I regularly set aside Fridays not only to link to some of the things that caught my eye over the past week, but also to highlight some aspects of artistic creativity. I do this by linking to the photography of Steve McCoy, Joe Thorn, Joe Kennedy, Will Turner and the Friday Flickr group in which they participate. But I also regularly feature a poet and at least one of their poems, along with a musical artist who makes at least one of their songs available for free and legal download.

Today’s featured poet is Ralph Erskine (1685-1752). Ralph was perhaps lesser-known than his brother Ebenezer, but he seems to have been the more artistic of the two. Ralph was ordained after study at the University of Edinburgh in 1711 and he appears to have been quite a prolific poet, though he is perhaps best-known for his Gospel Sonnets. Today’s poem is entitled: Christ: The Believer’s Adorning Garment:

Yea, thou excell’st in rich attire
The lamp that lights the globe
Thy sparkling garment heav’ns admire,
Thy husband is thy robe.

This raiment never waxes old,
‘Tis always new and clean:
From summer-heat and winter-cold,
Thy husband can thee screen.

All who the name of worthies bore,
Since Adam was undrest,
No worth acquir’d, but as they wore
Thy husband’s purple vest.

This linen fine can beautify
The soul with sin begirt.
0 bless his name, that e’er on thee
Thy husband spread his skirt.

Are dunghills decked with flow’ry glore,
Which Solomon’s outvie: :
Sure thine is infinitely more,
Thy husband decks the sky.

Thy hands could never work the dress,
By grace alone thou’rt gay.
Grace vents and reigns through righteousness,
Thy husband’s bright array.

To spin thy robe no more dost need
Than lilies toil for theirs;
Out of his bowels ev’ry thread
Thy husband thine prepares.

• Browse the works of Ralph Erskine
• Read Wikipedia’s entry

Today’s featured musical artist is Jeremy Casella. I’ve had a long string of featured instrumental artists, so I thought that I would change that up a bit this week and feature one of my favorite singer/songwriters.

My wife and I first heard Jeremy while we were at Southern Seminary. Jeremy was touring with Indelible Grace, and he did a solo acoustic opening set which (for us) completely overshadowed the full-band performance. We’ve loved his music since then and we even had the privilege of having Jeremy play here at Grace Community Church. Jeremy is currently recording a new album which I’m quite excited about.

Jeremy features several tracks available for free on his website. He has also been kind enough to allow me to host a couple of tracks from his unreleased tracks which I have also linked. Enjoy and thank Jeremy for his kindness by supporting independent music (I’m sure he would appreciate if you started with him!).

• Download “Freight Train” (demo version)
• Download “More Than the Watchman” (demo version)
• Download “Release Me” (demo version)
• Download “Dust to Glory” (strings and vocal mix)
• Download “You Whisper Something”
• Download “Savior of the World” (previously unreleased version)
• Download “Cast Away Stones” (previously unreleased version)
• Download “Carry Me Home” (previously unreleased version)
• Visit Jeremy Casella’s official website
• Shop Jeremy Casella’s merchandise