every brand snatched is a brand dispatched
(Reflections on 9/11, Redemption & God's Mission)

sea of souls
soon to be cast
into the lake of fire

the second death
unless souls repent

unquenchable fire
everlasting pyre

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

sea of souls
soon to be cast
into the lake of fire

who will go
who will preach
to the sea of souls?

repent and believe
eternal life receive

through Jesus Christ
atoning sacrifice

if you are Christ's
must you not invite?

by mercy plucked
by love constrained

by blood unstained
by grace sustained

from God's wrath
by sovereign grace
from the sea of souls

you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls

will you stand in the breach
will you pray for and beseech
the dying sea of souls?

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

who will go
are you not sent
to cast abroad
the Gospel net?

seek the Baptizer
breathe His breath
take His strength
in His yoke never tire
cast the Gospel net
farther and wider

compel all to come
compel all to dine
to drink of Christ
to plunge inside
the crimson tide

if you are Christ's
must you not invite?

didn't He call you, didn't He draw you out
to ascend the housetops, to the world shout?

"Go quickly," the Master tells you,
"Compel them – still there is room!"

the LORD enlarges all borders of the land
He increases the nation by His strong hand

forgiven sinners, washed white as snow
are to call a nation that you do not know

commissioned to be Christ's mouthpiece of declaration,
are you locked in the Christian bubble of segregation,

gathering for carnal fellowship
oblivious to souls gasping their final breath

singing your Sunday songs to God Most High
forgetting worship is mission's battle cry:
"Run to every nation, lift His banner high
Go and make disciples of the sea of souls"

dare you stop the cleansing tide
keep your light hidden inside
from the sea of souls

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

will you hide from your own flesh?

how will souls know Jesus Christ,
the way of God's righteousness?

how will lost souls hear salvation
comes not by works, but God's graciousness?

how will oppressed souls receive
the garment of praise for heaviness?

will you hide from your own flesh?

who will loose the bonds of wickedness?
who will proclaim peace to those in distress?
who will lead the weary to the yoke of rest?

if you are Christ's
must you not invite?

does our high priest ever tire
is it not God's great desire
to pluck firebrands from the fire?

other sheep the Shepherd has, lambs He must retrieve
what have you done? why are you not on your knees?

the house of prayer for all nationalities
have you not fashioned it into a den of thieves?

prayer – God's gift for God's glory
have you not made it self-centered, all self-absorbing?

Messiah expects an abundance of corn
are you bearing only briars and thorns?

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

once fatherless, now to God reconciled
His Son's precious blood made you His child

once a stranger far off, how did you ever hear?
whose beautiful feet preached to draw you near?

God's eternal redemption plan
transcends all colors, every clan

in the gap who will stand
will you reach for the firebrand?

who will weep
for helpless sheep?

who will intercede
at the mercy seat?

who will lay down his life
for the sea of souls?

will you be cast outside
for the sea of souls?

will you live comfortably
or be poured a drink offering
for the sea of souls?

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

God's good purpose from eternity
O! such an adorable mystery:
to both Jew and Gentile, He is rich in mercy
the middle wall of hostility
abolished in Christ at Calvary

the devout man of Joppa
the fierce man of Nineveh

the leprous commander
the persecutor, the blasphemer

what you do to the least of these
that you do unto Me

are you not a sinner unworthy
just like the least of these?

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

will you lay down your pride
for the sea of souls?

how can you call any man common or unclean
are not all the thirsty bid come to the healing stream?

will you turn a deaf ear to the Macedonian man
contemn Christ's inheritance, innumerable as sand

can you limit eternal cords of love?
dare you provoke the Holy One

will you bind unbounded love?
and grieve the Spirit of His Son?

is your love truly Christian
if love extends only to your friends?

cast off ethnic barriers, boundary lines
remember Gospel grace is color-blind

hinder not, yea, do not prevent
children called to the veil rent

life to the driest eunuch
welcome to the foreigner's son

God's will be done
His Kingdom come

even in Babylon
even in cities of ruthless nations
dwell some of the Lord's elect

kings led in procession
the Lord's offering
ordained to bring Christ praise and adoration

will you love your enemy
will you go down to your knees?

will you love your enemy
pleading for him fervently?

were you not once Christ's enemy?
behold your God who bled for thee!

were you not a hopeless alien
separated from God by your sin?

when will you learn Christ's love is blind
goes to every nation to seek and find

to gather His sheep at any cost
so none are missing, not one is lost

on the cross the Lamb was hung
to purchase souls from every tribe and tongue

when will you learn Christ's love is unearned
stretches His hands to those who spurned

Christ ransomed men from every race
who will tell them of God's grace?

who will take life to those who kill
if you don't, then, pray tell, who will?

