Part 9 (1/2)
(ll. 309-332) ”Thanks be to Thee, O Lord of hosts! that Thou hast laid this punishment upon us. Forsake us not, O Lord Eternal, for Thy mercy's sake which men attribute unto Thee, and for the covenant, O Lord of glory, Shaper of spirits, Saviour of men! which Thou didst give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Thou didst promise them in days of old that Thou wouldest bless their seed, and that a mighty nation should be born of them, a race to be exalted as the stars of heaven that trace their wandering courses even to the strand of ocean, and the sands of the sea-sh.o.r.e that form the foundations of the deep throughout the salt sea; even so should they be numberless for untold years.
Fulfil Thine ancient promise now, though few are living! Show forth Thy glory and Thy word upon us! Make known Thy strength and power, that the Chaldean race and many nations living heathen lives may learn Thy glory under heaven, and know Thou only art Eternal G.o.d, Wielder of victory, Lord of hosts and all creation, the Righteous G.o.d.”
(ll. 333-344) So the holy men praised the loving-kindness of the Lord, rehearsing the strength of His might. Then was a gleaming angel sent from heaven above, with s.h.i.+ning face and clothed in glory, who came to comfort and deliver them with loving favour.
Holy and heavenly bright, he cast aside the blaze of the hot flame; with mighty strength he swept away and quenched the flame of fire so that their bodies were not harmed a whir. But in his wrath he hurled the fire upon their foes, because of their deeds of evil.
(ll. 345-361) Then in the furnace, when the angel came, the air was cool and pleasant, most like the weather in the summer season, when rain falleth during the day and warm showers from the clouds. As is the best of weather, so was it in the furnace for their comfort through the holy might of G.o.d. The burning flame was quenched and scattered where Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, with brave hearts, were walking in the furnace, and the angel with them who preserved their lives, who was the fourth.
Devout of heart, the three youths praised the Lord, and called upon the sons of Israel and all created things of earth to bless the Everlasting G.o.d, the Lord of nations. With understanding hearts they spake with one accord:
LIII
(ll. 362-408) ”O let the beauty of the world, and all Thy works, bless Thee, our Gracious Father, the heavens and all the angels, and the s.h.i.+ning waters! Let all, who in Thy great creation dwell in heavenly glory, bless the Lord of might! Let all things made, the s.h.i.+ning orbs that circle through the heavens, the sun and moon, praise Thee in their degree. Let the stars of heaven, and dew and the fierce storm, praise Thee. O let the souls of men bless the Lord of might! Let burning fire and radiant summer praise Thee. Let night and day and all lands, light and darkness, heat and cold, praise Thee in their degree. Let frost and snow and wintry weather and the flying clouds bless the Lord of might! Let the swift, s.h.i.+ning lightnings bless Thee! Let all the earth, the hills and plains and lofty mountains, the salt sea-waves and ocean, and the welling springs, praise the Everlasting G.o.d, the Righteous Lord! Let the whales, and the birds of the air that fly in the heavens, praise Thee. Let all that move in the water, wild beasts and all cattle, bless Thy name! Let all men praise Thee, yea! let Israel bless the Lord, who giveth all good things. Let holy men of heart, the spirits and souls of the righteous, praise the Everlasting G.o.d, the Lord of life, who giveth a reward to all. Let Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael praise the Lord! We wors.h.i.+p Thee and bless Thee, Lord of men, Almighty Father, and Thee, True Son of G.o.d, Saviour of souls and Helper of mankind, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, the G.o.d of wisdom. We praise Thee, Holy Lord, and wors.h.i.+p Thee with prayer. Blessed art Thou, and adorned with holy might for ever, above the world's roof reigning King of heaven, and Lord of life in every land.”
(ll. 409-415) Then Nebuchadnezzar, the lord of that people, spake unto the princes who stood nigh unto him and said: ”Ye beheld, my princes, how we cast three men to a fiery death in the blazing flames. And now, in truth, I see four men therein, except my sense deceive me.”
(ll. 416-429) Then spake a counsellor of the king, wise of heart and prudent of speech: ”This is some marvel which we behold with our eyes. Bethink thee now, my lord, of what is fitting. Know who it is hath showed this grace upon the youths. They wors.h.i.+p One Eternal G.o.d, and call on Him with zeal by every name. With eager words they praise His Majesty, and say that He alone is G.o.d Almighty, Wise King of glory, of earth and heaven. Call these men forth from out the furnace, prince of the Chaldeans! In no wise is it well that they should linger in that torture longer than thou hast need.”
(ll. 430-439) Then the king bade the young men come before him.
Boldly the n.o.ble youths obeyed His word and came as they were bidden. The young men rose and went before the heathen king.
Their fetters were burned away and the bonds of the king which were laid upon them, but their bodies were saved from harm. For their beauty was no wise injured, nor was any harm come upon their garments, nor their hair singed by the fire, but in G.o.d's protection they came forth gladly from that gruesome horror, wise of heart and favoured by the Holy Ghost.
(ll. 440-457) Then the angel, a faithful servant to the Holy Lord, departed up to seek eternal bliss on the high roof of the heavenly kingdom. And by that marvel he had honoured those who had deserved it. The young men praised the Lord before the heathen host, exhorting them with words of truth, rehearsing many truthful tokens before the king, until he too believed this was a G.o.d of wonders who freed them from the darkness. And the mighty lord of Babylon, the haughty king, decreed among his people that he was guilty unto death whoso denied this was a glorious G.o.d of might who freed them from that death. He gave back unto G.o.d the remnants of His captive people and granted favour to his olden foes. And their prosperity in Babylon was great and their fame was known throughout the nation, after they endured that trial by fire, and obeyed their Lord. Mighty were their counsels after G.o.d, the Holy Warden of the heavenly kingdom, had s.h.i.+elded them from harm.
