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Retrospect and other poems
Laurence J. Twinam and Others

 
Introduction
• Laurence J. Twinam
Retrospect
Penitential
Hospital Treatment
Mercy
The Ark and the Shepherd
One Flock
Our Shepherd
Assembly Ground
Foursquare
The Stranger's Knock
Isaiah 52
In Simon's House
Arise and Shine
The Least of these My Brethren
The Centre of the Universe
Watchman, What of the Night?
Impregnable?
Gardening Hints
Two Men
Cri de Coeur
Following – What or Who?
• LIC (unknown)
A Heavenly Invitation
• Anonymous
'Twas a Sheep not a Lamb
• Robert Stott
Drama at Barbados – 1970
Explanatory Notes
 





INTRODUCTION


Laurie J. Twinam

All but three of the poems on this page were written by Laurence J. Twinam of Sevenoaks, Kent, England.

George Milne of Birmingham put Laurie and me in touch,

The three poems by other authors are: 'A Heavenly Invitation', by the unkown LIC, the anonymous 'Twas a Sheep not a Lamb' and 'Drama at Barbados' by Robert Stott.
All belong to the same period as Laurence Twinam's poems, and relate to the exercises of that period.

Laurie has a remarkable skill of being able to set out complicated concerns clearly and concisely in verse.

A pamphlet by Laurie, 'So You've Left the Jims', is on the Home Page. It shows that he not only felt the sorrows and wrote about them in his poems but he also feels for the many who have been scattered abroad – and actively seeks to reach and help them.


This collection of poems preserves the spirit of the exercises of an extremely sorrowful period of our history.

The Scripture references in Laurie's poems are his own. The footnotes are mine.




G. A. R.

Page Top


RETROSPECT  and other poems
Laurence  J.  Twinam


RETROSPECT

Take the Word and humbly ponder        2 Tim 3: 15-16
Backward over recent years:        Isaiah 8: 20
Why have saints been torn asunder?
God would speak to open ears.

1970

In July of 1970,        Eph. 5: 3-6
Plain for all the world to see,
Blasphemy in God's own temple!        1 Cor. 3: 17
Depth of vile apostasy!        Col. 3: 8

Scandalous events in Scotland        2 Sam. 12: 14
Were the ripe and flagrant fruits;        Isaiah 3: 8-9
Let us seek from God the answer –        Matt. 12: 33
What the tree, and what the roots?        Luke 6: 43-45

Earlier in 1970
Claim was made to be 'The Church':
Fatal pride and false presumption        Rev. 3: 17
Heading for a public lurch.        Prov. 16: 18

Systematic error's working        Eph. 4: 4
Ousted Christ, promoted 'Paul';        2 Cor. 11: 3
Preaching simply Christ was 'rival' –        Gal. 1: 7
'One man' hailed as over all.        3 John 9

1969

'Come with me and get to heaven' –        Mark 13: 5-6
Boast of 1969 –
Set aside the claims of Jesus        Eph. 2: 18
And the Spirit's power divine.

Just 'to keep the brethren happy'
Meetings fixed for every night;        Matt. 23: 4
Officers to force attendance,        Ezek. 34: 21
Shut up, brainwash, those who fight.        Acts 20: 29

1968

Worldly jokes in the assembly        Eph. 5: 4
Came in 1968,
Causing tone of conversation
Sharply to degenerate.

Whisky drinking in the meeting        Lev. 10: 9-10
Praised as 'christian liberty',        Isaiah 28: 7
Further lowered moral standards        Prov. 20: 1
(Gallons more drunk privately).        Eph. 5: 18

1967

Stringent sabbath regulations,        Col. 2: 16
Codified in '67,
Legalising, judaising,        Gal. 4: 9-10
Dimmed the character of heaven.        Gal. 4: 16

Evil system's grip increasing,        Eph. 4: 14
Many brethren were deceived
By the censure of excesses        Rev. 3: 2
By the man whom they believed.        1 Sam. 14: 48

1966

In the grave 'vindictive' era        Matt. 18: 28
Back in 1966
'System men' were resurrected,        2 Pet. 2: 20-22
Re-installed by clever tricks.        Prov. 24: 23-24

You were branded 'independent'
If you would not join the set;        1 Kings 1: 8
Current news was made essential –        Judges 12: 6
'Has the latest reached you yet?'        Acts 17: 21

1965

1965 – Remember?
Re-assess it! You will find        Eph. 4: 14
Temp'ry overthrow of minions        Judges 9: 2
By the guiltier 'master mind'.        Judges 9: 5

In this role of 'Great Deliverer'        2 Chron. 26: 15-16
Stronger yet the leader grew,        Acts 12: 21-22
'Testimonial Christ', 'Apostle',        2 Cor. 11: 13
Stole the show and blocked the view.        2 Sam. 15: 16

1964

Trace the horrors of the system        Rev. 18: 2
Known in 1964
Not alone the love of money,        Mark 12: 38-40
But ambition, lust for power.        Rev. 17: 18

'Twas the era of confessions,        Heb. 10: 21-22
Romish fashion, to a priest;        Prov. 29: 5
Somebody to know your history,        1 Tim. 2: 5
Every sin, from great to least.        Prov. 25: 19

