| So, for my Historical Theology course, I recently read two treatises by Cyprian of Carthage. He lived through a period of severe persecution, after which the Church faced a serious challenge. Men and women who had denied the faith, sacrificed according to the demands of the Roman authorities... and then afterwards sought to return to the faith. This raised the question of whether they could be allowed back to Communion -- ever. (Note that this is separate from the question of whether God can forgive them.)
Similar questions arose in regard to major sins committed by baptized Christians -- murder, adultery, that sort of thing. The Church eventually concluded that, after some years of penance and demonstrating true contrition (not falsified "repentance" without any real content) they could be allowed back. And when I say years, I mean years. Third-century Christianity took sin really, really seriously.
This raises questions -- for us -- about who should be allowed to receive Communion or not. In many churches, certainly in my own denomination, people are fairly freely allowed to partake, no questions asked. Technically, you are required to be a baptized believer, but no usher stands by to make sure you're known to fit in that category. Similarly, Roman Catholic churches require you to be a Roman Catholic to receive, but no one checks your ID as you approach.
Even in the Episcopal Church this is in some ways a fairly recent shift. Someone recently told me that, five decades ago, you brought a letter from your previous parish when you moved to a new town, saying that you were in fact a member in good standing who could be received at the altar.
Nowadays there's a movement in theologically Progressive circles to open the Lord's Supper to the unbaptized as well -- as a matter of "radical hospitality" in the name of the Lord who ate with all sorts of sinners.
I won't address that argument here. I just want to share this paragraph from Cyprian's treatise on the Lapsed, which should give a fair idea what he might have thought of the idea:
Moreover, beloved brethren, a new kind of devastation has appeared; and, as if the storm of persecution had raged too little, there has been added to the heap, under the title of mercy, a deceiving mischief and a fair-seeming calamity. Contrary to the vigour of the Gospel, contrary to the law of the Lord and God, by the temerity of some, communion is relaxed to heedless persons,—a vain and false peace, dangerous to those who grant it, and likely to avail nothing to those who receive it. They do not seek for the patience necessary to health nor the true medicine derived from atonement. Penitence is driven forth from their breasts, and the memory of their very grave and extreme sin is taken away. The wounds of the dying are covered over, and the deadly blow that is planted in the deep and secret entrails is concealed by a dissimulated suffering. Returning from the altars of the devil, they draw near to the holy place of the Lord, with hands filthy and reeking with smell, still almost breathing of the plague-bearing idol-meats; and even with jaws still exhaling their crime, and reeking with the fatal contact, they intrude on the body of the Lord, although the sacred Scripture stands in their way, and cries, saying, “Every one that is clean shall eat of the flesh; and whatever soul eateth of the flesh of the saving sacrifice, which is the Lord’s, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.” Also, the apostle testifies, and says, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of devils.” He threatens, moreover, the stubborn and froward, and denounces them, saying, “Whosoever eateth the bread or drinketh the cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
His basic argument seems to be that allowing them to share in the body and blood not only brings wrath upon them, but also gives them a false sense of security that prevents true repentance.
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| "Officials at LaVinc College today reported that its faculty is reeling from a memorandum issued by college trustees that no faculty member may advocate cannibalism as an acceptable Christian lifestyle choice. Dr. Kyrie Fly, head of the faculty senate, claimed in a prepared statement that “this restriction curtails academic freedom, due process, and LaVinc’s tradition of Christian inquiry."
Read more: http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2009/10/covenant-michigan-dateline-october-12-2021.html
Incidentally, in the comments Lars Walker apologizes for not having written the piece himself. However, I think he under-credits himself. He touched on many of the same (and sundry related) themes, at book length. You can read the novel (sci-fi/fantasy, sort of) for free here: http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/0671578154/0671578154.htm
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| So I have gradually come to the conclusion that no one uses LiveJournal anymore.
And based on the actual evidence, it doesn't look like I use it much myself, even.
Does anyone still read this occasional bloggish thing? I'm curious. :-)
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| I'm reading through Benedict XVI's new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, which addresses various socio-economic issues and builds on the work of Paul VI and John Paul II in that area. Frankly -- perhaps because I don't altogether understand the thrust of his argument yet -- I've so far found it less approachable and enjoyable than his two previous encyclicals. However, there are some very interesting ideas and passages. This is one, from the beginning of chapter 4:
Nowadays we are witnessing a grave inconsistency. On the one hand, appeals are made to alleged rights, arbitrary and non-essential in nature, accompanied by the demand that they be recognized and promoted by public structures, while, on the other hand, elementary and basic rights remain unacknowledged and are violated in much of the world. A link has often been noted between claims to a “right to excess,” and even to transgression and vice, within affluent societies, and the lack of food, drinkable water, basic instruction and elementary health care in areas of the underdeveloped world and on the outskirts of large metropolitan centres. The link consists in this: individual rights, when detached from a framework of duties which grants them their full meaning, can run wild, leading to an escalation of demands which is effectively unlimited and indiscriminate. An overemphasis on rights leads to a disregard for duties. Duties set a limit on rights because they point to the anthropological and ethical framework of which rights are a part, in this way ensuring that they do not become licence. Duties thereby reinforce rights and call for their defence and promotion as a task to be undertaken in the service of the common good. Otherwise, if the only basis of human rights is to be found in the deliberations of an assembly of citizens, those rights can be changed at any time, and so the duty to respect and pursue them fades from the common consciousness. Governments and international bodies can then lose sight of the objectivity and “inviolability” of rights. When this happens, the authentic development of peoples is endangered.... The sharing of reciprocal duties is a more powerful incentive to action than the mere assertion of rights. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Hymn | | Time: | 10:41 am |
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To the tune Kingsfold: http://www.hymnsite.com/fws/hymn.cgi?2137
1) Would I have answered when you called, “Come, follow, follow me!”? Would I at once have left behind both work and family? Or would the old, familiar round have held me by its claim And kept the spark within my heart from bursting into flame? 2) Would I have followed where you led through ancient Galilee, On roads unknown, by ways untried, beyond security? Or would I soon have hurried back where home and comfort drew, Where truth you taught would not disturb the ordered world I knew? 3) Would I have matched my step with yours when crowds cried, "Crucify!" When on a rocky hill I saw a cross against the sky? Or would I too have slipped away and left you there alone, A dying king with crown of thorns upon a terrible throne? 4) O Christ, I cannot search my heart through all its tangled ways, Nor can I with a certain mind my steadfastness appraise. I only pray that when you call, "Come, follow, follow me!" You'll give me strength beyond my own to follow faithfully.
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| | From Punch Magazine, 25 April 1934.
I Want to Be a Consumer
“And what do you mean to be?”
The kind old Bishop said
As he took the boy on his ample knee
And patted his curly head.
“We should all of us choose a calling
To help Society’s plan;
Then what do you mean to be, my boy,
When you grow up to be a man?” “I want to be a Consumer,”
The bright-haired lad replied
As he gazed up into the Bishop’s face
In innocence open-eyed.
“I’ve never had aims of a selfish sort,
For that, as I know, is wrong.
I want to be a consumer, Sir,
And help the world along. “I want to be a Consumer
And work both night and day,
For that is the thing that’s needed most,
I’ve heard economists say,
I won’t just be a Producer,
Like Bobby and James and John; I want to be a Consumer, Sir,
And help this nation on.” “But what do you want to be?”
The Bishop said again,
“For we all of us have to work,” said he,
“As must I think be plain.
Are you thinking of studying medicine
Or taking a Bar exam?”
“Why, no!” the bright-haired lad replied
As he helped himself to jam. “I want to be a Consumer
And live in a useful way;
For that is the thing that’s needed most,
I’ve heard economists say.
There are too many people working
And too many things are made.
I want to be a Consumer, Sir,
And help to further trade. “I want to be a Consumer,
And do my duty well;
For that is the thing that’s needed most,
I’ve heard Economists tell.
I’ve made up my mind,” the lad was heard
As he lit a cigar, to say;
“I want to be a Consumer, sir,
And I want to begin today.” –Patrick Barrington
(HT Front Porch Republic)
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| How's that for a title? ;-)
I thought this article made some good points.
But wait!! Before you all start yelling at me............
No, not everyone should get married at 18. In some cases it would be quite unwise. (Duh?)
Furthermore, there are lots of people who want to get married, but have other responsibilities to fulfill first, or simply haven't had a good opportunity. (The blaspheming alcoholic KKK activist? Probably not a good spousal choice.) Still others are called to celibate service.
And then there are those of you who are marooned on desert islands, where the only co-residents are large sea-turtles, and so you are prevented by circumstances from pursuing a vocation of marriage.
I don't want to accuse these brothers and sisters of disobedience. Quite the opposite, I want to offer encouragement to persevere in following Jesus, and trusting Him.
But there are many in the Church -- including pastors and other leaders -- who need to hear these things. Simply put: To order one's life according to the priorities and presuppositions of a sick culture, rather than those of the Christian faith, is... well, sin. Or as the New Testament puts it: "Little children, flee idolatry."
So for anyone who ought to read this article... go read it: http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/04/22/forbidding-to-marry-reply-to-laura/
(Don't say I didn't warn you. :-) )
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| I was struck by this passage in Coptic Pope Shenouda III's little book on Discipleship.
* * * * *
Our Lord gave us this principle when He said: “...be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. " (Matt. 10:16). He was teaching us that we should learn simplicity and innocence from doves, and wisdom from serpents, which is a symbol or suggestion that we should be prepared to learn even from the birds and from the things that crawl upon the earth.
Believe me, I've learned many lessons from the sparrows!
I was sitting before my cell in the monastery garden once, and there were a few seeds on the ground which might have been dropped by one of the farm workers. A sparrow came to feed on the seeds, and I imagined that it would eat until it had had its fill from this source of provision. But it took one or two seeds and flew off, leaving all this goodness behind without minding or regretting it.
And so I learned a lesson from this about frugality and being satisfied with what one has, and in fact about detachment as well. And I remembered what the Lord had said: "...they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;"(Matt. 6:26). This sparrow didn't greedily covet or consume its pile of material blessings, nor did it stand in guard beside it, but rather took what it needed and flew away, happier to sing in the sky than to sit beside the stuff on the ground. And in that there was another useful lesson for me.
The bird sang happily after leaving everything behind...
I said to myself: 'This little sparrow is more of a real monk than I. It is more detached from the world, because it does all this naturally of its own accord, without straining or making an effort, or having to resist inner feelings. Its nature is to be happy, in spite of the fact that little traps sometimes await it. And I recalled the words of the apostle: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4).
The sparrow also taught me a lesson in the life of trust, because it had left behind its supply of grain and flown off, trusting absolutely that wherever it went, it would find the food it needed, without having to worry about anything. And here I also remembered what our Lord said: "...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things." (Matt. 6:34) and "...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink..." (Matt. 6:26). And then I recalled what he said about the sparrows: "...for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. " (Matt. 6:26).
Dear Lord, it is a fact that these sparrows are better than many people, for the way they trust You. Yet You, out of Your great love for us, and to encourage us weak ones, said something which makes us feel ashamed of ourselves when we realise what little faith we have in comparison to the sparrows, which was: "Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26).
Thus we learn from them the life of faith, of not being worried about material things, and not being anxious about tomorrow. You Yourself, O Lord, told us to look at the birds of the sky and learn. Perhaps you meant that we are more precious than they from the point of view of being creatures endowed with a mind and spirit and made in the image and likeness of God, though the birds are superior to us in their reliance on You!!
Something else that amazes me about the sparrow is its independent spirit and love of freedom.
It amazes me how it never ties itself to one particular spot, for instance, the place where it finds food, which is why I said in my poem, 'The travelling Hermit'.
"I have no monastery for a home,
all the desert and hills are my abode.
I am a bird soaring in the air,
no passion for a nest have I.
In the world I am free,
free to travel or stay."
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Seven Stanzas at Easter
John Updike
Make no mistake: if He rose at all
it was as His body;
if the cells' dissolution did not reverse, the molecules
reknit, the amino acids rekindle,
the Church will fall.
It was not as the flowers,
each soft Spring recurrent;
it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled
eyes of the eleven apostles;
it was as His Flesh: ours.
