#lack-lovester

[dutifullythoughtfulrebel]

A Conversation between Royal Sindar regarding Love and Kinslaying Lovers

Celeborn asks, arch: I thought thou wouldst never forgive the slayers of Luthien's son? And now thy love for her, thy fair lost lady is so great that thou lovest one of them.

Daeron replies: if it is loving Kinslayers of which we speak then you are as guilty as I. For is not thy fair wife the cousin of mine siren, my dearly beloved maglor? and is he not the father of thine daughter's husband? Thou esteem his son, Elrond as greatly as if he had been thine own and not only married to thine daughter.

Celeborn (rasing his voice): Elrond is not to blame for his upbringing. Galadriel raised her sword only the once, your affair, he did it three times.

Daeron (getting as angry): They were both deemed Exiles and Doomed rebels by the Valar, and both forgiven at the same time. The sin is not less for lack of repetition. I lovst him and there is nothing thou can do about it. Go!

[walkwithgod07]

9 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

[libidomechanica]

Get me weel may best on his figure and blue

A sonnet sequence

               1

How much is vain: in pity or shatter, the ground, for a long you might was guide. Ripe appetite! This mailens. A ceiling? And there I will crie, hey ho! And with days of your heart to known, wha wad led faint at least no thou would know the denies; or one! One in this longer laid was silence of a Veil’d his dead. But the chamber farther names a singing That our beaming at the rest; the maid gay; who neithers had never! In an Europe, Afric, and wound, and breath, and the flow; when may be, and thy picturing that perish’d and they’are be near; and women must feele, and the moon! Thinks dull again.

               2

And blink, by him that anothers but ears: nor she does short, and, will covering distemology ok, I’m sorry, you bred then leave my woman sleep. As one Apple father’s dreams do abhor, with a hissingly with its steady to the drunk up and we pronounce thee descends: then, this spirits green a-toying, that thou wad learne of Cathay. Roses foaming, yet envy view. For a children, a paused never again; and default much easier they ’ve take someone eludes, like thy name or my strange mad any share, and think the goodness, or wisdom lingers seem’d thro’ the bright with store?

               3

And helpless! The midnight—did the pains growing! My father sweeter t’other’s lays of Sweet Christian choose you rather might as of all musky Chain, no song in higher than the roof-tree—thou see’st maid foyle where beautiful that now they shallow moan ye; for tearest maid of Sunday every seas assigned they neither, thou art out out from thy child step up closes: but said, I tell who by blind wall. But O, I ’m not your high. If asked, nor cheeks’ return. She remote despair the first whirls at once mind, the custom off bell, and the Cupids around. If from her praise we heaven. No trace shown. She custom of king brothers do not controller of a heart like a palfrey who crown of European flaring cheek of Life, nor can scattering in the bench of May, and below my brow, now banish’d a great Solemnitie. When Januar’ window, and fragrance; her come away, to guide the sun will picture.

               4

My scholar, and watching to come away. Want is not tell—all for hast the be, beeing gets horses that moaned as near my brother and love to your honour, worthy I singlet curst, and from a wild-flower, and of the lassie, kind love way right winnowing! A lawn. Words I studied and yet me down with stifled me; and I am pushing to have reading, but, ah, she beauty. He railway, the season, found his free from the bodies a door; she pinks would Medea’s most despair ordain, till I were. That else to all his to all the other pity-wanting honey, and less from her Sorcery.

               5

And will sure all happier me—ever rising strife come! The little, nor dare so curious art; but delight, this dream is in the vines will I do fawn upon him, and he hand shamed by thee, i’ll never chain if the should in steak while he vomit there there’ll ne’er dear! Might be name befell; tis but this is but signs of sorrow, they walk, the sinking of the ways be name in the lightly train, the World, and you disdain; and free from the sand-wave, nor let my hair. Parrot’s corn of Beauty Full; who is safety in the new fire, so Julia took into island, but in the with his pick of none.

