Though Feeble Their Lays

O let my lips confess You, Lord, and let my heart agree; in truth, according to Your Word let my confession be. A prophet and a righteous man, yet more than this I own: You were before the worlds began the Son of God alone. Yours is the only Name by which we must and shall be saved, poor as we are, to make us rich, no other treasure craved. Nor was this proven to my mind by men, by flesh and blood; my Father and my God designed, so is it understood. It comes from hearing; having heard, I trust the One Who speaks, that all His Word is well-assured above the mountain peaks. I never well enough could do in works, or pleas, or tears - I must have Christ - He comes, and through mere faith to me appears. O build Your church, dear Lord, with me, upon Your Stone a stone, for You have raised my life to be upon Your founding thrown. By Your upholding power may I put off malicious will, from bitterness, from lust apply Your Spirit’s fire to fill. And love, may Your unfailing love movements to sin replace, that I may love, as You do love, and foes to friends embrace. Yet foes there are the gates of hell send forth against Your own. They strive, if so they still might quell the purpose of Your throne. Our good confession shall remain; our hope we contemplate: the Seed of Christ shall hold the plain, and take the foe-man’s gate. So shall no judgment there prevail on who the good Word hold, for You have conquered death, and quail no more whom You enfold. They put You, Lord, to death, but You only by this did seal Your work to save Your people through whatever death may deal. O let no other man, nor power against You, Lord, be raised. Our refuge is no other tower, no other Name be praised. Give us then grace to keep Your Word, from true hearts to confess, O keep us in Your grace, and cured of double-mindedness. We gratefully submit, Your yoke, Your humble yoke receive, nor wander more, for lo - You spoke, and simply we believe. 02/07/2016 & 02/21/2016

I love the little chickadee, I love his little song, his clear and happy melody; I love the little chickadee, to hear him call out cheerily and whistle loud and long. I love the little chickadee, I love his little song. 02/06/2017

A coal from heaven fell upon my eye and burned it as I sat and listened here while Jesus spoke. He struck also my ear, my foot, my palm, my forearm, and my thigh, nor finished yet, He opened now to try my very heart its choicest meat to sear, and smote with brands of rueful flame and fear, flown from His holy lips till I should die. A spirit moved within me quick and hot, to find and prove what will not last; therefore my salty tears my blackened wounds gave spice. My Lord! my heart reached out, and sought the One Who spoke, and heard then one word more: 'Tis well; this is a worthy sacrifice. 10/16/2016 Sonnet Index

Life is a masquerade; watch how we play; out of the water see a man new-made; a little bread suffices more to aid the health of life than kingly fare; but say now pleasantries, now curses, and display in miniature the scope of life; but trade now courtesy for self-expression - fade too unseen virtues link by link away. Authentic me is damned, must daily die, and be put off, be lashed upon the tree, or I am nothing but a hellion. Or - Authentic me is hid with Christ on high, to be put on, for Him, for you, for me, be found in Him, and every day the more. 12/17/2015 Sonnet Index

It is a gray and bitter wind abroad, and full of pins and daggers crystalline. My heart is warm: I have a house within; is hot: the hearth flames higher while I plod. But is it hot with anger? It is flawed, but wrath tends not always to break, or sin - is bitterness? is fear? these wear more thin; is it not well, nor happy with its God? He sees, and knows: He better knows than I. His Word can cut to such a depth, and more. His Spirit blows wherever yet He will. And this is good; He lights my smoky eye, will slay what needs be slain, will scrape and score, the more with His refining fire to fill. 11/17/2015 Sonnet Index

The grass is yellow on the hill, the barn is broken down. The man comes no more now to till; the grass is yellow on the hill; he’ll not again his garners fill; he’s gone away to town. The grass is yellow on the hill, the barn is broken down. 02/01/2017

I tell the truth in Christ - you go not back to sinnish slavery by sinning now. The One Who brought you out will not allow His dear-bought articles again the wrack when He has once released. Rave not, then, hack not madly at chains not there, make no new vow. He freely freed you, bent frame bade unbow to sit by Him instead in purple sack. Pity those in prison still, yet know you are not there, and go not back, for when once freed your sins no more admission pay. Deny rather Him you all your freedom owe! God forbid! Fear not therefore that den He gained to sack a king’s ransom away. 12/03/2013 Sonnet Index

