"As in the planting of a new discovered country" - an attempt at a rondeau

The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, Albert Beirstadt

"As in the planting of a new discovered country" 

Beyond the fringes of stone and pale sand
We see a massive continent expand;
A vast profound of field, forest, hills, mountains
Variegated and bristling to skim
The dome of bright heaven, a jagged rim

Undulating on the world's edge. We stand
To catch a glimpse of peaks from this cold strand
Far away. Perhaps one day our sons and
Daughters will journey to horizon's brim
And see what we do not and sing new hymns
Beyond the fringes.

But must I only peak at this far grand
Country? Our Captain calls us in. His command -
The same that called us each out from dark, dim
Places and made pirates become pilgrims -
Rings out; we step from shore toward the land
Green and rustling and go, led by Your hand,
Beyond the fringes.

...the knowledge of Christ is profound and large; all other sciences are but shadows; this is a boundless, bottomless ocean; no creature hath a line long enough to fathom the depth of it, there is height, length, depth and breadth ascribed to it, Eph i 14. yea, it passeth knowledge. There is "a manifold wisdom of God in Christ,"Eph ii 10. It is of many sorts and forms, of many folds and lates: it is indeed simple, pure and unmixed with anything but itself, yet it is manifold in degrees, kinds and administrations; though something of Christ be unfolded in one age, and something in another, yet eternity itself cannot fully unfold him. I see something, said Luther,which blessed Augustine saw not; and those that come after me, will see that which I see not. lt is in the studying of Christ, as in the planting of a new discovered country; at first men sit down by the sea-side, upon the skirts and borders of the land; and there they dwell, but by degrees they search farther and farther into the heart of the country. Ah, the best of us are yet upon the borders of this vast continent!

John Flavel

“Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?” Job 26:14