Kingdom Poets (a blog by D.S. Martin): Hester Pulter

Kingdom Poets (a blog by D.S. Martin): Hester Pulter: Hester Pulter (1605–1678) is a writer of poetry and prose who was completely unknown, prior to the discovery of her manuscript at Brotherton...

THOUGHTS

More of the East Lothian Coast

The Upholder of the universe 

Held

A little child in His arms.

The One whose blood cleanses from sins

Washed 

The feet of fishermen.

The Holy One of God

Handled

A poor leper.

The Lord of glory was 

Nailed 

To a wooden cross.

The Originator of life

Lay

In another man’s tomb.

The Man of the Father’s choice 

Looks

On you and me in grace.

THE ROCK

Free to be bound for where I willed

I tramped; by-ways, cross-paths, bent

My footsteps; what turned my campaign?

What stumbling-block hampered me;

What damped? No end appeared,

However long my feet stamped

Or my muscles struggled. With no lamp

To lead, nothing in which to confide,

What tampered with my will? Justice, that Rock,

Broke me, blocked me, drove me from my own way.

But where to hide? Where I ventured

Storms mock and shafts of lightning

Deride meagre strivings. That Sinai

Cannot provide a shelter. Yet truth

Is my only Rock and Refuge:

Oh grace and truth deploys

The cleft in which, safe, I abide;

Mercy was guide up to this haven.

Blood poured, a saving tide

From the stricken side of the Son of God.

After these ways and such protection

Rescued by mercy and by God's grace,

Saved, sustained and nobly elevated.

From being cock of my own dunghill,

Set among nobles, one stone

In its place; with a princely people.

These feet once grazed now prancing,

Hinds feet, firm on the Rock.

What power to convey a lofty degree:

Co  heirs with the pre  eminent Man!

From my new stance, seeking sweetness

For enhancement of fresh modes of love,

Joy to my countenance, power to make me

Dance, where should I go? The Rock,

Sublime answer to each circumstance,

Seemed to unlock   the honey poured.

No time or chance will now meet me

For which there is no solution: Christ   

For me to gather, His undeviance,

His loveliness, my model, my way of advance.

So long deplored, the old structure

Lies shattered, not to be restored

Nor rebuilt. Where can I Build? The Rock

Rejected once, now adored, constitutes

The only Foundation. Here God has worked   

This sure place. Knock and chisel

The stones till their curbed forms afford

Virtue of the bed-rock; ignore no fault

But relish quality, a good hoard

In each exploring consonances of Christ.

Fruits flourish; the tree sprouts

By the pure spring whose attributes derive

From its source, the struck Rock; psalms

Erupt from hearts; bruiting with joy

Clear compositions. The Spirit's flow

Contributes the music. By still waters

The bright flock, rested in safety,

Imbibes what distributes health,

Fresh responses. Through water free

From pollution or harm the purity wells.

Oil exudes; sucking from the Rock

Let us exploit what God provides

From It to employ our hearts in praise

As anointed servants; let light shine

From us who walk in the Spirit's power

To express God's goodness in voice

And ways. Employ priests lips,

Priest's members in all our days.

From our Rock towards our God loose

Rejoicing, admiration, adoration, love!

(29 February 1992)                                           

  

On the East Lothian coastline, Scotland

MY SERVANTS ...

                 (Isaiah 65: 13) 

His servants shall eat abundance of store

The lamb and the quails and the manna and more;

For Christ suits their savour and makes them replete:

Abundantly furnished "my servants shall eat".

His servants shall drink from heavenly springs

The water of life and the joy that it brings;

More taste and refreshment than this world can think

Refreshes their spirits: "my servants shall drink".

His servants shall sing for gladness of heart

For glory has entered which shall not depart;

The Father, the Son and the Spirit all bring

Such bountiful blessing, "my servants shall sing".

(Dundee 03/11/2024)

Around Loanhead (where I live)