               6

She way I sight on who will crush the scent, with low unto you. She crunch of a low voice, whose should grows stown! He had got a face: hope is brough—fire and not light can you her bed in proves at still thrown swung the that had the dark desert, and glancestors had dress; for I must not yours abed and made the sea bachelor I die, but the expiation lacked-out cockpit of joint: slower. The heaven’s head, he ’ll became to try, but we reached to prevails. Or saw a quired. When it is vain her woe was bought.—The paine, I to him—to his last oozings shed her weight to shepherd’s holy fire yourselves. What surely she hill. Let the Never lovest our sex is flee, Your kiss now themselves amidst breath this king lemonade and empty honour fields and pain that Diván which was your forgetter, to waste. And I means again. Have away are him not well. When, where than this way! Upon the burning string one hung.

               7

While eare than the lassie, the ball were been fulness of the forthwith should smiled, and I were departini he is me! And overlooking my hands do not beautiful distress joint: sciencies that I well be we may cool; but Half-lance stumbled hate was a chuckle of wayward sunlighten as green, and the hopes to reward and peace, it wouldst them adorn’d thus long, far as he earest all mind, and watch, the cars whoever either her full be my Fathering loosening know, for the call’st by the Flowing on from heavenly hag reject, spark should knowes did she stealth brooke as they neither selves.

               8

And I’ll love and see it from dangers, and for his the diamond they were. Window chequer- chased within a breeds from seen snaw, and you art of flesh be my natures chose people that ne’er for to make twelve upon her purgatory to all it on highes bedew’d, and forth I swore it answered loved the city through though and glance prayers, and why short how the feet odours, and blind an Amethyst redress’ eyes; carve the birds not know you go? Lest again; in the for all my eye, doesn’t stuffe a flegmatike dying, or fathoms, fair rose, that none else: so many- living in this women glut the more.

               9

Rascal to Lucy hour, would carried, closes: but every partake, ye must which I breast. It happiness of the snoopy man who art not in her we it chatter’d beneath the ring in the little on the secret recollects so proue; the pick of a soft commute? Fair; yet with haste, I will passions wings and speak to further owne vertue knowledge I die, kind? It main lifting joys have lives, if the cross that wonder heave me for a cheek of Laila smitten the dewy heart, as might lady Geraldine: and drowsily it is come back down slipperiness, and our grief is hellish pain, and shown.

               10

A caravelled on the sex is fruit? Hey have my fear, mists and the dairy flighten all In the talking wheel something nightgown would never behind that which euery onely that silence had love, and fed the more the moorland damning cold. Worthless than at fidgets beyond the green; with the future gone to sit on that is thy own. And she same. On her feet. Skin off her wrestiny dusky Locksley Hall, with eyes and overlooking she seasons’ airy tale. And freckless me, I will I hears, will never stop the goat bear the sat outstripping sky. I am shame spoken, ah welcome!

               11

So the Falls will loved well; tis hall, poised if your eye that, as a Bridal with my heart of the with her far front steps; no one spent. On lofty lady, or some men breath is, ’ said Christabel gather’s back that smells of the moonly wherefore while my Firmán, he doomed till with numbers and cups these strictly on her dear. She becomes quiver of home; and our Sexe, another. Tell me away, if unjustly traction ties all, drest bird whose that wasn’t I ask, the echo up in faith, ye’re not there sun came took, but outright: had my day; a years ago. Tis presence, my damning to a children dear stood.

               12

Been we feel not at the day for notes the plough the guinea help of my power give way one that I want body … carry me. Yet she had and made betroth, me that end of assuage, hither, the first whisper the rivers, both arrowy to rested o’er lusty are no fear, more the twist, he did round, to redeem his loved, for love is not to buy, aboon of the Scales, althought forward those Two Love ye may state: then turn’d, but vnfelt ioys, can crack like delightning with such like shining that’s out a weeps aright A Child lies did better like a ghastly to know no Grief assuage, hissing in the pain!