No more hiring halls for meetings,
Henceforth we must build our own!        Exodus 1: 13-14
Thousands, millions, pounds and dollars,       Exodus 5: 6-18
Spent as brethren scrape and groan.        Exodus 6: 5

1963

And those cruel divided houses,        1 Cor. 7: 10-16
Rife in 1963,
With their deep inhuman anguish        Matt. 9: 13
Sprang from deeper heresy.        Matt. 7: 16-20

Stress on outward separation        Matt. 23: 24
Did not check decline within!        Matt. 23: 27
'Holy hands' to cook your lunches,        Mark 7: 3-4
Café eating made a sin!1 Cor. 10: 30

1962

Sep'rate-structured rooms for meetings        Eccl. 7: 16
As from 1962;
Brooding over bricks and mortar,        2 Cor. 3: 6
Meetings, faces, longer grew.        Titus 3: 9

'Ministry of the Revival' –
Books in black and red and blue –
Planned for re-print, but with warning
'Read mine first to get the clue'!        Luke 11: 52

1961

1961's perversion?
Christ's supreme authority        Col. 1: 17-18
Claimed as vested in the 'leader';        Rev. 1: 17-18
Principles of popery!        Matt. 23: 8-12

Harsh attacks on the 'religious        '2 Cor. 3: 6
'Natural', 'sentimental' mind        Rom. 14: 1-6
Made all spiritual meaning        1 Cor. 14: 37
Radical and ill-defined.        2 Cor. 6: 3

1960

'Fellowship's involved in eating',        Acts 27: 35
1960's edict came,        Mark 7: 7-8
'Never mind that verse of Scripture,        1 Cor. 10: 27
All not with us are the same'.        1 Cor. 5: 11

It was devilishly subtle,        2 Cor. 11: 14-15
'Be more faithful' sounded right;
But that step away from Scripture        2 Pet. 3: 16
Was a sin against the light!        2 John 9




Back to Scripture! Back to Jesus!        Isaiah 8: 20
Fell the tree, extract its roots!        Matt. 3: 10
May we hence, in godly patience,        Luke 8: 15
Seek to bring forth worthier fruits!        Rom. 13: 11-14


Penitential

O Jesus, Lord,
With chastened, contrite hearts we turn to Thee,
Who have by Satan's craft been led, and wandered far
From love's simplicity.

We own, subdued,
The justice of Thine intervening hand.
Thou hast unveiled our shame, our wickedness,
In mercy saved us from the sinking sand.

Thou hast exposed –
Yea, even publicly –
Our giddy pride and monstrous worldliness
That made a god of mortal, failing man
And used Thy holy Name as sin's excuse.

As Peter, meeting Thy reproachful eye,
Turned from his wayward course, wept bitterly,
May we, confessed deniers of Thy Name,
In penitence forthwith serve Thee dependently!

O lowly One!
Henceforth we'd learn from Thee,
Who faultless here God's testimony bore
Available to needy beggar's cry
Yet ceaseless did Thy spirit heav'nward soar
Unique indeed! Yet pattern for us now
That pure, to God and man, our service flow.

Keep us from pride –
In word, in act, in thought –
So that repentantly, yea brokenly,
Thine honoured Name alone may yet become
The rallying point for all, unitedly,
Who'd bear Thy cross and Thy disciples be.


Hospital Treatment

He pondered by the rows of beds,
That kind and good physician,
Among his many patients there
In varying condition;
The pulse of some ran feverishly
While some lay pale and weak,
Some muttered incoherently
But others couldn't speak.

The nursing staff though overstretched
Had each a joyful bubble,
For they had once been patients too
But now were out of trouble;
Their training and experience was
At many different stages;
They loved their occupation so
They never asked for wages!

One youth in bed was very drunk
With error, folly, whisky;
'If he had read his Bible more
He'd know that's very risky;
To set young people on this road'
(the doctor said) 'is slaughter;
But later, when he's sobered down,
My answer's living water'.

A man nearby had nearly died
From eating lumps of coal;
He thought because it gave him pain
'Twould purify his soul!
'That fallacy' (the doctor said)
'Persists right through the ages!
God's grace alone can purify;
Such ways bring death for wages!'

Another case sat bolt upright
With handbag, gloves and bonnet;
The dossier by her bedside had
'Too many meetings' on it!
'Just feed her well' (the great man said)
'And soon she'll be impressed
That Christianity still works
When much more simply dressed!'

Another patient there believed
That everything was green –
Not only grass, but books and sky
Yes – everything he'd seen!
'Defective sight' (the doctor said)
'Just rest his poor tired eyes;
Then all the sunshine's rainbow hues
Will thrill him with surprise'.

An allusion to the green covers of J.T.Jr.'s books of 'ministry'.

And then I saw an anxious nurse
Consult the good physician
About a man exclaiming oft
'The only right position!'
'Of course', (he answered with a smile)
'Just keep him flat in bed;
The right position yet awhile
For such a muddled head!'

I realised, as I witnessed there
Such curing of disease,
That Jesus Christ is healing still –
That Good Physician for the ill
Who human hearts can cure and fill –
For chronic cases these!
God's mercy making whole again
These brands plucked from the burning,
Such twentieth-century miracles
To cheer our souls' deep yearning.


