But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36

The internet, and blogging in particular, has made it possible for careless words to flourish, and foolishness to have a voice that previously was restricted to a neighbor within earshot - who probably nodded approvingly, while his or her body english screamed "let me out of here!"

Henry Vaughn, a fan of the poet George Herbert, saw to potential for words to tear down faith, or to enrich it. And he took his task very seriously.

"It is true indeed, that to give up our thoughts to pious themes and contemplations (if it be done for pieties sake) is a great step towards perfection; because it will refine, and dispose to devotion and sanctity."

"And further, it will procure for us (so easily communicable is that loving spirit) some small prelibation of those heavenly refreshments, which descend but seldom, and then very sparingly, upon men of an ordinary and indifferent holyness; but he that desires to excel in this kind of Hagiography, or holy writing, must strive (by all means) for perfection and true holyness, that a door may be opened to him in heaven (Revelation 4:1) and then he will be able to write (with Hierotheus and holy Herbert) a true hymn."
THE COMPLETE POETRY OF HENRY VAUGHN page 260

May the Lord help us all to strive in this manner. May pious themes and contemplations find a place in our thinking, in the end that the reader is disposed to devotion and sanctity.

Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.
Psalm 110:3

In commenting on this verse, Alexander McLaren says:

The host of his soldier subjects is described as a band of young warriors, whom he leads, in their fresh strength and countless numbers and gleaming beauty like the dew of the morning...

It is as a symbol of the refreshing which a weary world will receive from the conquests and presence of the King and his host, that they are likened to the glittering morning dew.

Another prophetic Scripture gives us the same emblem when it speaks of Israel being "in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord".

Such ought to be the effect of our presence. We are meant to gladden, to adorn, to refresh this parched, prosaic world, with a freshness brought from the chambers of the sunrise.

The dew, formed, in the silence of the darkness while men sleep, falling as willingly on a bit of dead wood as anywhere, hanging its pearls on every poor spike of grass, and dressing everything on which it lies with strange beauty, each separate globule tiny and evanescent, but each flashing back the light, and each a perfect sphere: feeble one by one, but united mighty to make the pastures of the wilderness rejoice—so, created in silence by an unseen influence, feeble when taken in detail, but strong in their myriads, glad to occupy the lowliest place, and each "bright with something of celestial light", Christian men and women are to be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord.

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith they bring it nigh.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.
ISAAC WATTS