Light for heaviness

(South Wales, nineteenth century, from the life of John Pugh*)

With heavy heart he viewed the vast
slums built, as industry growing fast
drew crowds of workers – their daily grind
hard, and cheer in liquor find
though temporary, and causing family friction
from wages frittered, with little notion
of life and joy: the churches warned,
felt preaching there would just be scorned –
like boiled peas thrown against a fort!
but when with Satan preachers fought,
God’s gospel Light as dynamite    
could crack the walls of blindness strong
and rescue slaves bound to belong
to one who liked to keep their mind
miserable, dead and blind.
When someone asked about the tent
that they erected – was it for a fight?
they told him, yes, come see the sight,
and when he came and heard the singing
he was amused and far from whinging
he gladly heard the Word of life,
and so did many, soon much strife
subdued, and many filled
the place that soon they had to build.
Embattled Satan’s hold was trounced
when gospel life and power announced.
Hearts freed and  won, the whole vast slum
soon seeing fewer bitter, angry, glum.

[IP: heavy]
*’John Pugh - Extraordinary Evangelist and Church Planter’ by Eryl Davies, DayOne Publications