The same hinged thumbs and toes,
the same valved heart
that — pierced — died, withered, paused, and then
regathered out of enduring Might
new strength to enclose.
Let us not mock God with metaphor,
analogy, sidestepping transcendence;
making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the
faded credulity of earlier ages:
let us walk through the door.
The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache,
not a stone in a story,
but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow
grinding of time will eclipse for each of us
the wide light of day.
And if we will have an angel at the tomb,
make it a real angel,
weighty with Max Planck's quanta, vivid with hair,
opaque in the dawn light, robed in real linen
spun on a definite loom.
Let us not seek to make it less monstrous,
for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are
embarrassed by the miracle,
and crushed by remonstrance.
(Double hat-tip: TitusOneNine, Islamdom)
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| "O Holy Jesus, Son of the most High God, Thou that wast scourged at a pillar, stretched and nailed upon a cross, for the sins of the world, unite me to Thy cross, and fill my soul with Thy holy, humble, and suffering spirit. O Fountain of mercy, Thou that didst save the thief upon the cross, save me from the guilt of a sinful life; Thou that didst cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalene, cast out of my heart all evil thoughts and wicked tempers. O Giver of life, Thou that didst raise Lazarus from the dead, raise up my soul from the death and darkness of sin. Thou that didst give to Thy Apostles power over unclean spirits, give me power over my own heart. Thou that didst appear unto Thy disciples when the doors were shut, do Thou appear unto me in the secret apartment of my heart. Thou that didst cleanse the lepers, heal the sick, and give sight to the blind, cleanse my heart, heal the disorders of my soul, and fill me with heavenly light."
~ William Law | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I like this.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make a dent in global warming. But to do it, you need a serious, non-cosmetic, un-cool, and un-trendy change in lifestyle and habits. And frankly there’s no need to make a big fuss about it, get preachy or show off to others how environmentally correct you are. Excessive non-consumption aimed at impressing one’s friends and neighbors is just as annoying — and as conspicuous — as consumption.
As others have pointed out -- there's something profoundly wrong with the idea that we can fix everything wrong with the world by buying stuff -- even different stuff, even special stuff.
Read the whole article. What do you think?
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| So I just saw this article, with the headline: "Is Your Church a Safe Church?"
Lay aside the actual contents of the article for a moment, and focus just on the headline. How do you respond to a question like that?
My first thought was to answer, "I hope not."
But after further consideration I found one I like better:
"No. We follow Jesus."
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St. Patrick's Breastplate
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation. I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom. I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men. I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock. I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Some time ago I quoted at some length and linked to an article by Wendell Berry on the social assault on the family, and what is somewhat repetitively and dismissively called "home economics." (The word "economics" is from the Greek, meaning "rule of the home" -- however impossible it might seem to identify the modern "economics" with a truly home-centered "economy.") You can see that post here.
I just read an interesting article by Allan Carlson, whose work as a historian and proponent of the natural family in all its variegated splendor I have admired for some time. He reviews a number of books, making an intriguing argument roughly to the effect that capitalism ultimately undermines its own foundations and tends toward socialism -- ultimately by co-opting the home and family, driving all able-bodied adults (men and women -- gender is as neutralized as possible in this paradigm) into the workplace and giving over children and the elderly into the care of an increasingly all-inclusive State. Call it an unholy alliance of Big Business and Big Government against the little commonwealth of the home.
One sentence that particularly struck me, effectively summing up the popular capitalist-socialist-feminist view: "Home production and the home economy must give way to reliance on the wage-economy and the state."
Check it out -- let me know your thoughts.
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"When the Galilean boy brought his bread to the Lord, what did the Lord do with it? He broke it. God will always break what is offered to Him. He breaks what He takes, but after breaking it He blesses and uses it to meet the needs of others."
~ Watchman Nee
"Therefore  I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,  acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
~ St. Paul
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| | I wrote a sermon on the readings for last Sunday; if you didn't get it and want to, drop me an e-mail. But I had further thoughts....
(You can find all the readings here: http://www.io.com/~kellywp/YearB_RCL/Lent/BLent1_RCL.html I quote the relevant bits for easy reference.)
