my captive soul, or take

My bodie also thither.

Another lift like this will make

Them both to be together.

Before that sinne turn’d flesh to stone,

And all our lump to leaven;

A fervent sigh might well have blown

Our innocent earth to heaven.

For sure when Adam did not know

To sinne, or sinne to smother;

He might to heav’n from Paradise go,

As from one room t’another.

Thou hast restor’d us to this ease

By this thy heav’nly bloud;

Which I can go to, when I please,

And leave th’earth to their food.

Poem: George Herbert, from “The Priesthood”

Wherefore I dare not, I, put forth my hand

To hold the Ark,1 although it seems to shake

Through th’ old sinnes and new doctrines of our land.

Onely, since God doth often vessels make

Of lowly matter for high uses meet,

I throw me at his feet.

There will I lie, untill my Maker seek

For some mean stuffe thereon to show his skill:

Then is my time. The distance of the meek

Doth flatter power. Lest good come short of ill

In praising might, the poore do by submission

What pride by opposition.

Poem: George Herbert, “Lent”

Welcome deare feast of Lent: who loves not thee,

He loves not Temperance, or Authoritie,

But is compos'd of passion.

The Scriptures bid us fast; the Church sayes, now:

Give to thy Mother, what thou wouldst allow

To ev'ry Corporation.

The humble soul compos'd of love and fear

Begins at home, and layes the burden there,

When doctrines disagree.

He sayes, in things which use hath justly got,

I am a scandall to the Church, and not

The Church is so to me.

True Christians should be glad of an occasion

To use their temperance, seeking no evasion,

When good is seasonable;

Unlesse Authoritie, which should increase

The obligation in us, make it lesse,

And Power it self disable.

Besides the cleannesse of sweet abstinence,

Quick thoughts and motions at a small expense,

A face not fearing light:

Whereas in fulnesse there are sluttish1 fumes,

Sowre exhalations, and dishonest rheumes,2

Revenging the delight.

Then those same pendant profits, which the spring

And Easter intimate, enlarge the thing,

And goodnesse of the deed.

Neither ought other mens abuse of Lent

Spoil the good use; lest by that argument

We forfeit all our Creed.

It 's true, we cannot reach Christ's fortieth day;

Yet to go part of that religious way,

Is better than to rest:

We cannot reach our Savior's purity;

Yet are bid, Be holy ev'n as he.

In both let 's do our best.

Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone,

Is much more sure to meet with him, than one

That travelleth by-ways:

Perhaps my God, though he be far before,

May turn, and take me by the hand, and more

May strengthen my decays.

Yet Lord instruct us to improve our fast

By starving sin and taking such repast

As may our faults control:

That ev'ry man may revel at his door,

Not in his parlor; banqueting the poor,

And among those his soul.

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