Mercy

Mercy found us in the distance
Helpless, hopeless, left to bleed,
Framed itself to our condition,
Not insisting on contrition,
Spent itself to serve our need.

Mercy followed as we wandered
Day by day through many years,
Bearing our neglect appalling,
Still its faithful pleas were falling
Constantly upon our ears.

Though collectively we drifted
Far from Scripture's faithful word,
Though we failed in heav'nly witness,
Mercy persevered, no whit less,
Though by sin our eyes were blurred.

Even though, in deep delusion,
We 'the church' had claimed to be,
Linking thus the Lord's own Person
With our error and perversion,
Mercy lingered patiently.

Till, as Satan seemed to triumph,
Mercy tore aside the veil,
Showed the gross and shocking evil
(Praised by agents of the devil!)
Freeing simple souls from jail.

Should we think that our importance
Called on God to intervene?
We had ceased to represent Him,
Made our fellow-men resent Him,
And for years a sect had been!

Let us then with haste, belovèd,
From iniquity depart,
Let us then with equal vigour,
As our crimes loom worse and bigger,
Judge invet'rate pride of heart.

Watchful lest in heart we reason
That our deviation sore
Was but humbling education
For some high exclusive station
Purposed for us long before.

Lest we think we're still 'the people' –
For despite our fathers' light
We have not, as some less favoured,
(Who God's mercy also savoured)
Walked unspotted in His sight.

God has no respect of persons!
Mark the well-instructed Jew;
Outcast, though so much the wiser,
And of mercy a despiser
When the Gentile came in view!

May we covet (not we only!)
Christ's unhindered company,
Not confined to mercy's chiding,
But in confidence abiding,
And in testimony free!


The Ark and the Shepherd

Part One

The Ark is taken! Chill dismay
Sweeps through the ranks of Israel's host;
In desp'rate fight that fateful day
They'd lost their nation's sacred boast.

The glory is departed! Name
By mother dying at the birth;
Oh! anguish deep, abysmal shame,
And hope had perished from the earth.

But see! The Ark that left it place
Between the cherubim of gold
Makes Dagon fall upon his face,
And puts to flight its foes so bold.

Of old that Ark sought 'midst the waste
Three days ahead for Israel's rest,
And Jordan's waters backward chased;
Now God again is manifest!

Hear stripling David's words sublime:
(His sheep and lambs in keeper's care)
'This overwhelming Philistine
Shall be as vanquished lion and bear!'

The battle is Jehovah's own,
He saveth not by sword and spear!
Despisèd shepherd's sling and stone
To end Goliath's proud career!


Part Two

A thousand years of bitter fruit
Roll by, then Jesus walks on earth,
The One true Ark, and David's Root,
The Word made flesh; what peerless worth!

Abiding in His Father's love,
So lowly, yet the Infinite;
Descent of Spirit as a dove
On Him below, Oh what a sight!

The Christ by prophecies foretold,
Fulfilling Scripture's types of old;
Acacia overlaid with gold,
The Manna, budding Rod, behold!

Alone, amidst men's moral death,
From Babe to full maturity;
Though holding in His hands their breath,
Content in His obscurity!

Dependent, yet life-giving Sun,
Defenceless, yet in power divine;
The Shepherd-heart that tends each one
Expressed in toil, in word and sign.

And when beset by pain and strife,
Those sheep He hid till all was past;
He gives to them eternal life,
But bore for them death's searing blast.

The Ark is taken! All alone
He met God's judgment, Satan's power,
But angel's voice in rapt'rous tone
Proclaims His resurrection-hour!

And now before His Father's face,
The Centre of delight supreme
Fore-runner He of heav'nly race
Whose bursts of praise shall swell that scene!


Part Three

E'en here amidst life's wear and tear,
Where powers of darkness prove their sway,
Thy precious Name beyond compare
Turns deep depression into day!

The Ark is taken! Yet we're sure
(Though grievous past we cannot cure)
God's testimony will endure;
In Thee His glory rests secure.

No more may we discredit Thee!
Yet Thine own victory we share,
Who meet'st each crisis valiantly,
And keep'st us safe within Thy care.

'One flock, One Shepherd, there shall be'
Thou saidst, O Lord, when here below;
Who but Thyself can draw to Thee
Thy sheep so scattered by the foe?

May we, as John of old, abide
(By Spirit's power) in Thee above,
Where help of all the flock's supplied
From Thine exhaustless heart of love!


One Flock

They gathered from Dan to Beersheba
To Adullam's safe retreat,
Their faces were lean and hungry
But they came with quickened feet;
Debtors and 'dropouts' howe'er extreme,
Seeking relief from Saul's regime,
Disgruntled warriors of Saul's employ,
Despondent sage, and shepherd boy,
Left house and shop and farm and tent,
The realm of Saul and all it meant,
For David, secure and free!

No bugle-note was sounded,
But the call was plain and clear,
Release from repressive tyranny,
False religion's vain career!
Inspiring call to the Monarchy,
To God's anointed King!
His presence brightened Adullam's cave,
The psalmist sweet was their captain brave;
He taught them how to sing,
Sharing their sorrows, calming their fears,
And knitting their hearts as one.