The Psalm appointed is the first part of Ps. 25:
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
Show me your ways, O LORD, *
and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
Gracious and upright is the LORD; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
He guides the humble in doing right *
and teaches his way to the lowly.
All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 25 tells us about God's path. He shows His ways; He leads in His truth; He guides the humble in doing right; His paths are love and faithfulness. (It’s a wonderful Psalm.)
But to understand fully what this means for those who follow Jesus, read it in light of the Gospel.
First, Jesus is baptized -- He is declared God's "beloved Son," the Holy Spirit descends on Him in power.
Then, "the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness." This is the first hint of what following Jesus will mean. Anointed with the Spirit in power, He is driven -- literally in the Greek "cast out" -- into the wilderness: to fast, to fight, to sweat, to pray, to do battle with the enemy of souls. (I talked about why in my sermon.)
Then it says that after John was arrested -- for prophetic preaching, for issuing God's call to repentance, for standing for the Truth -- after John was arrested, what does Jesus do? He starts preaching, a message recalling and building on John's! "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Jesus is under no delusions about what may happen to Him. But for this He was sent.
And the very next thing, Jesus begins calling His disciples. "Come, follow me," He says. Follow in the way of God. Follow in the way of the wilderness, the way of the cross. "All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness...."
This is what it means to be a disciple. He doesn't promise to keep us from hardship and struggle and suffering and crucifixion. What He does is go there before us -- and give the gift of His Spirit and the promise of His steadfast faithfulness to guard and keep us on the way.
But something more as well -- He promises that in Him, that isn't the end of the story. He has forged a new way, through the veil that was torn in His own flesh, to redeem us by His shed blood, to bring us to God. His risen body and blood is a seal of His promise: The way of the cross is the way to absolute ultimate victory.
This is the path Jesus walks. "Come, follow me." | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | "In traditional ballroom dancing, the man leads. Is this because he is a better dancer? Or is he better looking? Or is he just a superior being? No, no, a thousand times no, we would all shout. Then what? Anyone who knows the joys of ballroom dancing knows that the entire being of the woman cries out to be thus 'led', and that the entire frame of mind of the good man in dancing is: 'Look everyone! Look at this woman! She is the glory of this dance. You are wasting your time looking at me.'"
~ Thomas Howard, The Night is Far Spent | | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment |
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Today is Ash Wednesday. I have not (yet) written a complete poem, as has been my custom; but I read a few minutes ago a piece by Dorothy Sayers, which I thought I would share. It is not so much an Ash Wednesday poem per se, but perhaps it can serve as a reminder of the call this season of Lent represents.
DESDICHADO
"This is the Heir; come let us kill Him." "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved?" CHRIST walks the world again, His lute upon His back,
His red robe rent to tatters, His riches gone to rack,
The wind that wakes the morning blows His hair about His face,
His hands and feet are ragged with the ragged briar's embrace,
For the hunt is up behind Him and His sword is at His side, . . .
Christ the bonny outlaw walks the whole world wide, Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me,
Lie among the bracken and break the barley bread?
We will see new suns arise in golden, far-off skies,
For the Son of God and Woman hath not where to lay His head." Christ walks the world again, a prince of fairy-tale,
He roams, a rascal fiddler, over mountain and down dale,
Cast forth to seek His fortune in a bitter world and grim,
For the stepsons of His Father's house would steal His Bride from Him;
They have weirded Him to wander till He bring within His hands
The water of eternal youth from black-enchanted lands, Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me,
Or sleep on silken cushions in the bower of wicked men?
For if we walk together through the wet and windy weather,
When I ride back home triumphant you will ride beside Me then." Christ walks the world again, new-bound on high emprise,
With music in His golden mouth and laughter in His eyes;
The primrose springs before Him as He treads the dusty way,
His singer's crown of thorn has burst in blossom like the may,
He heedeth not the morrow and He never looks behind,
Singing: "Glory to the open skies and peace to all mankind." Singing: "Lady, lady, will you come away with Me?
Was never man lived longer for the hoarding of his breath;
Here be dragons to be slain, here be rich rewards to gain . . .
If we perish in the seeking, . . . why, how small a thing is death!"
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