(ll. 458-471) Then, as I have heard, when the lord of Babylon perceived the marvel that was come to pa.s.s within the flames, he was fain to know how the youths had pa.s.sed through the blaze of fire, and overwon the terror of the heated furnace and the flames, so that the fury of the burning brands and raging furnace had wrought G.o.d's prophets naught of harm, but His defence had s.h.i.+elded them against that fearful peril. And the prince commanded a council, and summoned his people, and there, before the mult.i.tude so gathered, rehea.r.s.ed the event as it had come to pa.s.s, and the miracle of G.o.d made known upon the youths:
(ll. 472-485) ”Consider now the holy might and wondrous works of G.o.d. We saw how He s.h.i.+elded the young men in the furnace from death and the leaping flames, because they served Him. He only is the Lord, Eternal and Almighty, who gives them glory and abundant weal who preach His gospel. And He reveals Himself by many a wonder to holy hearts who seek His favour. It is well known that Daniel showed me the interpretation of a secret dream, which formerly perplexed the minds of many men among my people, because Almighty G.o.d had given him an understanding spirit in his heart, and strength of wisdom.”
(ll. 486-494) So spake the leader of the host, the lord of Babylon, when he perceived the miracle and G.o.d's clear token.
And yet he wrought no whit the better; pride ruled the prince.
His heart was insolent and the thoughts of his heart were thoughts of pride, more than was meet, until the Lord Almighty humbled him, as He humbleth many who walk with arrogance.
LIV
(ll. 495-522) Now a dream came unto Nebuchadnezzar in his sleep and troubled him. It seemed to him that there stood a tree upon the earth, wondrous fair, deeply rooted and gleaming with fruit.
Nor was it like to other trees, but it towered unto the stars of heaven, so that it overshadowed the regions of the world and all the earth with its boughs and branches, even unto the sh.o.r.es of the sea. And as he gazed it seemed to him that the tree made shelter for the wild beasts, and that it held food for them all, and likewise that the birds of the air found sustenance in the fruit of the tree. And it seemed to him that an angel descended from the heavens, and spake with a loud voice, commanding the tree to be cut down, and the wild beasts and the birds to flee away, when its fall should come. And he bade that its fruit be cut off and its branches and boughs, but that the roots of the tree should abide fast in the earth as a token, until green shoots should spring again when G.o.d granted. And he bade bind the mighty tree with brazen fetters and fetters of iron, and thus bound cast it into torment, that his heart might know that a mightier than he had power of correction, against whom he might not prevail.
(ll. 523-537) Then the earthly king awoke from his slumber, and his dream was ended. But fear of it was upon him, and terror of the vision which G.o.d had sent him. And the haughty king bade summon his people together, and the leaders of the people, and asked them all the import of his dream, in no wise thinking that they knew; but he made trial of them how they would answer. Then Daniel, the prophet of G.o.d, was called unto judgment, and the Holy Ghost was sent to him from heaven to strengthen his heart.
In him the lord of men perceived an understanding spirit and depth of counsel, strength of wisdom, words of judgment. And once again he showed forth many a wonder, the mighty works of G.o.d, before the eyes of men.
(ll. 538-550) Then the proud, heathen leader of the host began to tell his fearful dream, and all the horror of the vision that had vexed him, and bade him tell the import of this secret thing, bidding him speak in holy words and search his heart to tell with truth the meaning of the tree which he saw gleaming, and declare to him the decrees of fate. Then he fell silent. Yet Daniel clearly saw in the a.s.sembly that his prince, the lord of men, was guilty before G.o.d. The prophet paused; then G.o.d's herald, skilled in the law, made answer to the king:
(ll. 551-579) ”This, O prince of men, is no little wonder, which thou hast seen in thy dream, a tree as high as heaven, and the holy words, wrathful and full of terror, which the angel spake--that the tree should be stripped of its branches and fall, where formerly it stood fast, lying joyless with the beasts, abiding in a desert place, its roots to remain fast in the earth in stillness for a season where it stood, as the Voice declared, and then after seven years to receive increase again! So shall thy fortune be brought low! As the tree grew high unto heaven so art thou lord and ruler over all the dwellers of earth, and there is none on earth to withstand thee save G.o.d alone. He shall cut thee off from thy kingdom and drive thee into exile without friends, and thy heart shall be changed so that there shall be no thought in thy heart of worldly joys, nor any reason in thy mind save the ways of the wild beasts, but thou shalt live a long time in the forest ranging with the deer. Thou shalt have no food save the gra.s.s of the field, nor any fixed abiding-place, but the showers of rain shall drench thee and hara.s.s thee even as the wild beasts, until after seven winters thou shalt believe there is One G.o.d for all mankind, a Lord and Ruler dwelling in the heavens.
(ll. 580-592) ”Yet is it pleasing unto me that the roots remained fixed in the earth, as the Voice declared, and after seven seasons received increase. So shall thy kingdom stand unharmed of men until thou come again. Take now, my lord, firm counsel in thy heart; give alms; defend the needy, and make atonement before G.o.d, ere yet the hour cometh when He shall drive thee from thine earthly kingdom. Oft for many peoples G.o.d abateth pain and woe, if they but earnestly repent them of their sins, ere His avenging wrath, with fatal doom, hath laid them low.”