Books and More Books (4)

 

The excerpt below is from Parables of a Country Parson by William E. Barton. Vickie and I first read the book in April 1996, it was on the nightstand in the guest room where we were staying on the campus of Gordon – Conwell, and while we didn’t complete our reading on that trip, upon our return home we ordered a copy and it has been with us ever since then.

 

The layout, including the capitalization and punctuation, is as it appears in the book. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Rising Above the Clouds

 

By William E. Barton, Parables of a Country Parson [edited by Garth Rosell and Stan Flewelling]. Hendrickson  Publishers.

 

I rode upon a Railway Train; and we were in the Rocky Mountains. And we awoke in the morning, and the Train was climbing, with two Engines pulling us, and one pushing behind. And we were nigh unto Twelve Furlongs above the Sea.

             And it came to pass as we ascended, that there were clouds below us, and Clouds upon the sides of the Mountains, but there were no Clouds above us, but the clear shining of the Morning Sun.

            And there came unto me a small Girl and her younger Brother, who were riding upon the Train, and we talked about the Clouds. For so did John Ruskin and Aristophanes, and the little lad was very happy, and he said,

            I have never been above the Clouds before.

            And his sister was Worldly-wise. And she said, A Cloud ain’t nothing but just fog.

            And he said, Nay, but this is more. And behold now, how then is a Cloud just under us, and we ride upon the top of it?

            And she said, We are on the Rails, just as we always have been; and there can’t nobody ride on a cloud.

            And the boy said, Jesus can ride upon a Cloud; for I saw a Picture of Him.

            And the little girl said, Yes, but that ain’t us.

            Now the little girl may have been right; but I thought within myself that this world hath too many people who look out on Life through her windows. For they see no sunlit Clouds, but only Fog; and they have little faith in rising above the Clouds, but have confidence only in the Rails.

            And I do not despise the Rails, nor advise people to discard them and ride upon the Clouds. Nevertheless, I have seen people rise above Clouds, and live in the sunlight of God. And I have known others who, whenever it is said unto them, Thus have others done, or thus did the good Lord Jesus, make reply, Yes, but that ain’t us.

            And if it is spoken concerning the House of God, Thus did the Synagogue in Jonesville, and thus was it done by the Church in Smithville, they answer, Yes, but that ain’t us.

            And if it be said, Thou shouldest be a better person; for others have risen above thy Clouds and thine Infirmities, they say, Yes, but that ain’t us.

            And when it is said, Thus hath the grace of God abounded in other lives, they say, Yes, but that ain’t us.

            But if it ain’t, why ain’t it?

            For this cause did God dwell in human flesh that we should never count any good thing impossible through the dear Lord Jesus.

            For He is our peace, who hath broken down all middle walls, that we should no longer say, But that ain’t us.