Introduction
Words: William A. Percy, from the poem His Peace, in Enzio’s Kingdom and Other Poems (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1924), page 9, alt.
Music: Old Martyrs Psalms (Edinburgh, Scotland: 1615) (🔊 pdf nwc).
My peace I give to you, not as the world gives…Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Words: William A. Percy, from the poem His Peace, in Enzio’s Kingdom and Other Poems (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1924), page 9, alt.
Music: Old Martyrs Psalms (Edinburgh, Scotland: 1615) (🔊 pdf nwc).
They cast their nets in Galilee
Just off the hills of brown,
Such happy, simple fisherfolk
Before the Lord came down.
Contented, peaceful fishermen,
Before they ever knew
The peace of God that filled their hearts
Brim-full, and broke them too.
Young John, who trimmed the flapping sail
Alone on Patmos died.
Peter, who hauled the teeming net,
Head down was crucified.
The peace of God, it is no peace,
But strife closed in the sod.
Yet, brothers, pray for but one thing—
The marvelous peace of God.