the glory of God, the cause of Christ
do these ambitions control your life?

so long as the King's coming delays
go out into the hedges and highways

night approaches, the day is fading
are you merely shadows chasing?

are you wasting your life
or presenting it a worthy sacrifice

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

who will cast all on Christ
for the sea of souls?

who will cast off for Christ
to the sea of souls?

who will spend all and be spent
for the sea of souls?

will you gain the whole world
and lose the sea of souls?

will you gain the whole world
and lose your own soul?

are you not sent
to the sea of souls?

are we not sent
to the sea of souls?

every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls

so the earth shall be filled
filled with knowledge heavenly
knowledge of the LORD's glory
as the waters cover the sea

so the earth shall be filled
filled with tongues confessing
Christ Jesus ever blessing
to the glory of God the Father

so the earth shall be filled
filled with our Redeemer's praise
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!"
the plucked firebrands' blazing refrain

* * *

The Watchman's Song – "Day and night, night and day"

A watchman I remain
Day and night, night and day
All glory due Your name
Through devilish snares
Through worldly cares
May I never cease to pray
And teach the good way
A watchman I remain
Day and night, night and day

This people You have made
For Your pleasure, for Your name
This remnant You have claimed
This flock by Your blood obtained
You will never orphan or forsake
Day and night, night and day

We confess our abominations
We turn from our transgressions
See our darkness and desolation
O, awake, arise, arrive for our salvation
Rush upon the mountains of separation
May we no longer be called a city forsaken
Make us the joy of many generations
A healing stream to all the nations
Life forevermore, blessing descending

Let the poor and needy spring up with praise
Let not the oppressed be ashamed
Adorn us with Your garment of praise
That all peoples might know Your name
Is Your arm shortened that You cannot save?

For You alone, O God, are our King
In the midst of the earth working
Day and night, night and day
Working everlasting salvation
Day and night, night and day
For those whose heart is loyal to Him
Descend again to Mount Zion
Beautify Your sanctuary with salvation

A watchman I remain
Day and night, night and day
All glory due Your name
Through fainting flesh
Through great distress
May I never cease to pray
And teach the good way
A watchman I remain
Day and night, night and day

O, Word, pour like rain
I seek Thee not in vain
Hope maketh not ashamed
Ignite my fitful flame
Kindle me and save
All glory due Your name
A watchman I will remain
Day and night, night and day
By Christ's grace sustained
For the sake of Your great name
Day and night, night and day

Send a token of Your covenant love
Forget not the soul of Your turtledove
Deliver me not to the wild beast
Refresh my soul with Your mercy feast

O, Word, pour like rain
I seek Thee not in vain
Hope maketh not ashamed
This blustery storm tame
Anchor me and save
All glory due Your name
A watchman I will remain
Day and night, night and day
By Christ's grace sustained
For the sake of Your great name
Day and night, night and day

Show Your goodness
Show Your face
Show Your glory
Show Your grace
Send a morsel
Send a taste
For You I watch
For You I wait
For You alone my soul silently waits
Day and night, night and day
For what other god remains
Day and night, night and day
I am pursuing, though faint
Day and night, night and day
In this lonely graveyard place
A watchman I remain
Day and night, night and day

Wait on the LORD, my soul, wait!
You will not be put to shame
He waits to show His grace
Blessed are those who wait
Day and night, night and day
Waiting for You to shine Your face
Radiance beaming in the secret place

Psalm 74:12  Yet God my King is from of old,
working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Isaiah 30:18  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

19  For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more.
He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.
As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

Ii Timothy 2:1  You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

– Edward Payson in "Memoir, Select Thoughts and Sermons of the Late Rev. Edward Payson, Volume 1" by Edward Payson (1783-1827) and Asa Cummings, p. 248 (emphasis mine)

II. That the true God will never fail his worshippers: "You hear what has become of Bel and Nebo, now hearken to me, O house of Jacob! 3, 4. Am I such a god as these? No; though you are brought low, and the house of Israel is but a remnant, your God has been, is, and ever will be, your powerful and faithful protector."