They broke from the yoke of bondage,
And strong sectarian ties,
They abandoned their cherished customs,
As the scales fell from their eyes.
They gathered unto Jesus
As they heard the Shepherd's voice,
And separated from evil,
His holy Name their choice.

They left their churches and chapels
And individual ways,
Charmed by the Saviour's kindness,
Rejoicing in His praise,
To share in His rejection
And in His coming reign,
To prove His deep affection
Whate'er the present pain!
'One flock, one Shepherd' His soul's desire –
May all our hearts be set on fire.


Our Shepherd

(to Londonderry Air)

They cast him out, whose eyes were ope'd by Jesus,
They cast him out, because he said 'I see',
They couldn't stand the burning light of Jesus,
And so they cast him from their company.
They cast him out, and there the Saviour found him,
Rejected, as his Saviour was before;
The Shepherd-Saviour shone His glory round him,
The Son of God, the Son of God, the heav'ns adore.

He calls His sheep, we follow Him the Shepherd,
He calls His sheep, He knows each one by name;
We hear His voice, the living voice of Jesus,
Who gave His life, but ever is the Same.
He calls His sheep, O how we love to follow
That matchless voice that claims us for His own;
We'll hark no longer to the voice of strangers,
But follow Him, but follow Him, His voice well-known.

He leads us out, to be with Him together,
He leads us out from confines of the fold,
In pastures green He'll nourish us together,
Himself shall be our shelter from the cold.
He leads us out from error and delusion,
We'll leave behind our old sectarian ways;
One flock, one Shepherd now we know in Jesus,
Together now, together now, we'll sing His praise!

He leads on, whate'er the tribulation,
He leads us on – no longer let us sleep!
No power can seize us from the Mighty Shepherd
The One who laid His life down for the sheep.
He leads us on, and as His love unites us,
The world shall know the Father sent the Son;
The fame of Jesus is our occupation
Whate'er the shame, whate'er the shame, the battle's won.

He leads us in, to realms of life eternal,
He leads us in to joys that never fade;
The Tree of Life, and streams of living water,
New heav'ns and earth, by love eternal made.
He leads us in, we'll be with Him together,
To dwell with Him, where He has gone before;
To sing His praise in everlasting chorus,
Of Hallelujah, Hallelujah, evermore.


Assembly Ground

Disciples oftentimes we see
Of 'Taylor', 'Open', 'KLG',
But where can fellowship be found
That's simply on assembly ground?

KLG: Acronym commonly applied to the Kelly Lowe Grant/Glanton amalgamation, aka 'Reunited'
– but recently re-divided.

All sects and parties we must shun –
The Bible says Christ's body's one –
Yet we must also walk aright
And be obedient in God's sight.

The Scriptures teach this simple road
For humble souls to walk with God,
So isn't it a tragedy
That godly brethren can't agree?


Foursquare

Behold the Saviour lifted up!
And hear the words He cried;
He draws together into one –
From furthest east to setting sun –
God's children scattered wide.

Down through the ages rings the voice
Of Jesus crucified:
'And I, if I be lifted up'
(To drink that bitter judgment cup)
'Draw all to Me', He cried.

Through Christendom we sadly trace
The ravages of pride,
But as we see Him hanging there,
Our twentieth-century sins to bear,
We'll rally to His side!

We see Christ's garments parted out
To sects on every side,
While for His seamless body-coat –
Such mystery doth it denote –
Men strive; it won't divide.

Christ's earthly clothes bring many a sect
Some earthly recognition,
But some contend in subtler guise
For body-coat – a prouder prize –
An 'only-right Position'!

How shameful as He suffers there,
Each wretched rival claim!
Yet by His cross four women stand,
A loyal and devoted band,
Who reverence His Name.

Mother of Jesus, treasury
Of precious memories past,
And by her side her sister too,
Less privileged but just as true,
Devoted to the last.

And parted e'en for Jesu's sake,
From husband, Clopas' wife
With Mary (ex-demoniac)
Stands steadfast in that hour so black
Amidst the shameful strife.

This unpretentious band of four
Drawn close to Jesu's side
Show how His gathr'ing grace calls forth
From east and west, from south and north,
Gods' children scattered wide.

What if the tide of death and woe
Is bursting o'er its banks?
They stand in their diversity,
Knit fast by fierce adversity,
A resolute phalanx!

No earthly recognition theirs,
No pressing of their claim,
No striving for His body-coat –
No thought from them is more remote –
Just holding fast His Name!

A little while – then heav'nly dawn
And Mary Magdalene,
Whose faithful tears His grave still tend,
Hears sweeter words than e'er were penned:
'Go tell my brethren I ascend'!
Relationships that know no end
With Jesus now they apprehend;
A universe serene!


The Stranger's Knock

Still He stands at the door and knocks
In 1972;
Long years has He been knocking thus
And the day is nearly through;
He knocks on the doors of Christendom,
On all the doors in sight,
And after each knock He lingers awhile,
Then hastes through the fading light;
And as He knocks he gently pleads:
'If any man hear my voice
And open the door, I'll sup with him;
With me, too, he'll rejoice'.

Some of the doors are grand affairs,
So thick that His knock's not heard,
At others a sign forbids His way
But the knock can't be deferred;
He knocks on the doors of the mission halls,
Cathedrals, chapels and kirks,
And he seeks out halls without notice boards,
Where the folks say they're known by their works;
Often the hinges have rusted up
And a latch would be hard to find,
But at every door He knocks and waits,
And His pleading voice is kind.