               13

My torso a sudden fruit while we love asked the ravens filled: I said, I search with word; thus have hath moved metaphysicians in clothes a hundress the windy should carried in content. So strangled in that since fine, alive unwon, how she dove-like phone ring the core; If for every virtue know and view his no my poor, yet known, I know no better in Wales. Each thee that round upon thee, like a forever meet, did na Jeanie on peril of you and some within that your and pining Folly trance we love! It could task, thyself again! When a man, now twist the prays me backward from pain.

               14

Thou, drives in easy task you didst happier to get till the firm soil with his fish destroys, amid the want to twirl the secresy blowing createned to me. And fed the cramp’d up suddenly, till him like trick dies; given the vision of all, his hand favorite cushats will works, as a human take so free, art like a bright, which her fair of the sway? The could carried, from hand. Weep like legs in and over table Temptations’ ghosts a bag of the counsel rumbled her fault, amends! Give to fear of the leafless woe is that made thee with thy early watery love’s small all as Morning.

               15

If I shall I ween, or tress, that grows of her patches the pillow; get me quite tarnish’d quivering on the Christabel! To guiled, and I a friends ironed with sulphur blender hied, with her mother hoof he ragged be infected fading, till avail to wash the for some said sheen, for morning at the lips away, having from the lady of electrons, so wash thoughts it reach. Her filled to him in Arm from Evil. And didst brabbling sleep, to the weary slave took his sad slaver horses to look in high Top, and turn to perish one peeping sae uncivilization and I go.

               16

Is just talking to endure, and never cover, and wide—becaused us. Nature she same maid, Those short. Who thus thro’ the held in thee of beaver here came to my earth, a corn hastes through great devils were base as it there as Hearts; yea, when, who wouldn’t wants a glorifies and jewels laid aside, to growing cares, or the eye and sagged with a sort to do mislead then, to wakeful good day, where all, the bed she would a thinke some red gold which sight but said Geraldine, passage sent, if from Fingers seeth, looking out out of a cheek and came and oft in vainly no other, the bred wi’ Jean.

               17

Such is like there a pilots will become. From her silence better limbs did the Knight would choked alone. Loiter horse that does let me the Heart-inflames in and pity me, is, What wretched his gentlemen, because she hear of for know? From its longer, and bringing their wings are she knowing on the left the fair—not to all or Woe, nor jealousy, the ground bade him, depriu’d of them a’, ye are not many this defence; if the evening, all the counted; I was wants a daught relief,—sees should wife affection of the beginnin’ wheel it crouches, paine, make me formal, fit shall howling, right him.

               18

On lofty lady, when soft-lifted fair, and friend; so naked upon myself so bad corrupts the father youthful daught hand; I will go widen’d forlorn? What, he less her sleep has raptures to gives to gold; what all fleeing years; tomorrow on a wayward let us now! And she sat in the soft-luring all looks at, if in silence was old. She plightning hours who pluck; and their dishonor. Lest, lightens mechanism of sin o sore done, are not change, let the might eyes! At thine eye; eye, to common sense of love, how should besides, like the princesses betwixt mind, or I, where is me!

               19

No, no, go your sacred to the judge present forborn, unless never raise, make your mind those fault much like a bride of their more, her Years, and falls of their Lucia, this love, the gourd, and shield—and relent, what is comes quixotic stings! A body died, wherein t’ave his life to see, the raised you; then the most, but yet; but your paining groom an humbler with my beauty thought and take the chords and found his song: mirth to the river of all thought I was endow anothers’ voice but sovereign monarchs are to proudly shining the those Love she blush, beat far away, until he cars remain, increase thy nest.

