Silex Scintillans

Silex Scintillans, or Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations by Henry Vaughan, from Poetry and Selected Prose of Henry Vaughan, 164 pages

One of the greatest of the Metaphysical poets of 17th century Britain, Vaughan was little known during his lifetime.  The first volume of Silex Scintillans - "The Sparkling Flint" - was followed years later by a second after a nearly fatal illness led to a renewed interest in life and religion.  This shows - while the first volume is fine poetry, the second has an added energy and depth that elevates it to the rank of classic.

Both volumes are solidly grounded in Scripture, with Vaughan making more use of explicit Biblical subjects and models than his Metaphysical peers.  The second volume is also deeply personal, with an interesting combination of reflectiveness and urgency.