He knocked at a very forbidding door
A year or two ago;
He knocked so hard that the whole world heard
And the demons trembled below!
'Hasten, arise, and open the door!'
I heard as my conscience awoke,
His stirring words struck through and through,
And Hades' spell they broke!
I lifted the rust-corroded latch
And the Stranger came inside –
(How strange, I thought, He should wish to come
Where His Name's been so denied!)

Then clearer I saw in the entrance hall
That He carried a shepherd's crook;
He paused for a moment, then followed me
With a searching, kindly look;
I noticed His hair was wet with the dew,
And He said He must soon be sped,
But He readily sat and ate with me,
Content with a humble spread;
He soothed away my troubles and fears
And my inmost soul He won,
He asked me to come and sup with Him,
And then – in a flash – He was gone!

So then I knew that I couldn't remain
In my old denomination,
I longed for His blissful company
And remembered His invitation;
Out in the night I quickly ran,
Enquiring the way He went;
The watchmen were rough and couldn't help
So a restless night I spent …
Then again I heard the Shepherd's voice
In the early morning light,
'Twas gently calling to all His sheep;
And I found with deep delight
How He draws together from far and wide
His flock – one flock – to His own dear side,
With Him to remain, whatever betide!


Isaiah 52

O captive maid of Zion,        (verse 2)
Arise thou from the dust;
Twelve bitter years of bondage
Upon thy soul have passed;
The chains of error snared thee
In 1959,
In conference unpublished,
By devious design.

Unity as Presented in Paul's Epistles, meetings with
G. R. Cowell, London, July 14-16, 1959.
The notes – which Stow Hill Depot did not publish –
were published later by Philip Haddad.

The workings of the leaven
Of hard, ambitious pride
To public shame and ruin
Were clearly prophesied;
The Spirit's patient pleadings
Were hidden from our eyes;
In bigoted delusion
We called them compromise!

We turned away our shoulder,
We madly stopped our ears,
And those who tried to save us
Were targets for our spears!
Yet still the blood and water's
Redeeming, cleansing flow
Remains, the perfect answer
To all our guilt and woe.

How beautiful the footsteps –        (verse 7)
Glad tidings of great joy –
Upon the radiant mountains:
True publishers' employ!
Exuberant the message
Of righteousness and peace;
A dozen years perverted,
But hail the Lord's release!

Again shall Zion's watchmen        (verses 7-9)
See eager eye to eye,
Lift up their voice together
Beneath a cloudless sky;
For Zion's Monarch reigneth,
And Zion He'll restore,
e comforteth His people;
His mercy we adore!

In sight of all the nations        (verses 10-11)
Our God hath bared His arm,
Displaying sovereign mercy,
Deliv'ring us from harm;
Depart from cruel oppression,
And touch not aught unclean!
Jehovah's ransomed vessels
Restored to holy sheen!

For twelve long years this Scripture –
Isaiah 52 –
Has testified against us,
But to God's mercy, too;
O let us then, repentant,
Give glory to our God,
Whose faithfulness and patience
Has tracked the path we trod!

What saith the faithful Scripture?        (verse 12)
'Ye shall not go with haste'!
O how our legal frenzy
Away from God has raced!
But He has gone before us,
He rides upon the storm,
As Rearguard He'll preserve us;
His gath'ring love how warm!


In Simon's House

As Jesus sat in Simon's house
A weeping woman washed His feet,
Oblivious to Simon's pride,
Repentant sinner from the street.

Both love and sorrow made her weep,
The Saviour's lonely heart she cheered;
Forgiven much, her love ran deep,
What minded she if Simon sneered?

Upon the mountains, beautif'ly,
Those feet of Jesus never failed,
Expressing grace so perfectly
Till on the cross so cruelly nailed.

Though now He sits in matchless fame
Beyond this scene of death and woe,
His tender heart feels just the same
The plight of Christendom below.

On earth His Name is plunged in shame,
Though oft He's men's invited Guest
To foster some religious claim
In which His soul can find no rest.

So let us weep and wash His feet,
'Twill satisfy our Lord's desire;
If chilly blasts our efforts greet
Our feeble sparks they'll fan to fire!

Weep on, and let the tears run down
For every schism, every sect!
(Let clerics smile or clerics frown) –
For deep the breach of God's elect!

The ruin, sin and foolish pride
Within, around, we'd fully own;
We'd nothing claim and nothing hide,
Abandon all for Christ alone.

His heart shall know, His eye assess,
His voice shall speak 'Go thou in peace'.
What compensation to possess;
May our committal yet increase!


Arise and Shine

Arise and shine – thy light is come!
Words strangely bold to sleepy saint –
How can we shine, in such disgrace,
Our whole head sick, our whole heart faint?

'Tis voice of Christ, the one true Light,
Who shed once here His precious rays,
Whom Stephen saw, who dazzled Saul
In heav'nly splendour's glorious blaze.

'Arise and shine – thy light is come!'
How penetrating, yet benign,
Exposing us, yet tenderly
His grace and truth upon us shine.

