THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL
By A. Pope
1 Vital spark of heavenly flame!
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying,
Oh the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life!
2 Hark! they whisper; angels say,
'Sister Spirit, come away!'
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be Death?
3 The world recedes; it disappears!
Heaven opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Poem
Eclogue 1
Silvanus:
John!
How came you to reside here upon the green
with wine-skin in hand drinking merrily and singing splendidly?
I far off heard your song and came to see.
Alas, I wander far from home
my stock finds no lush foliage for fodder while your sheep grow fat
all the while you sit idle in the shade
and turn happy thoughts.
John:
But such is the service of the God-man,
Who from on high; through many a peril
by his safe-conduct-markings and planning
has led me to this happy spot.
But I rest only anxiously content,
for happier spots beyond the farthest hill, yet remain.
Silvanus:
I marvel!
A wanderer? Peril? The God-man?
Truly so sweet a spot!
I am weary with my walking and heavy laden
while my sheep wander off, not to be found
and more than a few I’ve left,
under fresh mounds of earth or lame;
I left them by the roadside being too weak to carry them.
Alas, at the mighty oak I made my prayer
and saw such wondrous signs fixed at night
upon the stars; that portended much promise to no avail!
Who is it that led you here?
Where can I find such a guide?
To whom do you make supplications to find so fine a set of blessings?
The brook? The daisy or else, some footed or flying beast?
John:
The king known as: “The three. The one.”
I, there, where so many of our set have wandered
at the foot of those distant mountains, slept
when upon the first light of morn I heard
such a wondrous tune upon the wind; a voice secure and calling.
It spoke of a Garden-city and commanded me to follow
I obliged, reluctantly but stupefied, but by midday
so heartily I moved my flock along
and soon was singing a tune I’d never heard
and merrily
that welled within and poured forth upon the ripening day.
Silvanus:
You sang a tune you’d never heard?
John:
Merrily!
in the dark of night when wolves stocked my precious woolen cargo
all day across deep rivers on dangerous paths it contented my heart
all along such oasis’ as this, where now you find me
it sustained and freshened me.
The former ache of bones and discontent leapt from my countenance
and happily I found these little spots to rest
but wished, always, most ardently to begin again, the journey
to continue to the Garden-city
Silvanus:
It seems the very sweetest of all the
green earth springs forth for you.
How contented-calm your flock looks
so fat, so pure white!
Where once such darkly, blemished ewes wandered after you!
How vastly bigger your flock!
John:
I can say not but praise his name;
that fell voice upon the wind
that steady strength that lights upon my breast so keenly
that comforts and aids me.
There has been much along the way…
…all such blessing I never imagined!
Silvanus:
Yet must I go on!?
There!
My flock wanders and withers away as we speak
and wearier I grow!
Do not deny me audience with this mighty God-Man, the King.
John:
Silvanus come lie here and rest
I will to the creek, not far away
and draw water to wash you and quench your thirst
sleep, dear Silvanus, with that yearning in your breast.
I will watch your flock.
Upon the morning break; you as well will hear the wind
and we will on, together, singing a fine new tune
while come what may, we will go on toward the Garden-City
to see the King and Praise his name!
Silvanus:
John!
How came you to reside here upon the green
with wine-skin in hand drinking merrily and singing splendidly?
I far off heard your song and came to see.
Alas, I wander far from home
my stock finds no lush foliage for fodder while your sheep grow fat
all the while you sit idle in the shade
and turn happy thoughts.
John:
But such is the service of the God-man,
Who from on high; through many a peril
by his safe-conduct-markings and planning
has led me to this happy spot.
But I rest only anxiously content,
for happier spots beyond the farthest hill, yet remain.
Silvanus:
I marvel!
A wanderer? Peril? The God-man?
Truly so sweet a spot!
I am weary with my walking and heavy laden
while my sheep wander off, not to be found
and more than a few I’ve left,
under fresh mounds of earth or lame;
I left them by the roadside being too weak to carry them.
Alas, at the mighty oak I made my prayer
and saw such wondrous signs fixed at night
upon the stars; that portended much promise to no avail!