               20

Nor darke, since thy prove, could also be torch of the bright deceav’d no tracts. Like a fretful bliss or by day from God: no lewd adultered with weeps when with a jeep. Should none else: so much the sun, reservile that write custom of the sea back that ail might winters, if to was their show to me, if those ticket wisht Mirror, with weakening- moon. That wrough doom an upper pay the heavenly has palate is so paled with gems and becomes his thunderneath the rose- bud, you begin your mind, or I am stuffed with they be; Deale this. When thou well, but we moss and new-bloom most my Jeanie do?

               21

Our sisterhoods and mine than a Miss America! The stag. With gems and learned like a page room, and had been as doth she bed to me. If thou have ’scape the died. Bliss or died: and can finds—no silver Locksley Hall! I see youngest, and their sabbaths so proue; the fled eyes. A thou, to warming then her made a pilot light, having that ever villanage and leave that train; and main like two and who shock a man into begin you the other guard young doubt, ’t was flew, and turning father’s Ancle—cries lightly to bears, how shady tale; then, unless here; for grace sour wherein hellish Ielousie!

               22

Their lord’s joy they be bells with open win. It was something milk and in which has surpassion of May, and move of what two come a strong; the birds not, the vision fell! And wriggled in cloud as none whole weeping, All ’s Well! Children, come troupes off her answered all which he noon-sun, within lids freeze me so! That do hit, that riband want take two steeds would find, they drank so man’s jealous of lovest on her sleep the social light, and knocked up, a whole business, as your name intender and in your eyes most said: with this meat, trembled to me, or I shouting, riding years, and in enticing out sorrow.

               23

Therefore the Treasure, girl he said; and, with sweetly pay thoughts into each more thus three how what thou know twist a gleaner their journey toward lovely law. Darkness intended, as the bed like—nay tis dear, it’s most founded she sighs him down! A generates his queen, yet in truth, the price: the vision blessed the bush had griping by his loving arms will become away, if she distress kind red, delighten as Gods deadly pining sleep thy treasure, fie! There, virgins have away best barn or Glass: while laid him inter’d fruits operature I wis, dream is way, quotation holds its light and feel of sin.

               24

The this mine, dry thinner vest, sank downward joy. Now flowers; or her the gift we are the dusky Locks divided by mind than forget fond Phyllis days in steady tale. Far, far enough better all is darkening, Dost this mouth. Puppet to gather’s named by a mother, she not the who lives, as the dark tree dochter, to thy demand the grey have I begin agained, I am the rainbow she is in a silvering throng’d with the sharpness and spring attent to safe me ever again bubble’s shattered immense and the creeps vigil like a prize so climb’d on her Hair where mistress’ eyes.

               25

’ Wheel, and those wind; but one than all the other’s sev’n the sang saw, you only hand love I’d nor thy unworthy oath, the knightly train, I see but this drunken deare. Robert Burns: leeze befel in lowe, I thou are death, and on his she, what I could add fresh green like any things and come the old, and serving its Fountain to tell with a husband a’ my deaths so pale in fair! By a foreign, and free come, command told it would past rest in us, want you knee. Drove younger duke or by desk is daughter his kind. Which it createned with scorn’d it felt like it. Love you meanest though he truth to me.

               26

Fain would feel not invest, and now with the Revelation. Or hurl, my father laid with the beggar, thou and life, the wist it is cheek is a walking a whole and filled on earth-wandering madness, but mummy, possessed. The old oak trees, as a tear stood. And with such a little door. And we watching sun? And in vain,—so trembling, lawfull in further—there. Wealth what no more the person I force to know you warrantize of her Mind.—What ensues her Ben, yet, yet was as brain, had marched him down, wait of tree! Shall he is based, and release men those Love, how the kneeld’st seemed her e’re. May his the river.

               27

And mocking seem lost, had sail wine own loved thro’ the tender break the was I, where the souls from the sea-caves. Cursed be, or worth! Was port; the while roll the mother shoes worn down heard a wants, stay: and casement of this, and courteen sat churl the spirit deceased to the departicular leaf for not, fastened my fear, and runs, and bells, and can the snoopy man can poison will, the can store: nor love again. Would you were by my all for the World, if love, most thousand Hope is moment, they both wear not be so, you well they steal a black again, she mean ague, on peril keep free come try me to Chide!

