The Church and the World walked far apart on the changing shore of time.
The World was singing a giddy song and the Christian a hymn sublime.
“Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World, “And then walk with me this way.
But the good Church hid her snowy hand and solemnly answered, “Nay,
I will not give you my hand at all, and I will not walk with you.
Your way is the way of eternal death and your words are all untrue.”
“Nay, walk with me a little space,” said the World with a kindly air.
The road I walk is a pleasant road and the sun shines always there.
Your way is narrow and thorny and rough, while mine is flowery and smooth. Your lot is sad with reproach and toil, but in rounds of joy I move.
My way, you can see is broad and fair and my gate is high and wide.
There is room enough for you and me and we’ll travel side by side.”
Half shyly, the Church approached the World and gave him her hand of snow and the false world grasped it and walked along and whispered in accents low.
“Your dress is too simple to please my taste. I have gold and pearls to wear; rich velvets and silks for your graceful form and diamonds to deck your hair.”
 |
| {Photo by Mark Rhodes} |
The Church looked down at her plain white robes and then at the dazzling World, and blushed as she saw his handsome lip with a smile contemptuously curled.
“I will change my dress for a costlier one,” said the Church with a smile of grace. Then her pure white garments drifted away, and the World gave in their place
Beautiful satins, fashionable silks, roses, gems and pearls; and over her forehead her bright hair fell and waved in a thousand curls.
“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World, “let us build you one like mine with kitchen for feasting and parlor for play- come sit with me and dine.”
So he built her a costly and beautiful house; splendid it was to behold.
Her sons and daughters met frequently there, shining in purple and gold.
And fair and festivals, frolics untold were held in the House of Prayer;
And maidens bewitching as sirens of old with world winning graces rare.
Bedecked with fair jewels and hair all curled; untrammeled by Gospel or Laws; to beguile and amuse and win the World some help for the righteous cause.
The Angels of Mercy rebuked the Church and whispered, “I know thy sins;”
Then the Church looked sad and anxiously longed to gather the children in.
But some were at the midnight ball, and others at the play, and some were drinking in gay saloons, and the angels went away.
And then the World spoke in soothing tones, “Your loved ones mean no harm merely indulging in innocent sports.” So she leaned on his proffered arm
And smiled and chatted and gathered flowers and walked along with the World; while countless precious souls were lost and into hell were hurled.
“Your preachers are all too old and plain,” said the gay world with a sneer.
They frighten my children with dreadful tales which I do not like to hear.
They talk of judgment and fire and pain and doom of darkest night.
They warn of a place that should not be spoken in public to ears polite.
I will send you some men of better stamp, more brilliant, gay and fast, who will show men how they may live as they wish and go to Heaven at last.
The Father is merciful, great and good, loving, tender and kind.
Do you think He’d take one child to Heaven and leave another behind?”
So she called for pleasing and gay divines, deemed gifted, great and learned, and the plain old men who had preached the Cross were out of the pulpits turned.
Then Mammon came in and supported the Church and rented a prominent pew and the preaching and singing and social events soon proclaimed a gospel new.
“You give too much for the Gospel,” said the World, “Far more than you ought to do. Though the lost need to hear of Calvary‘s Love, why thus need it trouble you?
Go take your money and buy rich robes and horses and carriages fine; and pearls and jewels and dainty food; the rarest and costliest wine.
My children, they dote on all such things, and if you their love would win, you must do as they do, and walk down the Broad Way they are in.”
Then the Church, her purse strings tightly held, gracefully lowered her head and simpered, “I’ve given too much away; I will do so, sir, as you said.”
So the poor were turned from the door in scorn; she heard not the orphans cry; and she drew her beautiful robes aside as the widows went weeping by.
And they of the Church and they of the World journeyed closely heart to heart.
And none but the Master who knoweth all could discern the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease and said, ” I am rich and with goods increased.
I have need of nothing and naught to do, but to laugh and dance and feast.”
The sly world heard her and laughed within, and mockingly said aside,
“The Church has fallen, the beautiful Church, her shame is her boast and pride.”
Thus her witnessing power alas was gone and perilous time came in;
The times of the end, so often foretold: of pleasures and form and sin.
Then the angels drew near the Mercy Seat and whispered in sighs her name and the Saints, their anthems of rapture hushed, covered their heads with shame.
A voice came down from the hush of Heaven and from Him who sat on the Throne.
“I know thy works and what thou hast said, but alas thou hast not known
“That thou art poor and naked and blind. Thou hast ceased to watch for that Blessed Hope, hast fallen from zeal and grace, So now, alas, I must cast thee out and blot thy name from its place.”
But out of the side of the harlot church, while she sleeps in indolent shame,
Are taken the remnant who keep God’s Word and honor His holy name.