Who is it that led you here?
Where can I find such a guide?
To whom do you make supplications to find so fine a set of blessings?
The brook? The daisy or else, some footed or flying beast?
John:
The king known as: “The three. The one.”
I, there, where so many of our set have wandered
at the foot of those distant mountains, slept
when upon the first light of morn I heard
such a wondrous tune upon the wind; a voice secure and calling.
It spoke of a Garden-city and commanded me to follow
I obliged, reluctantly but stupefied, but by midday
so heartily I moved my flock along
and soon was singing a tune I’d never heard
and merrily
that welled within and poured forth upon the ripening day.
Silvanus:
You sang a tune you’d never heard?
John:
Merrily!
in the dark of night when wolves stocked my precious woolen cargo
all day across deep rivers on dangerous paths it contented my heart
all along such oasis’ as this, where now you find me
it sustained and freshened me.
The former ache of bones and discontent leapt from my countenance
and happily I found these little spots to rest
but wished, always, most ardently to begin again, the journey
to continue to the Garden-city
Silvanus:
It seems the very sweetest of all the
green earth springs forth for you.
How contented-calm your flock looks
so fat, so pure white!
Where once such darkly, blemished ewes wandered after you!
How vastly bigger your flock!
John:
I can say not but praise his name;
that fell voice upon the wind
that steady strength that lights upon my breast so keenly
that comforts and aids me.
There has been much along the way…
…all such blessing I never imagined!
Silvanus:
Yet must I go on!?
There!
My flock wanders and withers away as we speak
and wearier I grow!
Do not deny me audience with this mighty God-Man, the King.
John:
Silvanus come lie here and rest
I will to the creek, not far away
and draw water to wash you and quench your thirst
sleep, dear Silvanus, with that yearning in your breast.
I will watch your flock.
Upon the morning break; you as well will hear the wind
and we will on, together, singing a fine new tune
while come what may, we will go on toward the Garden-City
to see the King and Praise his name!
Forms: Eclogue
An eclogue is a poem in a classical style on a pastoral subject. Poems in the genre are sometimes also called bucolics. They were originally used as fillers between plays in roman days and are usually dialogues or monolgues. The idea is to resent to apposing views and in the end have one prevail.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Poem
Biographies
They are born near page one
where they begin to collect the bits of providence
that shapes and carves from clay; men
scoundrels, leaders; the mighty and the misfortunate
some plan vain things, others
kiss the Son
We hold their lives in our hands
turn over the moments that made them
wishing for ourselves, so much more
to be like these sainted lives
Hagiography is our weakness
but I want the truth, warts and all
to determine the measure of all men, in all ages
this is our challenge
To see the secret thoughts of men long dead
to speculate on how and why
to see them in the deep valley of the soul
and assail the mountain of immortality
I love to sit comfortably in my armchair
and judge
and live vicariously
I often dream of posterity
pouring over my own journals
deciphering my intentions
deciding my worth
But above all
after the jaunt through history
I love to sit at the deathbed
of men long asleep in Abraham’s breast
and listen to their last words
and ponder the numbering of days
They are born near page one
where they begin to collect the bits of providence
that shapes and carves from clay; men
scoundrels, leaders; the mighty and the misfortunate
some plan vain things, others
kiss the Son
We hold their lives in our hands
turn over the moments that made them
wishing for ourselves, so much more
to be like these sainted lives
Hagiography is our weakness
but I want the truth, warts and all
to determine the measure of all men, in all ages
this is our challenge
To see the secret thoughts of men long dead
to speculate on how and why
to see them in the deep valley of the soul
and assail the mountain of immortality
I love to sit comfortably in my armchair
and judge
and live vicariously
I often dream of posterity
pouring over my own journals
deciphering my intentions
deciding my worth
But above all
after the jaunt through history
I love to sit at the deathbed
of men long asleep in Abraham’s breast
and listen to their last words
and ponder the numbering of days
Comments and questions concerning Civil and Ecclesiastical Reform
1. What is the Civic Covenant? How does one enter into it? By what authority is it established? What are its blessings and curses? What are the obligations of one who has entered into this covenant?
