In Herbert's "The Pulley", God's supremacy is exemplified through______

Analyze the question: It asks how God's supremacy (His power and control over man) is shown in George Herbert's poem "The Pulley."

Explain the concept: In the poem, God creates man and pours out blessings on him: strength, beauty, wisdom, honour and pleasure. God then deliberately holds back one gift, rest, which lies at the bottom of the glass. His reasoning is that if man had rest too, he would worship the gifts instead of the Giver. Without rest, man stays "weary" and restless, and this restlessness pulls him back to God, like a pulley. The title image shows God drawing man up to Himself.

Step-by-step solution:

• Option D: Giving man many gifts shows God's generosity, but not His supremacy or control over man.
• Option C: The poem suggests God's care, but "unending love" is not the main way it shows His supremacy.
• Option B: Man's insatiable needs describe man's condition, not God's power.
• Option A: God's decision to withhold rest is an act of sovereign authority. He decides what man gets and what he doesn't, so that man will turn to Him. This is the clearest display of supremacy.

Answer: A. His withholding of the gift of rest

Exam tip: For "The Pulley," remember the key idea: rest withheld → restlessness → man returns to God. If a question asks about God's control or purpose, look for the option about the withheld gift of rest.