'Tis grace and truth in Jesus' face –
O peerless beneficial beam!
To melt our ice, to cure our woe,
To flood our souls with joy supreme!

'Thy light is come!' – ours here on earth –
God gave so freely in His Son
That even now an ans'ring beam
Should shine from hearts this grace has won.

What miracle, that light should beam
From pris'ners once of sin and shame!
God's grace alone such works could do
To spread the news of Jesu's fame.

'Thy light is come!' – let us arise
In lowly Spirit-given power,
Repentant that our light grew dim,
To brightly shine this last brief hour.

'Thy light is come!' – what privilege
To hold the ground that Jesus won,
Till all the shadows flee away
As rapture greets the rising Sun!


The Least of these My Brethren

Different kinds of brethren
Everywhere we see;
Some are rather legal,
Others very free.

Some are ardent preachers,
Others feed the sheep,
Some are glad and joyful,
Others mourn and weep.

Some with youthful sparkle,
Others bent and sore,
Some in deep affliction,
Orphans, widows, poor.

Some with college accents,
Some with manners rough.
Doctors, teachers, typists,
Seamen, miners tough.

Some in churches, chapels,
Some in subtler sects,
All with varied backgrounds,
Virtues and defects.

All these kinds of brethren
Like their own type best,
For congenial fellows
Set their minds at rest.

Yet the Saviour's loving
Even to the least,
Every one is carried
Constant on His breast.

If in grief or trial
He supplies His grace,
If they sin He's pleading
There before God's face.

Should we not be seeking
All our brethren dear?
Should we not be channels
For their Saviour's cheer?

Even if the devil
Holds them in a snare –
We who are delivered,
Have we nought to share?

Different kinds of brethren
Always there will be,
Even up in heaven
Through eternity.

For our God delighteth
In variety;
Myriad different jewels
Round His throne there'll be.

Then they'll all be perfect.
Freed from dross of earth;
Even in the making
Each has priceless worth


The Centre of the Universe

They sat round poor Galileo
In solemn inquisition
And cried 'You wicked heretic,
Your clever theories make us sick,
And if you don't abjure them quick,
Unpleasant methods, sure and slick,
Shall worsen your condition!

'Accursed be your impiety!
Great damage you have done,
Declaring that this solid earth
Of many thousand miles in girth,
Endowed by God with splendid worth,
Unchanging since creation's birth,
Revolves around the sun!

'Traditions sure, the Bible too,
Establish us the centre;
Our sun and moon and all the stars,
The planets – Saturn, Venus, Mars …
Revolve around this earth of ours,
The focus of all creation's powers;
Your views our minds sha'nt enter!'

E'en as they spoke, yon glorious sun,
Through myriad miles of space,
Not only gave them warmth and light
But drew them by colossal might
(And many worlds beyond their sight)
To circle round its orb so bright
And held them each in place!

And is this not, dear Christian friend,
A lesson for believers?
We're not the centre if we be
From mission-hall or C of E,
Or Brethren Splinter Ninety-Three,
Though one and all are thankfully
Of blessings the receivers!

C of E: Common abbreviation
for the Church of England.
Splinter 93: Hyperbole – or is it?

For Christ the Sun and Centre is
Of all, divine and human;
Although we're objects of His grace,
Receiving more than we could trace,
The glory in our Saviour's face
Extends to all the depths of space!
He holds the Universe in place,
Not only men and women!

O may the sweetness of His grace
So win our hearts entire,
That in this world in which He died
A mightier force than draws earth's tide
And holds each star through heavens wide
– The love of Christ once crucified –
May all our deepest motives guide!
Then, like the stars, we'll not collide;
In faithful orbit we'll abide
Round Him, our hearts' desire!


Watchman, What of the Night?

Our Saviour-God in tender grace
Shone out in Jesus Christ below;
The hearts and souls of sinful men
Were stirred and won by heaven's glow;
Today, for ever, He's the Same,
Beyond the range of Satan's spite;
But Hell its hateful skills employs,
Enshrouding souls in darkest night.

And so of yore by pagan hands
The faithful blood of martyrs flowed,
Yet still the Gospel's living power
Sprang thousand-fold from seed they sowed!
Frustrated in their murderous purge,
The lords of Hades changed their plan;
They'd subtly work within the church,
Displacing Christ, exalting man.

So soon the Name of Jesus Christ
Was sullied by a papal crown,
Ecclesiastics' wealth and greed
Besmirched the Saviour's high renown;
With Scriptures chained beyond their reach,
Pathetic masses were deceived
To pay these wicked schemers fees
If e'er to heaven they'd be received.

A thousand years of Romish rule,
Then Reformation's dawn awoke,
And holy joy filled myriad souls
Whose faith embraced the words God spoke;
Rome's fortress breached, Hell's hateful hordes,
Inflamed with rage to meet their match,
By cunning and diplomacy
Strove desperately men's souls to snatch.

Then heavenly light shone brighter yet
Of Jesus Christ's one Body here;
In many lands rang out the cry
'Behold the Bridegroom' loud and clear!
The devil, though a roaring lion,
Had learned that violence wouldn't pay;
He used the finest intellects
To blur the Spirit's shining ray.