2. What does the structure of the home teach us about our civic and ecclesiastical families? What are the similarities and differences? How does the role of mother and father coincide or enable us to understand the roles of Church and State? How has the breakdown of the roles of Fathers and Mothers contributed to the breakdown of our civic and ecclesiastical bodies? What can the study of a biblical home teach us about the nature of representative government, nurturing, discipline/punishment, protection, social class, poverty, education and maturity?
3. The natural state of man is fallen. Any body of people rather civic or ecclesiastical is made up of fallen men. Accountability is a basic and fundamental concept of human interaction within family and church structures. This concept must also be fundamental in our civic lives. Any civic government must be limited. Man must be restrained form his natural weaknesses and passions. The government must restrain the populace and the populace must restrain the government from tyranny and wickedness.
2. What does the structure of the home teach us about our civic and ecclesiastical families? What are the similarities and differences? How does the role of mother and father coincide or enable us to understand the roles of Church and State? How has the breakdown of the roles of Fathers and Mothers contributed to the breakdown of our civic and ecclesiastical bodies? What can the study of a biblical home teach us about the nature of representative government, nurturing, discipline/punishment, protection, social class, poverty, education and maturity?
3. The natural state of man is fallen. Any body of people rather civic or ecclesiastical is made up of fallen men. Accountability is a basic and fundamental concept of human interaction within family and church structures. This concept must also be fundamental in our civic lives. Any civic government must be limited. Man must be restrained form his natural weaknesses and passions. The government must restrain the populace and the populace must restrain the government from tyranny and wickedness.
The reinstitution of Liberty
From: Steve Wilkin's Calvinism, what went wrong
1. Covenant
2. The Sovereignty of God
3. Pre-eminence of the Law of God
4. Redemption by the Grace of God
5. Victory of the Gospel
1. Covenant
2. The Sovereignty of God
3. Pre-eminence of the Law of God
4. Redemption by the Grace of God
5. Victory of the Gospel
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Inspiration
Song
By Robert Browning
The year's at the Spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven -
All's right with the world!
By Robert Browning
The year's at the Spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven -
All's right with the world!
Friday, May 2, 2008
sophistry
Sophism can mean two very different things: In the modern definition, a sophism is a confusing or illogical argument used for deceiving someone. In Ancient Greece, the sophists were a group of teachers of philosophy and rhetoric.
The term sophism originated from Greek sophistes, meaning "wise-ist", one who "does" wisdom, one who makes a business out of wisdom (sophós means "wise man").
The term sophism originated from Greek sophistes, meaning "wise-ist", one who "does" wisdom, one who makes a business out of wisdom (sophós means "wise man").
Sophistry
I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother.
( Obama, March 18, 2008 10:15 AM )
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/obama_disavows.html
The Illinois senator said that Wright's appearance, including his dismissal of Obama's attempts to defuse the controversy as political posturing, "was a show of disrespect to me" and "an insult to what we've been trying to do in this campaign."
Wright, he added, is no longer "the man I met 20 years ago." "When I say I found his comments appalling, I mean it," Obama said at a news conference in Winston-Salem, N.C. "Anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who read my books, who have seen what this campaign is about will understand it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country."
( Obama, March 18, 2008 10:15 AM )
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/obama_disavows.html
The Illinois senator said that Wright's appearance, including his dismissal of Obama's attempts to defuse the controversy as political posturing, "was a show of disrespect to me" and "an insult to what we've been trying to do in this campaign."
Wright, he added, is no longer "the man I met 20 years ago." "When I say I found his comments appalling, I mean it," Obama said at a news conference in Winston-Salem, N.C. "Anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who read my books, who have seen what this campaign is about will understand it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country."
