1.01.02 Book 1: Chapter 2
2
"I WAS a tall young tree. And many a forest creature as well as many a bird found succour in my strength and comfort under my leaves, for they made a wide, cool shadow, like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. But now it is not so. It seems as if it could never be so any more. Frost-bound I stand. I can endure, for I have asked for fortitude, and I trust that I have not asked in vain. But I cannot do what once I did. The trees of the Lord are full of sap, in those gallant trees the birds build their nests. My sap is frozen within me and no bird builds her nest in my cold boughs-those happy birds that sang among my branches, where are they now? 0 that I had done more for them when power to do was mine! And I am not alone in this cold solitude, I am only one of many. Those others, frozen as I am, stand as I stand to-day. Our green days are past; our purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of our hearts.
O give me the comfort of Thy help again, my God, and bring my soul out of prison that I may praise Thy name. There is forgiveness with Thee; unto Thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul. Hear my voice according to Thy loving-kindness: quicken me, 0 Lord, according to Thy loving-kindness. Look Thou unto me, and be merciful unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy name. The words of men cannot help me now: miserable comforters are they all. Speak Thou to me, 0 God, for with Thee is the fountain of life. Let Thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live. O God, be not far from me. 0 my Strength, haste Thee to help me."
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"My son, thou hast made thy prayer unto Me in an acceptable time. In the multitude of My mercy I have heard thee; in the truth of My salvation I have delivered thee. 0 cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. It is He that hath made Summer and Winter."
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"Summer and Winter? Then Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. I had thought that I and those others were so shut up in this prison of frost that we could not come forth."
"But My frost-bound ones are the bondmen of their Lord. (One of My bondmen said, ‘I am an ambassador in bonds.’) My mercy compasseth them about. Every part of thy being is embraced in the Shining of My mercy. Thou hast said in thine heart, All these things are against me, but one day thou shalt say, ‘Blessed be morsels of ice; hail, snow, and vapours.’ Thou shalt know that all these things were fulfilling My word."
"I know it now. From Thee came the ice and the hoary frost of heaven. My life was as the face of the deep when it is frozen, but Thou hast given me grace to help in time of need. I will trust, and not be afraid. Blessed be God which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me. The day is Thine, the night also is Thine; Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; Thou hast made Summer and Winter. My times are in Thy hand. Thy word hath quickened me." For a little while he was silent to his God, and then he said, "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." And his God answered him in words whose depths no man has sounded, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." And then, "to long-loved music set," a song began to sing within him. He could hear every word distinctly: "My soul He doth restore again" was one line of that song. And it ended peacefully, Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me: And in God’s house for evermore My dwelling-place shall be.