By the Word of their testimony and Blood of the Lamb, they overcame the World.They prayed for the day when their enemy strong, would in the abyss be hurled.
And those who keep their garments clean, shall walk with Him in white.
In the day when He comes to claim His own, to make up His jewels, pure and bright.
 |
| {Photo by Laura Rhodes} |
 |
| {Photo by Mark Rhodes} |
The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shore of Time;
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.
"Come, give me your hand," cried the merry World,
"And walk with me this way;"
But the good Church hid her snowy hands,
And solemnly answered, "Nay;
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way of endless death;
Your words are all untrue."
"Nay, walk with me but a little space,"
Said the World with a kindly air;
"The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there.
Your path is thorny, and rough, and rude,
And mine is broad and plain;
My road is paved with flowers and dews
And yours with tears and pain.
The sky above me is always blue;
No want, no toil, I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe.
My path, you see, is a broad, fair one
And my gate is high and wide;
There is room enough for you and for me
To travel side by side."
Half shyly the Church approached the World,
And gave him her hand of snow;
The old World quick grasped it and walked along,
Saying in accents low,
"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair."
The Church looked down at her plain white robes
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
"I will change my dress for a costlier one,"
Said the Church with a smile of grace:
Then the pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave in their place
Beautiful silks and shining satins,
And roses and gems and pearls,
And over her forehead her bright hair fell,
Crisped in a thousand curls.
"Your house is too plain," said the proud old World;
"I'll build you one like mine
Carpets of Brussels, and curtains of lace,
And furniture ever so fine."
So he built her a costly and beautiful house,
Splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there,
Gleaming in purple and gold;
And fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there;
And laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
She had cushioned pews for the rich and great
To sit in their pomp and pride;
While the poor folk, clad in their shabby suits,
Sat meekly down outside.
The Angel of Mercy flew over the Church,
And whispered, "I know thy sin":
Then the Church looked back with a sigh and longed
To gather her children in;
But some were off a the midnight ball,
And some were off at the play,
And some were drinking in gay saloons,
So she quietly went her way.
Then the sly World gallantly said to her:
"Your children mean no harm,
Merely indulging in innocent sports";
So she leaned on his proffered arm
And smiled and chatted and gathered flowers
As she walked along with the World;
While millions and millions of sorrowing souls
To eternal death were hurled.
"Your preachers are all too old and plain,"
Said the World to the Church with a sneer.
"They frighten my children with dreadful tales,
Which I like not for them to hear.
They talk of brimstone and fire and pain
And the night of an endless death;
They talk of a place which may only be
Mentioned with bated breath.
I will send you some of the better stamp
Brilliant and gay and fast
Who will tell them that people may live as they choose
And go to heaven at last.
The Father is merciful, great, and good,
Tender and true and kind;
Do you think He would take one child to heaven,
And leave the other behind?"
So he filled her house with gay divines
Gifted and great and learned
And the plain old men that preached the cross
Were out of her pulpits turned.
"You give too much to the poor," said the World,
"Far more than you ought to do;
If the poor need shelter and food and clothes,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
And horses and carriages fine,
And pearls and jewels and dainty foods,
And the rarest and costliest wine!
My children, they dote on all such things;
And if you their love would win,
You must do as they do and walk in the ways
That they are walking in."
Then the Church held tightly the strings of her purse
And gracefully lowered her head,
And whispered, "I've given too much away;
I'll do, sir, as you have said."
So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she drew her robes aside
As the windows went weeping on their way,
With all their needs denied.
And the sons of the World and the sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master who knoweth all
Could tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
"I am rich, and with goods increased;
I have need of nothing, and naught to do
But to laugh and dance and feast."
And the sly World heard her and laughed up his sleeve,
And mockingly said aside:
"The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church,
And her shame is her boast and pride."
The angel drew near to the mercy-seat,
And whispered in sighs her name,
And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,
And covered their heads in shame.
Then a voice came down through the hush of heaven
From Him who sat on the throne:
"I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
'I am rich,' and hast not known
That thou art naked, and poor, and blind,
And wretched before my face.
Unless thou repent I will cast thee out
And blot thy name from its place.
I counsel thee to buy of me
The gold that will make you rich;
And anoint your eyes with the heavenly salve
To discern your Maker's wish."
Then the awakened Church with deep regret
From her worldly course returned;
She opened her heart to the knock of Christ
As His love in her bosom burned.
And gave her robes and forgave her sins,
And together they sat and supped;
His proffered throne He shared with her
For whom He had suffered much.
O Church of Christ, hear the Spirit's voice
As He calls through the world today.
Would that every church throughout the realm
Would turn from the world away.
The world will be lost in eternal night,
But the penitent saved for aye.
 |
| {Photo by: Mark Rhodes} |