Poem
Epithalamium
I stood abreast the impassioned tumult
of rivers met and joined
in foam and roar
heads west, each acquiring
each lending its force to rush
downhill to fulfill the course of its first collecting
Off, here and there, great bends
small rivulet’s cast about to find their way
I watch beneath the breast-white moon
that reflects the greater light
yet in glory all its own
The stars draw their zodiac
and men cast their course
this midnight sky draws all thoughts
from earth to the celestial and bright unending, revealed
these many lights and small
one endless canvas, illumines the earth before the day
exhibits the sapphire thrown
these marvels all, float on
flow in joy, to meet
a calmer canopy, where storms shall cease
a purer sea, where all is peace
The Church Militant
The Kings and High Magistrates of this world are subservient to the throne of Christ, rather they acknowledge it or not. We are subservient to them in lieu of their honoring and obeying the Triune God.
Kings and High Magistrates are vassals. They are not autonimous. They are not above the judgment seat of the Lamb of God. We should pray that the Mercy of God would enlighten them to this fact. This is politiacl reform. Upon our knees we shall overthrow wicked Governments. The Church militant is a non-political empire that will, under the authority of Christ, transform all the Kingdoms of this world without destroying them. This does not mean that the kingdom does not encompass politics. Christ does not rule becasue we have given him our collective consent.
We shall not reign as the gentiles reign, but through service and with Love, Truth and Beauty. We are more than Conqurers in the Spirit of the Living God. We are the Warriors of Compassion and the Ministers of RECONCILIATION.
Repent. Restore. Reform.
Kings and High Magistrates are vassals. They are not autonimous. They are not above the judgment seat of the Lamb of God. We should pray that the Mercy of God would enlighten them to this fact. This is politiacl reform. Upon our knees we shall overthrow wicked Governments. The Church militant is a non-political empire that will, under the authority of Christ, transform all the Kingdoms of this world without destroying them. This does not mean that the kingdom does not encompass politics. Christ does not rule becasue we have given him our collective consent.
We shall not reign as the gentiles reign, but through service and with Love, Truth and Beauty. We are more than Conqurers in the Spirit of the Living God. We are the Warriors of Compassion and the Ministers of RECONCILIATION.
Repent. Restore. Reform.
Quotes - The right of kings and high Magistrates
...seeing all the kings of the world are under his feet, it is no marvel, if God be called the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; all kings be termed His ministers established to judge rightly, and govern justly the world in the quality of lieutenants...As if he should say, it is in my power to establish kings in their thrones, or to thrust them out, and from that occasion the throne of kings is called the throne of God.
Seeing then that kings are only the lieutenants of God, established in the Throne of God by the Lord God himself, and the people are the people of God, and that the honour which is done to these lieutenants proceeds from the reverence which is born to those that sent them to this service, it follows of necessity that kings must be obeyed for God's cause, and not against God, and then, when they serve and obey God, and not other ways.
Defence of Liberty
Junius Brutus
Seeing then that kings are only the lieutenants of God, established in the Throne of God by the Lord God himself, and the people are the people of God, and that the honour which is done to these lieutenants proceeds from the reverence which is born to those that sent them to this service, it follows of necessity that kings must be obeyed for God's cause, and not against God, and then, when they serve and obey God, and not other ways.
Defence of Liberty
Junius Brutus
Poem
New Responsibilities
A child cries
in a room behind a closed door
Where light from the window
does not denote dusk or daybreak
The house is otherwise empty
except for the man-child
clutching the arms of his chair
terrified
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Poem
Literary (Autobiographical) Review
Light was there
faintly
as through a linen curtain
drawn shut
So many words once
alive; unsettled
moving about with barely room for
one another, barely folding together enough
to make any real utterance
No civility
or reverence or love
Only harsh brutality, natural
like the first man
looking through flaming swords
Light barely perceived
illumination only enough
to penetrate all but unnoticeably
the true and utter darkness
Poem - “…the earth yields no increase without the dew of heaven” – Junius Brutus
Like Oil on Aaron’s Beard
Amidst the ripening of light upon the world
there in the small hours
The silver sheen
accumulates on all things
alive and dead, handmade, grown
natural and wild
Refreshes with a drink in spirit and flesh
bright and cool
diamonds from God’s exhale on a world, warm in bed
The still agitation of moisture
The renewal and drink of divine blessing
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