1 Corinthians 10:4 6 7 6 7 6 6 There is a mighty Rock as great as many mountains. Upon it are the stock of God from hidden fountains made glad, and gladly say their thirst is gone away. It is a level place, and broad, it is a shoulder, for Christ His noble face confides, and they are bolder who on His sinew stand than any in the land. It is a bearing sound for building, though the waters should flow and shakes the ground on every side: the daughters and sons wash not away, secure amid the fray. Fool, take your stand no more where is no lasting city your strength is vain, and poor your coin to buy the pity, while froward you insist, of Him you dare resist. Friend come, there is more room upon this Rock than, peering without where all is gloom, would seem, but sight is clearing within the Light: who would draw near shall find Him good. 03/31/2016 Hymnal Index

Ephesians 1:20-23 7 8 6 D Christ has broken from the tomb, and earth and heaven have no room His glory to contain. Life is wrested free from death, its silence shattered by His breath, its terror by His reign. Christ has broken from the tomb and carries from the hidden gloom all things that make a world. Household, village, nation, trade, each law and lay come out remade, from grave-clothes come unfurled. Christ has broken from the tomb, and sun his ray, and violet's bloom bend to His proper rule. Crooked paths are pressed and neat projected at His piercèd feet, and wisdom finds the fool. Christ has broken from the tomb, and in a garden stands a Groom made ready for His Bride. She in emblem there indeed as Mary from the demons freed saw Him alive Who died. Christ has broken from the tomb, old Adam's body to exhume, for long had lain it dead. Through the present age He calls from heaven that from seven falls a new Eve He might wed. Christ has broken from the tomb and weaves upon His mighty loom in time her lovely shape. Having finished all her days, she will be known, and eyes will gaze for awe, and angels gape. Christ has broken from the tomb and meets us at the Day of Doom, the keys of death in hand. Fear be farthest from our mind; our Groom is at the Door assigned and beckons heaven’s land. 03/27/2016 Hymnal Index

Psalm 37:7-15 6 6 6 6 11 Where is the deadly bow bent of the wicked foe? I hear it is broken for Yahweh has spoken, and splintered as trees at the voice of the Lord. Where is the sword would slay souls on affliction’s way? I hear it is sated on them that have hated the way of the righteous, forsaking the Lord. Where are the wicked men gnashing their teeth again? I hear mighty laughter; He sees what comes after; their end is upon them, the Day of the Lord. Rest, O my soul, in Him. Rest while the sky is grim, and cease from all fretting - ’tis their sun is setting - the land will belong to the meek of the Lord. Wait, for the news is near. Wait, and be still, appear the wicked no longer for God is the stronger, and prospers the people who wait for the Lord. 03/26/2016 Hymnal Index

Matthew 27:57-61 VI. 57 When evening came, a rich Arimathean, named Joseph, one who had with Jesus gone, 58 this man to Pilate went for Jesus' body, and Pilate his request bade to be done. 59 So Joseph took and wrapped the corpse in linen 60 and in his own tomb laid Him down alone, which tomb had not been used by any person, but lately had been hewn out of the stone. A door-plate then he rolled against the entrance into the tomb, and somber farewell gave, 61 but Mary Magdalene with the other Mary remained in silence opposite the grave. 03/26/2016 Hymnal Index

John 3:14 7 7 8 7 6 Look to Jesus lifted up and see the Serpent vanquished! Impaled in bronze, a frozen flame; who sore by him are anguished, O look to Christ and live! Grumble not against the Lord but tremble, lest you perish. Affix on Him what wayward eye, offending, else would cherish! No, look to Christ and live! Pine not for the former day; forget the yoke of bondage. Your birthright cast not now away to have a mess of pottage: look still to Christ and live! Gaze upon the way in fear the Father to remit us our heinous sins has made, by mere His mercy to acquit us! Look full on Christ and live! Glory courses from the cross, and all shall fall before Him. All rivals count therefore as loss to love Him and to know Him, to look on Christ and live! 03/26/2016 Hymnal Index

Psalm 129 8 6 6 8 6 6 6 A Song of Ascents. 1 From youth has their hostility toward me been on display, let Israel now say, 2 From youth has their hostility toward me been on display, yet never once were they triumphant over me. 3 The plowers had their way with me, my back to plow and, sore, their furrows lengthened more. 4 But Yahweh: He is righteous, He has cut my bonds in twain the wicked to restrain had fastened over me. 5 May they be put to shame who hate that Zion should be well! To turn them back compel! 6 May they like grass upon the slate, upon the housetops burn, to withered dust return, before they stand up straight. 7 The reaper, though he may address his hand to such a field, will have of it no yield, nor has the binder sheaves to dress, 8 nor do they passing say may Yahweh bless your way, in Yahweh do we bless. 03/25/2016 Hymnal Index