EPITAPH FOR HERSELF by Catherine Killigrew

 

(A Version from Latin)

I sleep now with the Lord; in Him I’ll rise;

I’ll see my Saviour, as rising from the dead.

One part of me is flourishing though one part dies;

In time I’ll live, with Christ to be my Head.

(?1542-1583)

Ettrick Valley, Scottish Borders

MARTHA by Martha Moulsworth Widdowe

 

My name was Martha, Martha took much pain

Our Saviour Christ her guest to entertain;

God give me grace my inward house to dight                                    (

That He with me may sup, and stay the night.

(Dight is "made ready"

Martha Moulsworth Widdowe (1577-after 1632)

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Moulsworth

Tushielaw Inn Welcome

Around Tushielaw Inn, Ettrick Valley, Scottish Borders 

DIVINE SONNET by William Alabaster

 

Jesu, thy love within me is so main,

And my poor heart so narrow of content,

That with thy love my heart wellnigh is rent,

And yet I love to bear such loving pain.

O take thy cross and nails and therewith strain

My heart’s desire unto his full extent,

That thy dear love may not therein be pent,

But thoughts may have free scope thy love to explain.

O now my heart more paineth than before,

Because it can receive and hath no more,

O fill this emptiness or else I die,

Now stretch my heart again and now supply,

Now I want space, now grace. To end this smart,

Since my heart holds not thee, hold thou my heart.

JESUS IS BORN by William Alabaster

Jesus is born. Peace, such high words forbear,
Which only angel’s mouth deserves to unfold.
Then let them speak these mysteries enrolled.
At me, they must be sung of that sweet choir.
Then let mine ears that blessed carol hear.
No, only holy shepherds be so bold.
With joy then let them hear this uncontrolled.
Nor do, for holy shepherds hear with fear.
Ay me, that am unworthy him to name,
Yet none so worthy to be named as he,
Ay me, unworthy for to hear the same,
Yet nothing so deserveth heard to be.
What then? Compare both these, his worth, my scorn;
His far weigheth down: Jesus is born.

William Alabaster (1567-1640)

Selkirk and Area

AROUND SELKIRK, SCOTTISH BORDER

 

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (IV)

 “I love my master” – how distinct has been

The speaking! – “my wife, and my children,

I will not go free”.

(Loanhead 13 June 2022)

So He came forth, the Universe-maker,

Heaven-measurer, to be confined within

The breadth of a tomb.

He who had spread out the heavens

As a tent to dwell in was prepared to be

Bound up in fine linen.

(Loanhead 15 June 2022)

He arose:

He ascended, and “set himself down

On the right hand of the greatness on high”.

The Father raised Him

By His glory; welcomed Him in glory,

Enfolded Him in heavenly glory.

(Loanhead 17 June 2022)

He was made alive

In the Spirit, acted by the Spirit,

Set forth the dawn of the day of the Spirit.

(Loanhead Lord’s day 19 June 2022)

Moral glories

Effulged on the day of resurrection

As the Shepherd ranged among His flock.

Official glories,

Once laid aside, now enjoyed,

Along with the One known now as Father.

(Loanhead 20 June 2022)

After the cataract

The river broadens, becomes an estuary,

Imperceptibly merges into the ocean.

From the glen’s darkness

The way emerges; the view broadens

Over the strath’s fertility.

(Loanhead 21 June 2022)

Enter by the porch

The house of God; see the enlarging,

The upward increase: for “the house had width upward”.

(Loanhead 22 June 2022)

Jesus Christ has come:

To all generations of the ages of ages

There will be glory unto God

In the assembly in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

(Loanhead 23 June 2022)

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (III)

Crowds acclaimed Him, disciples kept by Him;

Yet in time, disowned, betrayed and denied:

No human company.

 

(Inverness, Whisk Away Café 4 June 2022)

 

God’s action: He “gave his strength into

Captivity, and his glory into

The hand of the oppressor”.

 

There is no garden in Gethsemane;

All was the press of the spirit of Jesus:

Oppressed; depressed.

 

Unbounded in blessing; dweller in

Unbounded light; unbounded grace led

To being bound.

 

The Leader and Completer of faith has been

Led; the Leader of salvation led; the Originator of life

Has been slain.

 

(Tushielaw, 10 June 2022)

 

The feet that had walked in the Father’s way;

The hands that had reached out in blessing:

Men pinned to the cross.

 

(Tushielaw, 11 June 2022)

 

Denizen of eternal glory;

Habitue of the Father’s presence;

A forsaken Man.

 

(Dawyck)

 

Emmanuel, the Root and Offspring of David;

The Lamb of God; the Saviour of the world;

A forsaken Man.

 

(Loanhead, Lord’s day 12 June 2022)

GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED IN FLESH (II)

On the whale-route between Lewis and Ullapool

 

The Ocean-master, Lord of whale-routes,

Could come to be buffeted by winds,

Asleep on a boat.

 

But nothing could prevent

The Lord of wind and waves from

Making waves His path.

 

(Gearrannan junction 3 June 2022)

 

Confined to Israel, His recalcitrant people,

His grace ensured crumbs from the table

Reached Gentile dogs.

 

Birds had nests; and the foxes their earth;

Mem, palaces and hovels; but the Son of Man

Had no place on earth.

 

Yet what did it mean

To Him, that He could spend His nights

Abroad on the Mount of Olives?

 

(Stornoway, Loch Seaforth 4 June 2022)

 

Babes only He consorted with, fishers,

Yet His time and patience made them truly

The wise and prudent.

 

Thus the footsteps of Jesus funnelled

To Israel narrowed in His straitening

Towards Jerusalem.

 

The city of the great King, Jerusalem;

How He desired that the murderous city

Should rather nestle to Him!

 

The Eternal One, entering His creation

Found the time limits He accepted

Meant His time must come.

 

(Loch Seaforth, The Minch)