Revival: The Saviour of the World - Volume VI (1914)

The Training of the Disciples

Charlotte M. Mason

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781351341288
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Cristianesimo

The Saviour of the World covers each incident and each saying in the Bible and converts them to either a single poem, blank verse or rhymed stanza, according to the subject. This volume, called The Training of the Disciples, was originally published in 1914. This book will be of interest to students of both religious studies and English literature.

BOOK IV

OF SELF-DECEPTION AND OF SIGNS

XXXIX

“Woe unto you, Pharisees”

“RABBI, to dine with me, wilt please?

There, in cool chamber fairly set,

O’er cup of chosen wine, we’ll get

Some quiet talk; I fain would know

The novel doctrines Thou dost shew.”

One Guest in all the world comes sure

To him who bids, without allure

Of meat or music, costly wine,

Or talk that woos a man to dine.

The Lord went with Him, took His seat

At the table duly laid for meat.

Remembered He an earlier day

When thus a Pharisee did pray

Him and His following to eat,

When the disciples sat at meat

With hands unwashed? The Lord took thought

Nor washed; this negligence was fraught

With sure offence to host whose eye,

Fastidious, was quick to spy

Omission of accustomed rite

In guest whom he deigned to invite,

Scarce knowing Him.

The Lord discerned

This Pharisee’s arrogance; He turned,

Imperial, at the proud man’s board,

And spake that awful judgment word,

From which is no reprieve, to those

Assembled there, vain men who chose

To sit in the scorner’s seat.

“Without,

Ye Pharisees be clean, no doubt,

In cup and platter, house and hands;

But a clean heart your God demands;

Look well within, and ye shall find

Schemes of extortion fill your mind;

Lying, uncleanness, greed and hate

Are in your heart, while ye abate

No tittle of presumptuous claim

To magnify His holy Name,

The God of Israel. Ye fools,

Who think to please Him with nice rules!

Is God concerned with things outside?

Will He not all your pains deride

Who make a decent, reverent show

In things external, while ye go

On still in wickedness? Who made

The heart, think you? Who hath displayed

A thousand wiles to win that heart

So eager ever to depart

From God’s own ways?

Would ye be clean,

Look well to secret places seen

By Him who made you; find ye there

Extortion, lust, oppressing greed?

Give ye an alms to them who need

Of even these,—the widow’s tears

Unshed, for timely help appears,

The shame the virgin shall not feel

Because ye have refrained to steal

The flower of her virginity;

Such alms if ye shall bring to Me,

Clean are ye every whit!

Your care,—

That, mint and anise pay their share,

Their tenth to God; what would He more?

This, that your judgment shall restore

The poor man’s pledge; the rich, undo,

For offences manifest to you:

The love of God shall fervent flow

In hearts constrained that love to shew

To needy brother. Do but this,

And tithes and alms come not amiss

From heart that, like the almond-tree,

Puts out fair flowers spontaneously.

“Woe be to you, ye Pharisees!

Remember ye the God who sees

You choose the chief seats in His place,

Where men to worship come; what grace

For him who seeks vain glory there

Where men be met for praise and prayer?

“Woe be to you, ye Pharisees,

Whom all men’s salutations please!

Ye walk the market-place in pride,

And no man dares your hate abide,—

All make obeisance,—Woe to you!

“Like tombs are ye, fair to the eye,

All green and flower-bedecked, none spy

The hid corruption underneath,

Nor know they touch the place of death!”

Amazed the guests; none dared reply

Or wag a tongue or move an eye,

But with fixed gaze beheld the Lord

Those men who heard His damning word.

XL

“Woe unto you, ye lawyers”

A LAWYER, bolder than the rest,

Plucked heart to utter flippant jest;—

“Master, Thou wouldst not slight the Law,

But from Thy words we too must draw

Our condemnation; pray remove

Thy blame if Thou would’st not reprove!”

The wrath of Christ quick on this scoffer fell!

“Ye have judged well in this; Woe unto you,

Ye lawyers, for the burdens that ye lay

On poor men’s backs with your, Thou shalt, shalt not,—

Laws never laid of God, which weigh on men

Whether they sit or walk, or eat and drink,

Or hide them; there is no escape from you;

Your laws find...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• BOOK I THE DISCIPLES IN TRAINING
• BOOK II OF REST AND SERVICE
• BOOK III OF PRAYER AND CONFLICT
• BOOK IV OF SELF-DECEPTION AND OF SIGNS
• Appendix I
• Appendix II
• Index