CHIVALRY

CHIVALRY 

"Cast away, then, all cowardice out of thine heart,

and with knightly valour ride with me in the lists:

for it becomes not the squire to hesitate,

where his lord goes forward with gallantry and courage.

. . .

No vicarious atonement, then,

will satisfy the instinct of the true lover of reality.

He desires life with all its accidents and misfortunes:

the high heroic life of the chivalry of God."[1]

. . .

My Lord,

so often have I gone out with thee into the lists

not knowing wither I go,

sometimes armed and sometimes not,

sometimes consciously to do battle,

sometimes oblivious of the battle at hand.

Lord, I recognize the lists

as one of the themes of my life.

I praise Thee,

that has called me,

and kept me company.

. . .

Now my liege Lord

I place upon me the panoply of God:

I gird my loins with truth and integrity

and place upon my chest the breastplate

of Your righteousness.

My feet are shod with the Gospel of peace

and I stand ready to bear witness to You

in the midst of the fray.

I hold secure the shield of faith,

its colors the red of your shed blood

its white the purity you purchased for me,

its insignia the rampant Lion and the Lamb.

I fear not the fiery darts of the wicked one.

On my head I place the helm of salvation

its golden plume the sign of

Your victory over death and the grave.

In my hand I grasp the blade of the Spirit

which is the Word of God

sharper than any two-edged sword

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

joints and marrow.

My liege Lord

I stand by your side.

I hear the rumble of drums.

My ears ring with the trumpet call.

Lead me, My Lord.

I follow you to battle

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[1]John Cordelier, The Path of Eternal Wisdom, (London: John M. Watkins. 1922), p. 17.       Copyright © 2011  Robin P. Smith