      1. Let God's Israel do him the justice to own that he has hitherto been kind to them, careful of them, tender over them, and has all along done well for them. Let them own, (1.) That he bore them at first: I have made. Out of what womb came they, but that of his mercy, and grace, and promise? He formed them into a people and gave them their constitution. Every good man is what God makes him. (2.) That he bore them up all along: You have been borne by me from the belly, and carried from the womb. God began betimes to do them good, as soon as ever they were formed into a nation, nay, when as yet they were very few, and strangers. God took them under a special protection, and suffered no man to do them wrong, Ps. cv. 12-14. In the infancy of their state, when they were not only foolish and helpless, as children, but forward and peevish, God carried them in the arms of his power and love, bore them as upon eagles' wings, Exod. xix. 4; Deut. xxxii. 11. Moses had not patience to carry them as the nursing father does the sucking child (Num. xi. 12), but God bore them, and bore their manners, Acts xiii. 18. And as God began early to do them good (when Israel was a child, then I loved him), so he had constantly continued to do them good: he had carried them from the womb to this day. And we may all witness for God that he has been thus gracious to us. We have been borne by him from the belly, from the womb, else we should have died from the womb and given up the ghost when we came out of the belly. We have been the constant care of his kind providence, carried in the arms of his power and in the bosom of his love and pity. The new man is so; all that in us which is born of God is borne up by him, else it would soon fail. Our spiritual life is sustained by his grace as necessarily and constantly as our natural life by his providence. The saints have acknowledged that God has carried them from the womb, and have encouraged themselves with the consideration of it in their greatest straits, Ps. xxii. 9, 10; lxxi. 5, 6, 17.

      2. He will then do them the kindness to promise that he will never leave them. He that was their first will be their last; he that was the author will be the finisher of their well-being ( 4): "You have been borne by me from the belly, nursed when you were children; and even to your old age I am he, when, by reason of your decays and infirmities, you will need help as much as in your infancy." Israel were now growing old, so was their covenant by which they were incorporated, Heb. viii. 13. Gray hairs were here and there upon them, Hos. vii. 9. And they had hastened their old age, and the calamities of it, by their irregularities. But God will not cast them off now, will not fail them when their strength fails; he is still their God, will still carry them in the same everlasting arms that were laid under them in Moses's time, Deut. xxxiii. 27. He has made them and owns his interest in them, and therefore he will bear them, will bear with their infirmities, and bear them up under their afflictions: "Even I will carry and will deliver them; I will now bear them upon eagles' wings out of Babylon, as in their infancy I bore them out of Egypt." This promise to aged Israel is applicable to every aged Israelite. God has graciously engaged to support and comfort his faithful servants, even in their old age: "Even to your old age, when you grow unfit for business, when you are compassed with infirmities, and perhaps your relations begin to grow weary of you, yet I am he--he that I am, he that I have been--the very same by whom you have been borne from the belly and carried from the womb. You change, but I am the same. I am he that I have promised to be, he that you have found me, and he that you would have me to be. I will carry you, I will bear, will bear you up and bear you out, and will carry you on in your way and carry you home at last."

* * *

Keep me an infant so I might hear
Your Spirit's whispers loud and clear:

"Jehovah birthed you from sin's tomb,
Who else carried you from the womb?

"How could dying flesh beget eternal life?
My grace made you to be Christ's wife!

"Surely I will bear you up and out,
My child, be not afraid; do not doubt."

Keep me an infant so I might begin
To see nothing good dwells within

Keep me an infant so I might be humble
Self-assurance fail, collapse and crumble

Keep me an infant so I might embrace
The chief cornerstone, chosen and precious

Keep me an infant so I might bless
Jesus Christ as my whole righteousness

Keep me an infant so I might profess
Trust in Christ, no confidence in my flesh

Keep me an infant so I might sanctify
Reckon myself dead to sin, to God alive

Keep me an infant so I might die
Through Christ really live and sin mortify

Keep me an infant so I might self disdain
Count loss for Christ whatever was gain

Keep me an infant so I might be weak
For Your Spirit ask, knock and seek

Keep me an infant so I might recall
Though hard I work, Your grace works all

Keep me an infant so I might be thirsting
Always Your pure spiritual milk drinking

Keep me an infant so I might rely
On Your Word for You do not lie

Keep me an infant so I might rest
In Your yoke during the fiery test

Keep me an infant so I might remain
Dependent on Your heavenly rain

Keep me an infant so I might know
Your eagles' wings carrying me below

Keep me an infant so I might cast off Baal
Bow to the only God who never will fall

Keep me an infant so I might lean
On the one true God who is unseen

Keep me an infant so I might proclaim
Your full sufficiency for Your fame

Keep me an infant so I might decrease
So You and my joy might ever increase

Keep me an infant so I might be contrite
And see Your countenance shining bright

Keep me an infant so I might see
All praise and glory belongs to Thee

Keep me an infant so I might declare
Christ carried me from womb to hoar hairs

Keep me an infant so I might run
By Your Spirit till my earthly race is done

Keep me an infant so I might hear
The Spirit's whispers loud and clear:

"Jehovah birthed you from sin's tomb
Who else carried you from the womb

"How could dying flesh beget eternal life
My grace made you to be Christ's wife!

"Surely I will bear you up and out,
My child, be not afraid; do not doubt."