The Saviour of the World (Routledge Revivals)

Volume IV: The Bread of Life

Charlotte Mason, Charlotte M Mason

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781317458623
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

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 Bread of Life, was originally published in 1910. This book will be of interest to students of both religious studies and English literature.

BOOK I

THE BREAD OF LIFE

THE

SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

I

In a desert place

“COME ye apart to a desert place and rest,”

Saith Christ to His Chosen Twelve, returned to Him

From wanderings, healings, teachings, manifold.

But, see, the people will not be outdone,

Nor let their Lord, theirs also, out of sight!

They watched Him enter the boat with those, His friends;

Tumultuous, eager, followed they on foot

Round the head of the lake, heedless of noon-day heat;

Crowds gathered to them from the cities round,

And, lo, that desert place the Lord had sought—

Spot lovely and remembered, was’t, perhaps,

For many a prayerful vigil, solitary,—

The crowd, iconoclast, had broke the spell,

Shattered that image of sweet solitude

Which refreshed the Master’s thought! See, multitudes

Are there before Him, waiting for His words.

Men of sweet nature, sure, might feel annoy

At such rude trespass on hour set apart

For rest and converse with their chosen friends:

They of sweet nature, aye, but not the Christ:

Tender, He welcomed all those scattered sheep

Having no shepherd; diligently taught

Through the long day things that concerned their peace—

Things of the Kingdom which was for each of them:

They heard with greedy ear: all learned that day,

That, whoso comes to Christ comes always well;

Never intrudes on secret communings,

Hears words for other ears, presumes on hours

Devoted to great matters; all’s for him,

Poor wretch who has no claim!

II

“Jesus went up into the mountain”

HE climbed the slope in sight of all the folk;

They watched, nor looked away, and knew at heart,

Unknowing that they knew, that in Him alone

Was all their hope, their life; without Him, nought!

He sat with His disciples there; He spake

Of the Kingdom of God and how men enter in:

Of what, we know not save by gathering up

Words elsewhere He had uttered, other time;

By conceiving baffling thought of parables

And sayings precious, unregarded pearls,

That no man gathered for our after-use!

The time wore on; for many hours the folk,

A moved and swaying throng, gave heed to words

That Christ let fall among them. The day far spent,

The Disciples came to Him, urged common sense;

(Nay, sure, in this thing, they more wise than He!

So the crowd scores o’er poets and the rest,

Who top them by head and shoulders; they have sense!)

Sententious spake they, in dull human wise;

“See, here’s a desert place, night’s drawing on,

A great multitude’s about with nought to eat,—

Forgetting hunger now, but, by-and-by?—

Good Master, be advised; send them away

That they may lodge in villages at hand

And buy somewhat to eat!” “What need that they

Should go away? give ye them bread to eat.”

Were ever men of sense brought quicker up

Before th’ impossible, preposterous!

All high things knew the Lord, but this small thing—

The people’s supper, how to get them home,—

How should great minds descend to small concerns?

Their plan was good, but He must have His way,

And theirs, to abide the thing He willed to do!

III

A venture of faith

THE Lord sat wearied after day-long speech,

Passing of “virtue” from Him in those signs—

Compassionate miracles—He wrought for them.

The people looked and heard and took their fill

Of the life that was in Jesus. (Wherefore, then,

But a handful gathered in that upper room

To fulfil their last obedience, when multitudes,

Arrested by His signs, had paid that due—

Attention to His words—which should lead to life?

Alack, an active part was theirs to play:

’Tis not enough to feed—e’en on the Word:

To assimilate that we take is our concern,

Else, go we empty!)

Lifting up His eyes,—

He sees great multitudes have come to Him:

Ah, good for us that one was by who loved,

And garnered bread for Christendom’s fond heart!

Blessèd to know that, there He sat, our LORD;

Where lies the spot, we know not, but rejoice

With brooding mind to know that, on a place,

Here on our very earth, the Saviour sat!

Bless’d, to know surely that He raised His eyes;—

Love treasures such things up; the love of John

Made record for us; our love tells her gains;

Surpassing reverence transports the heart

To note the Lord’s regard, observe Him, sit!

And now the Master tests that growth in faith—

The disciples’ sole concern, our only care:

One picks He out...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• BOOK I THE BREAD OF LIFE
• BOOK II OME SAYINGS OF THE LORD’S
• BOOK III THE TRANSFIGURATION
• BOOK IV OF LITTLE CHILDREN