Scaffold Song, 1683

Scaffold Song, 1683


"Goodbye wicked plans of men and power traps. Goodbye sword and scaffold. Goodbye desertions of cowardice and treachery. Goodbye pretentious mis-naming of the King of kings. Goodbye hillside gatherings of harried saints, sheep and songbirds. Goodbye prayers that struggle through obscurity…Hello glad fellowship of the redeemed. Hello hearts come openly to hearts in free Communion. Hello happy Day of sunshine, springtime and the voice of the turtle-dove. Hello ravishing Bride in all your pure finery. Hello long awaited Bridegroom Jesus with a smile that heals the centuries. (Then the snare drums of sinister authority would drown out the condemned one’s dry and crackling voice. Then the floor fell through. )"

Where did this come from? Is it a piece of literature from the 17th century? Who's the author? Anyway, it is a beautiful piece. It's apparent that you like to read a lot of the older literature. I love the way you put that spin into your own work. Talk about retro... 

The piece is my best recollection of a chapter in a book by Jock Purves entitled Fair Sunshine (Banner of Truth Trust). It traces the lives of many combatants and martyrs through the times of the Scottish Covenanters (mid 1600's). Imagine the young man's father hastening the death by grappling the boy's swinging torso and adding his weight to the hanging! And all in the name of state religion. Brings on the tears...

http://momentsmidstream.blogspot.ca/search/label/Covenanters