Insidious were the devil's plans:
Authoritative ministry
Eclipsing Scripture, Christ Himself,
So subtly, so audaciously!
Then bolder still, the devil took
A form of ultra-sanctity;
'Angel of light's' astute disguise
For lust, ambition, heresy.

He stole a hundred thousand souls
From Spirit-taught simplicity,
But Mercy tore away his mask,
Exposed corruption, blasphemy!
'Twas Mercy's work; may myriads more
Deliverance find, O Lord in Thee
Who savest to the uttermost
Souls heading for apostasy!

And fiercer flares adversity,
And only chaos, outwardly
Remains of church recovery,
'Tis thus, O Lord, we hide in Thee
Impregnable, beyond alarms;
Thy grace and succour comfort us
And steel our nerve amidst the storms;
Content are we in suff'rings till
Thy rising sun our night-watch warms!


Impregnable?

If you wrench it, chew it, beat it
Drop it from a dizzy height,
Soak it, boil it, freeze it, scorch it,
You will never win the fight!

Such a tough obdurate structure!
Such attacks will never win;
If you waste your time and vigour
You will scarcely scratch its skin.

Only by a special process
(Details known to very few)
Could an object so resistant
Be produced and placed on view.

Deep below its stubborn surface
Captive lies a human heart;
Urgent reason for endeavour –
Rescue, succour, to impart.

If you try it, you'll discover
That your efforts are in vain;
All advances are unwanted,
And are viewed with deep disdain.

Peering from its gloomy prison
Is a strange perverted pride
In its ruthless separation;
Nobody shall get inside!

Reckons utter alienation
Means from danger it is saved!
Tragic truth: a helpless mortal
By a wicked power's enslaved!

And it calls this wretched conduct
Purest Christianity –
Though a drunkard or blasphemer –
Pinnacle of vanity!

Such distorted moral values
Do not come from God above:
They're intended to discredit
God, the source of light and love.

Tell the story of the Saviour's
Death to set the captive free:
If you don't support the system,
It's as bad as heresy!

It is plain these stern defences
Aren't to keep the Devil out;
But to dupe and guard his victims,
That is why they're built so stout.

Subtle, daring work of Satan;
Such pathetic human plight;
Substituting for the Gospel
Principles of darkest night!

For such pitiful condition
Is there then no remedy?
Jesus overcame the Devil,
None is mightier than He!

Ought we not to show compassion
Even to the impolite?
Were it not for boundless mercy,
We would also shun the light.

Still we'll lift our prayers to Heaven,
Interceding that His hand,
Full of grace and power and wisdom,
May frustrate what Hell has planned.


Gardening Hints

With trees a plot was planted,
Of many species rare,
Sought out from many countries,
Arranged with taste and care;
The soil was rich and fertile,
Lapped by a flowing stream,
Secure from storm and tempest,
The gardener's cherished scheme.

And there the master gardener
Would often take a rest,
Amidst the verdant foliage,
So full of interest;
Where through his careful forethought
Each bough with fruit was filled,
Rewarding all his labours,
So arduous and skilled.

One day, amidst the garden,
A tree of stature bold
Forsook the pleasant setting
Designed for it of old;
It started shooting skywards,
And spread out far and wide,
Upsetting many neighbours
Who just got pushed aside!

While some admired the giant
Or tried to keep apace,
The other trees regarded
Its vigour out of place;
It shut out all the sunshine
And nearly all the air,
While water-shortage rumours
Just filled them with despair!

And soon, alas, the garden,
Once full of pleasant life,
Became a hopeless tangle,
A half-dead scene of strife,
With leafy branches wilting,
While greedy, thorny spines,
Producing myriad deadly seeds,
Destroyed the fair designs.

Still higher grew the monster,
It reached above the clouds,
Attracting hordes of raucous birds
Which flew around in crowds;
Its tap-root reached to hades –
The realm of evil lies –
Infernal regions whence it drank
Vast alcohol supplies!

When it had filled the garden
And blotted out the sun,
The gardener decided
That justice must be done;
In swift, decisive judgment
The giant tree was felled,
Its mighty roots were hacked away,
Malign rebellion quelled.

Before he got his garden
To yield its former fruits,
The gardener plucked up all the seeds
With alcoholic shoots,
But after this he soon restored
The garden of his dream;
His trees had all been kept alive
By moisture from the stream.


Two Men

I saw two men go up to pray,
God listened to their prayers;
One had rather a lot to say,
A man of great affairs;
The other one looked rather everyday,
But he cast on God his cares.

The First Man

The first man started by giving thanks
That he wasn't in ordinary Christian ranks;
His children broke bread before they could talk
And gave out hymns before they could walk;
He got to a meeting every night,
(An invite to Bristol's now in sight!)
He gave God thanks he wasn't with those
Who in that wicked rebellion arose,
Who boldly presumed to question the Lead,
So pure, beloved, in word and deed!
He prayed they might keep to the current line
(Whatever that is he didn't define),
Relating themselves to the 'man of God',
And the distinctive way he trod;
For the maintenance of liberty,
That laughter and drinking might flow free,
For the abolition of compromise
And the rival line in every guise;
That the Sabbath might be fully kept
(For subtle loosening in had crept)
That all collections should further increase
And the 'people of God' have prosperous peace …
His speech emphatic, his zeal immense,
And yet to Heaven it made no sense;
No need of Christ, no sense of shame,
No humble calling upon His Name,
So full of pride, so scant in feeling,
It simply bounced back off the ceiling!


