# XLI: A Word in Season explained — Verses on Various Occasions

> Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on the challenge of witnessing for the Lord against sin, citing St. Paul's solitary stand on Mars' Hill. The Lord advises patience and watchfulness, urging the speaker to wait for the appointed seasons to speak and to use them as they arise.

## Themes in this chapter

### Faith and Doubt

The speaker wrestles with how to faithfully witness amid opposition, trusting in divine timing.

### Suffering and Humility

The call to hush and wait reflects humility and patient endurance in the face of spiritual struggle.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who questions how to display God's will and speak the Atoning Name.

### Paul

Cited as 'holy Paul' who rose on Mars' hill as a lone soldier.

### Lord

The Lord who instructs the speaker to hush, seek, and wait for seasons to speak.

## Key lines

> O Lord! when sin's close-marshall'd line Assails Thy witness on his way, How should he raise Thy glorious sign, And how Thy will display?

O Lord, when sin's tightly organized forces attack Your witness on his journey, how should he lift up Your glorious banner and show Your will?

_The speaker questions how to faithfully witness when besieged by sin._

> Thy holy Paul, with soul of flame, Rose on Mars' hill, a soldier lone; Shall I thus speak th' Atoning Name, Though with a heart of stone?

Your holy Paul, with a fiery spirit, stood alone on Mars' Hill like a solitary soldier; should I speak the Atoning Name in the same way, even though my heart is hard?

_The speaker compares himself to St. Paul, questioning his own worthiness to proclaim the Atonement._

> Not so, He said: hush thee, and seek, With thoughts in prayer and watchful eyes, My seasons sent for thee to speak, And use them as they rise.

Not so, He said: be quiet and seek, with prayerful thoughts and watchful eyes, the seasons I send for you to speak, and use them as they come.

_The Lord advises patience and attentiveness, emphasizing divine timing for speaking._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/xli-a-word-in-season
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters