A Poem about the World's most important book

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Yesterday I came across a poem which appeared in the first Bible to ever be printed in Scotland, in 1576. I love some of the metaphors and similes which are used to describe this book, which to me has been a constant guide throughout life. I read from it every day and endeavour to read through it all in a year. I continue to try and model my life on the principles contained within it, but have to admit to being a failure in adhering 100% to its ideals.

Here is the poem, I hope you enjoy it as much or more than I do.

~~~~~~

Here is the spring where waters flow,

To quench our heart of sin:

Here is the tree where truth doth grow,

To lead our lives therein:

Here is the judge that stints the strife,When men's devices fail:

Here is the bread that feeds the life

That death cannot assail.

The tidings of salvation dear,

Comes to our ears from hence:

The fortress of our faith is here,

And shield of our defence.

Then be not like the swine that hath

A pearl at his desire,

And takes more pleasure from the trough

And wallowing in the mire.

Read not this book in any case,

But with a single eye:

Read not but first desire God's grace,

To understand thereby.

Pray still in faith with this respect,

To bear good fruit therein,

That knowledge may bring this effect,

To mortify your sin.

Then happy you shall be in all your life,

What so to you befalls:

Yes, double happy you shall be,

When God by death you calls.

~~~

Although the end of this poem may seem to be rather morbid to our contemporary world-view, there was a time when many believed, as I do, (call me old-fashioned if you like), that Jesus conquered death when He died to take away our sins and bring all who believe in Him and His sacrifice to an eternal life in Heaven in His presence, to serve and worship Him. He has given me the assurance in my heart and mind that this is the great future that awaits me. There is nothing in this life that brings me greater hope than this. What or who do you believe in? What do you trust in, a successful career, a healthy bank balance, a hope in a nice legacy, a happy and comfortable retirement? Many of these things in the current situation are more than likely to prove to be false hopes, things which a mere 13 to 14 years ago were generally regarded as normal for a large proportion of the population in Europe and the USA! Now we can say we are blessed by God if we have a roof over our heads, can afford to remain warm in the Winter and have employment.

My advice to you is to take nothing for granted, recognize that life is more important than what we own, live in, drive or wear and to recognize that there is a spiritual dimension as well as a material one which is of much greater importance. No man can serve God and money. What choice have you or are you going to make in your life?

~~~

Quotations

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." ~ Joshua 1:8

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~ Psalm 119:105

Some Poetry from the Book of Common Prayer

To many people today the Book of Common Prayer is unknown territory, especially with the advent of the Alternative Service Book (ASB) in 1980 and more recently the more open, modern and unwieldy Common Worship book.

I was brought up in a village community in Surrey where the only Primary school to attend was a Church of England school. In those dark ages (c.1960-1966) the school and village church were very much intertwined and we were taught the catechism where we had to state that our names were given to us by our God parents at our baptism. My father was quite upset about this, as we were Brethren and didn't practise 'infant baptism' as we would now call it. However, apart from this hiccough, we did learn some very beautiful prayers from the Book of Common Prayer.

In more recent times I have been involved in playing the organ for Morning Prayer in a local Anglican church where I was once again reminded of the beauty of the poetry in the Book of Common Prayer and the skill with which it was crafted. I found this a great enhancement to my own spiritual development, particularly in the area of personal prayer and intercession and reading and studying the Bible as part of my daily Christian pilgrimage. When you find it hard to pray because of overwhelming circumstances in life, the Book of Common Prayer can be a great aid to overcoming a spiritual 'block'. Even though the language may seem old to us now, there is a rhythm and pace to it which calms the troubled soul and helps to put things in an eternal perspective rather than a time/space constraint. Someone reminded me recently, "when confronting a problem, ask yourself the question, Will this be important to me in five years time?"

What a lot of people fail to realize is that the Book of Common Prayer is one of the main pillars on which the modern English language rests, along with the King James Version of the Bible and Shakespeare. The Book of Common Prayer may also be regarded as a cornerstone of the Reformation which was fired by Martin Luther in Germany, the baton being taken up in England by Henry VIII and the Elizabethan Reformers such as John Knox later on.

After a number of revisions, the version of the Book of Common Prayer most widely used is that of 1662, incorporating the book of Psalms which differs slightly from the King James Version in that it was translated from the Latin Vulgate. I want to share with you what I consider to be some real poetic gems from the Psalter, followed by some set prayers which I have found helpful in my own Christian devotion and personal walk with God.

Psalm 95, Venite, exultemus

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In His hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is his, and He made it: and His hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me: proved me and saw my works. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said: It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath: that they should not enter into my rest.

Psalm 98, Cantate Domino

O sing unto the Lord a new song: for He hath done marvellous things. With His own right hand, and with His holy arm: hath He gotten Himself the victory. The Lord declared His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and truth toward the house of Israel: and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands: sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the Lord upon the harp: sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also and shawms: O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is: the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord: for He is come to judge the earth. With righteousness shall He judge the world: and the people with equity.

Evening Prayer Collect

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Communion Prayer, for Easter

But chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for the glorious Resurrection of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for He is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world: who by His death hath destroyed death, and by His rising to life hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord most High. Amen.

Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension

More information and history of the Book of Common Prayer can be found on the website of the Prayer Book Society, at http://www.pbs.org.uk/

To hear a high quality sung version of Choral Evensong, where the Psalms are sung to probably the highest standard in the world, try this link. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tp7r

Some Prayers for Today

Here are some prayers which have given me inspiration for today. For those, like me, who sometimes find it hard to know what to say, (I'm not 'into' silent prayer), sometimes the words of others can encapsulate what you would like to express at the time.

St. Francis Of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

~St. Francis Of Assisi~

St. Patrick

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the 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 hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
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 in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.

~ St. Patrick ~

Workday Prayer

Lord Jesus, as I enter this workplace,
I bring Your presence with me.
I speak Your peace, Your grace, and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of this office.
I acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken, thought, decided and accomplished within these walls.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gifts You have deposited in me.
I do not take them lightly, but commit to using them responsibly and well.
Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty on which to draw as I do my job.

Anoint my creativity, my ideas, my energy so that even my smallest task may bring You honor.
Lord, when I am confused, guide me. When I am weary, energize me.
Lord, when I am burned out, infuse me with the light of Your Holy Spirit.

May the work that I do and the way I do it bring hope, life, and courage to all that I come in contact with today.
And, oh Lord, even in this day's most stressful moment, may I rest in You.
In the name of Jesus my Saviour I pray.

Amen.

~ Unknown Author ~