Around the City - thoughts on Exeter’s Past 15

The Ships that Sailed By Rev’d Paul Collings 

St Nicholas Methodist Church , Topsham Online worship for 23/08/20

2 Chronicles 9:21 “For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.”

The lights of home, the voyage done,

There safely moored as down goes sun;

Then shelter in the place called home

And rest a while from journey’s roam.

The battle of the raging waves

Where many dangers and close shaves

Were met to bring  ashore the wares

And then with city folk to share.

To share the goods from far off shores

This was the task, the aim, the chore

That faced each Captain and each crew

As there they sailed, t’ward homeward view. 

From ancient times so has trade plied

Across the oceans changing tides,

In spite of hazards, danger, risk

Each barque longs for that home-shore kiss.

Lord, in my dealings cross the lands

Or near to home where goods change hands,

Teach me to honour every gift 

That you provide, each soul to lift.

May through all commerce, ev’ry trade,

An equal measure, truly weighed,

Where all can share your graciousness 

And in that sharing know they’re blessed 

I pity the one who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process. -- Benjamin Harrison