would prove barren and vain, and better would be death. The tree of
being would produce no fruit; the sown field of this existence would yield
no harvest. Thus it is my hope that once again some circumstance will make
my cup of anguish to brim over, and that beauteous Love, that Slayer of
souls, will dazzle the beholders again. Then will this heart be blissful,
this soul be blessed.

O Divine Providence! Lift to Thy lovers' lips a cup brimful of anguish. To
the yearners on Thy pathway, make sweetness but a sting, and poison
honey-sweet. Set Thou our heads for ornaments on the points of spears.
Make Thou our hearts the targets for pitiless arrows and darts. Raise Thou
this withered soul to life on the martyr's field, make Thou his faded
heart to drink the draught of tyranny, and thus grow fresh and fair once
more. Make him to be drunk with the wine of Thine Eternal Covenant, make
him a reveller holding high his cup. Help him to fling away his life;
grant that for Thy sake, he be offered up.

Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful. Thou art the Knower, the Seer, the
Hearer.

191: O THOU WHO HAST BEEN SORE AFFLICTED ON THE PATHWAY ...

O thou who hast been sore afflicted on the pathway of the Covenant!
Anguish and torment, when suffered on the pathway of the Lord, Him of
manifest signs, is only favour and grace; affliction is but mercy, and
grief a gift from God. Poison is sugar on the tongue, and wrath is
kindness, nourishing the soul.

Then praise thou Him, the loving Provider, for having ordained this dire
affliction, which is but bounty unalloyed.

If I, like Abraham, through flames must go,
Or yet like John(58) a bloodstained road must run;
If, Joseph-like, Thou'd cast me in a well,
Or shut me up within a prison cell--
Or make me e'en as poor as Mary's Son--
I will not go from Thee,
But ever stand
My soul and body bowed to Thy command.

192: TODAY, THE LORD OF HOSTS IS THE DEFENDER OF THE ...

Today, the Lord of Hosts is the defender of the Covenant, the forces of
the Kingdom protect it, heavenly souls tender their services, and heavenly
angels promulgate and spread it broadcast. If it is considered with
insight, it will be seen that all the forces of the universe, in the last
analysis serve the Covenant. In the future it shall be made evident and
manifest. In view of this fact, what can these weak and feeble souls
achieve? Hardy plants that are destitute of roots and are deprived of the
out