The Second Man

The second man seemed in a bit of a stew,
His heart was bursting, but words were few;
He stammered his thanks for mercy free
Which had brought his soul into liberty,
For the blood of Jesus' precious flow
Which had washed his sins as white as snow;
He owned his part in Christendom's shame
Through men's foul deeds in Jesu's Name;
He prayed for the people up the street
With whom before he used to meet
(Who threw him out for quoting Scripture
Rebuking sin and man's conjecture);
He prayed for their rescue from Satan's power
Although their manners had turned so sour;
He prayed in view of the Judgment Seat
Where just assessment believers meet;
And he thought as he prayed of the Great White Throne
And the fate of professors whom God can't own!
And while he entreated for his foes
I noticed his prayer to Heaven arose
To the One who hears and answers prayer
For the Spirit of Christ is loved up there!
He prayed for all men everywhere,
For heavenly grace to meet despair;
And then that amidst iniquity
God's truth might shine in its purity;
And that God's children scattered wide
Might flock to Christ from every side;
He ceased to stammer and through his tears
Shone forth the love which calms all tears …


The Conclusion

I saw them both go home again,
And as they closed the doors,
One kissed his friends with might and main
'Midst whisky-soaked guffaws;
The other man bore a peaceful air,
His strength renewed through heartfelt prayer.


Cri de Coeur

1979

Following – What or Who?

To follow but a doctrine is to make
A common but serious mistake;
Although God's truth must ever perfect be
Our minds distort it very easily …
Unbalanced doctrine tends to heresy.

To follow but a leader is to give
Him homage Jesus only should receive;
Entrust no mortal man with heart and soul,
He may divert you from your Christian goal
And if he slips he cannot make you whole.

But follow Jesus only, then you'll see,
In Him all doctrines blend harmoniously;
Chief Shepherd and the Guide of leaders He
Yet stoops to lead each sheep so skilfully …
Rejoice in His complete sufficiency!

1979


A  HEAVENLY  INVITATION
L.  I.  C.  (name unknown)   11.9.64

The invitations now are out
For meetings all around,
Inviting saints from near and far
Of spiritual renown.
They changed the list, but still it was
My name just wasn't there;
I choked at first, and swallowed hard
And said I didn't care,
'Cause after all, who made the list –
It simply isn't fair.
I read a lot, and every night
I'm sure to have my prayer.
I used to go most all the time
To eight or ten a year.
Don't they know I want to go –
I've got to see who's there!
It bothered me; the more I thought
The worse I felt inside.
The pain continued more and more
Until I even cried.

And then an invitation came
Addressed I'm sure to me!
Not just a weekend for to spend
But for eternity.
'Come up here …' is all it said
To scare away the birds
Of jealousy and evil thoughts
My mind had entertained
Of those God told to leave me out
I jealously had blamed.
So now I'm not left out;
I've not been left alone.
If this is where I'll serve Him best
I don't mind staying home.


'TWAS  A  SHEEP  NOT  A  LAMB
Anonymous

Twas a sheep not a lamb that went astray
In the parable Jesus told.
'Twas a grown sheep that wandered away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And out on the hilltop, and out in the cold,
'Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd sought.
Back to the fold and back to the flock,
'Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd brought.

Now, why should the sheep be so carefully fed
And cared for even to-day?
Because there is danger if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.

The lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Where'er they wander – where'er they go.
If the sheep goes wrong, it will not be long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So still with the sheep we must earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs to-day.
If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost
The sheep will have to pay!


DRAMA  AT  BARBADOS  –  1970
Robert  Stott  (1902-76)
Robert Stott
Robert Stott, of Brighton, England, was the senior trustee of Stow Hill Bible and Tract Depot at the time of the fateful Aberdeen meetings in July 1970 – and a founding trustee of Kingston Bible Trust in 1971. He edited the 1973 Hymn Book.
Betty and I were privileged to have Robert and Kathleen travel with us from New York – where RS had served at 3 day meetings – and stay with us for several days on their 1971 trip to USA and Canada.
Some 'Explanatory Notes' regarding this poem are at the end.



Explanatory Notes to 'Drama at Barbados'

The beloved: after his death – Oct. 14, 1970 – JTJr was commonly referred to as 'our beloved'.

Hebrew: JTJr often said he was speaking it 'spiritually'.

GRM: Dr. George R. Maynard of Barbados, "the doctor" of verse 8, later withdrew. We enjoyed an evening with George and Gloria in the mid 1970's, when they visited in Toronto.

Scaffolding: the laughter induced was commonly so called.

Occurred: refers to the behavior at Aberdeen.

False insinuations: wicked suggestions as to our Lord.

Queue: sisters gave out hymns – and even spoke in meetings,

Harrow: the couple who acquired universal notoriety through the incidents in the house at Aberdeen lived in Harrow.

Green: does not refer to JTJr's 'ministry', commonly called the 'green books' from their cover colour, but to subsequent 'Readings at Nostrand Avenue and Other Ministry' – Vol. 3.

JT: The universally respected James Taylor, Sr. (1870-1953) faithfully served the saints in ministry for over 50 years.

G.A.R.

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