THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN

10. THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN

 

Tolls in my head this one refrain 

Strengthen those things which do remain

Faded bloom, frailest flower

Sorely feel our want of power 

Held in place with stake and twine 

 For summer glories do we pine

To us Thy Word so oft was sent  

 Called us ever to repent

Lest Thou’d come and like a thief

Afflict us with an hour of grief 

But Thy warm and watchful eye

Seeks out those as prone to die

So bend Thine ear to our prayer   

And heal us by Thy tender care

Chasten us and at full length

Nurse us back to greater strength

Till then I've yet this one refrain 

Strengthen those things which do remain.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NO BODY THERE

35. NO BODY THERE   Of thing most odd and strange to tell I wish right here to sound the knell Of saints I know who stay at home To no church ever do they roam Now be clear in what I paint And don't mistake my class of saint Suffers he no painful rift Nor fails to go for want of lift Hindered not by ice or snow No age nor ailment does he show By none of these from church is rent But stays at home by firm intent   Tis not hard to see the draw For Sunday Best is quite the chore Nice to laugh at fog and frost Stay in PJs at no cost All he seeks in God’s whole House Can still be his by click of mouse Where late-comers can never rile He easy mutes that bawling child Plodding preacher holds no fear For online stars he only hears No sermon too dull or too long None to warn the word is wrong Easy come, easy cleave None to care what he believes And is it less real to break the Bread Even when he’s still in bed?   Bu...
Read more

END-TIME PERILS

30. END-TIME PERILS   When I was young all things did know Twas easy then end-times to show Zechariah, Daniel, I both had read Not even Ezekiel caused me dread Knew famed Apocalypse by heart Chapter and list, text and chart Saw not a reason nor a rhyme For shade of view on Millennial time Could show by scribbling from Holy Writ Just where in it all the Jews did fit Warned church folks of future foes Odd fell beasts and horses four Holding forth in strident tone Number of Beast was clearly shown Waded in still deeper waters Prophesied like Philip’s daughters!   Yet to all this God called a halt Showed me in an hour all my fault   Did through His Spirit, a work so deft Not one stone upon another was left Now when I read, view text with text I find in truth I’m quite perplexed I’m humbler now and chastened too (If still one day I may build anew) But for now I stay with what’s clear A simple hope to bring me cheer So...
Read more

WYCLIFFE

25. MORNING STAR A short drive from my hometown you can find what was once a lido, a favoured spot for a summer’s outing, and site at one time of a miniature railway. All gone now, but I well recall the occasion when a walk downstream from there uncovered a delightful local secret…   Where water meets an aging span A stroll by Tees I once did plan Where fondest dog was wont to go I’d seek out old rail and lost lido Beyond fall’s roar and river’s foam I chanced upon a tithe of homes There midst leaf and sap of birch Lay a charming country church To give her name I am not chary For finer name is none than Mary Drawn by hope to find a host I neared to mark her doorway boast Wait, what name of note is this Hidden shy in bucolic bliss? An English son of proudest toast A name once known from coast to coast Amazed was I 'neath tree and cliff To drop right here on John Wycliffe! Rising Star who hailed the morn Paved the way for Reform's daw...
Read more