In 1894 Arthur C. Ainger, a popular schoolmaster at Eton College (pictured in his Vanity Fair incarnation), wrote the text to one of my favourite hymns, ‘God is working his purpose out’. This hymn has always delighted me for it reminds us, very forcibly, of the fact that it is God, not us, who is in ultimate control. Thus, so long as we remain faithful, we have nothing to fear. The battle is won.
Dedicated to Edward W. Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, the text was first issued as a leaflet and was considered to be a ‘mission hymn’- all very trendy in its day!! Yet, unlike so many of those trendy mission hymns, this one has lasted through the years bringing comfort and solace to millions. As we who are Catholic face up to the reality of our situation and of our need to step forwards in faith with courage, this hymn is well worth pondering.
For as well as bringing comfort it also presents a challenge: to press the cause of Christ through¬out the whole world. Our call as Christians is to set free the gospel of Christ to those who are captive to sin and sorrow. We must, at all times, make sure our deeds are worthy of God’s blessing. In an increasingly secular and hostile society this is not going to be work for the feint hearted.
Read the words afresh then, praying that God will help you to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in YOU to will and to act according to his good purpose.” The words from Phillipians which inspired Arthur Ainger from the outset. Finally as we accept that God is working his purpose out, let each of us consider the ways in which we help in that process and the ways in which we hinder it. That is ultimately the issue to be grappled with throughout the Christian life.
God is working his purpose out
as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
From utmost east to utmost west,
where’er the church has gone,
by the mouth of many messengers
the call of God has come:
Give ear to me, you continents;
you isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
March we forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world:
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
All we can do is done in vain
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvesttide
till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
Looks like the Pope’s offer has had the opposite effect to what you hoped – the Revision Committee have now abandoned any plan for ‘flying bishops’ under statutory law, and gone back to Synod’s desire – such bishops will operate under the diocesan bishop under a code of practice.
Loudly proclaiming one’s fidelity to the Pope and the RC Catechism wasn’t going to guarantee a sympathetic ear where once there might have been one.
See their Press Release – http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr10509.html
Not only does Mr Ainger look and dress like a certain Mr Charles Windsor, he writes similar twaddle.
For the record, a sea not covered by water is called ‘dry land’.