WCP1338

[1]¹

[in ARW’s hand] Ackd.

[in sender’s hand] With the author's compliments. W. B.²

THE OLD, THE NEW, and THE TRUE THEOLOGY.

By Wynford Brierley.

The so-called "New Theology"

Must serve as my apology

For freely giving at this time

These views of mine in homely rhyme.

Theology may speculate,

or dictate, on the future state,

But one great truth is ever clear,

That God is love and heaven is near.

On every line of history's page,

Some saint, or psalmist, seer or sage,

This truth reveals, that man may see

Heaven's halo o'er humanity.

The soul of man, in song and story,

This wide world o'er, reflects this glory,

But clearest and divinest seen

Shining in the great Nazarene.

This light of heaven, this love divine,

Along time's track will ever shine,

A guiding and consoling light,

O'er life's rough sea in darkest night.

The "light that lighteth every man

That cometh in the world" began

Its inspiration and its mission,

In things divine, by dream and vision.

God changeth not His law nor plan,

In what concerns or governs man;

To-day and yesterday the same

Doth He His truth and love proclaim.

Only when we recede from Him,

Does this eternal light grow dim;

And, then, in some mysterious way,

It follows, changing night to day.

This world of toil, too, is the place

To fit for heaven the human race;

Is it not God's world? Did not He

Ordain its use and destiny?

And has He not the universe

Designed for better not for worse?

Who then, from His great love can be

Estranged and lost eternally?

Theology is like a maze,

so full of tantalizing ways,

That sometimes we begin to doubt

Whether, indeed, there's a way out.

And which is old, or which is new,

Or which is false or which is true,

Or where the old and new views blend,

A plain man scarce can comprehend.

One thing I hold, and none shall ban it,

As long as we live on this planet,

'Tis best to do the best we can

To help and serve our fellow-man;

And, when we leave it, we may still

Find loving service is God's will;

For, we are only happy when

We love and serve our fellow-men;

If heaven should have no room for this,

Then I'm afraid the promised bliss

Of harp and song will not avail,

And, as a real heaven, will fail.

We cannot know but what we learn

Have more of heaven than what we earn

By loving words and kindly deeds,

Which outshine all man's puny creeds.

[1]

November 9th. 1908.

With heartiest congratulations.

A Century hence

Science wise have more sense

Belief in spirit

Brings belated merit;

From Wynford Brierley,^1,2 Inventor of spiral compass,

Railway safety appliances, &c, &c.

Parkstone, New Malden, Surrey.

[2]

Life is a spiral with its central source sustaining and controlling throughout Eternity. To all who upward climb, whatever stage be reached, the merit lies in upward climbing still. Yet, when a nation’s heart prompts gratitude, voiced by the King, true merit is received. Progress in Kowledge and in Service is an endless spiral in Eternity Bliss. Order of merit.³