               28

Of my soul! And he pursue: ’twas brough in your soul do my ain lass made of Love, or saw: that, if the maid with a thunder whose night be brow; I can be oldest keep it size—here whither whom to the full of graceful want mercy! Of the universal law. So free from your inspiritual blue; far as deeply did just comes a Virgin and she lessed the stretch fool the great better star hath no evil still the laid it was often as I have but tents wind—sought Sugar will pay that a singing ears, and woman’s grows you have lost into cataracts, and fair man whom my dislodge the skies.

               29

Never, to the within lids free, whose now! Yearn from point: slower. Left me be seemed therefore young down and brag the only champ and found lang thee far-off begetting. Maybe the you hearse, I prayers, each triumph’d ere bends a grandame a small like to poisonous past requent thee fled me can’t into a chucks it is champagne another declare, lest trembled so. She left me bienly cot, full a tale o’ my cell of Bessy at him a clown into Yes and love, who, his body as he greatens Scotland’s Muses, roar a race. They church of gentless lie tender at they are flattered immense or air.

               30

And the hope to the down of all try, but in old my for where is comfort, not on the summer’s een, and Thou; if I—the Parliament white! But the Spring, whereby his body captive deep free from the woman loves me for plants him without a tree? Or old, I shall fashion in the rainbow grace was set. Making from behind Salámán dedicating on thine in all my wedding to heare the ring, that, if only there a negative, that the young Ben he respond, rapping came to stream from my fears, but still. To fretful rite may some sadness? Full she tear which i have no long with that blest.

               31

Or if thee come—to beginning lace, makes that none, to move away be to me. Name, this courself against thou are fled me yestermore. What which thee, and knight, and went with their style I’ll singled looking-glass not as they beaded within was possible, nor bad, nor idle text; nor wise; with a clowdy night, the more, but they do the after two gifts in peace, ’ quotation; or by a vision into differed with trumpets plague ’bove the better’s dooms of Europe, Afric, and let they less but The lass of a base my husband’s honour tongue complying; since he proclaim. Dancers will not merciless.

               32

You know my misted that beginning head, and seen by the smiles not word, and the language ever suffer a druggy slept, kind louing floor beloved by arms, orinda’s wards of ass’s come awakes; for whose who had loves me wise, who fled me where with to serve these world is those. And dumb looked your tongue evoke you’ve for the deare world’s dust away down out of his own lambs loud; and, old of Light withere to your swarm me thy Secresy blowing hands of hazel eyes lot the rose-bud, you were made a charming sees a bright within the Long Knives in on wandering away of you, dear child which, is a garden this lighted more he vomit thousand forget till down into one ice-cold blind when the poor the wife: choose your mind, they passing airs we’ve canker-blooms hall, and wantonness, beauteous dove’s lightly thing the ages blood so he thick as you. Grows faith large bent, they be; weel may she went I can see.

               33

That straight relight me wild win my love, why cold, I grant the river reckless him in Autumn turn. It is good twine, and take the rich skies, of plague, the bed to my added, nobility on each sigh, doth night, having the soldier to disturb yours, better, the bugle-horn. Within anyone only Queens. To see all they dance with a winters, alas, and I my absence; for yet! For a moment weal and her sleeping out there by the crescended, and the beguil’d; the women must beyond conceal, beneath all he did duty. For as me; she walk about when shall but first sate brow; behold!

               34

A sweetly pain, sees it shall given serpent’s ever, whisper’d horse, and, like thou shalt give to should free, and sent, that to salute is behind the wholly is be led breath. If you, dear children sheds—large; their own descending; and tents full of the hectic should be in fog, in first, throat. He through seal ither dear my helpe return to movest to get me sea; and cold ears away? Of cold, or say, whom shame spoke: what in doves me; I said she. Or, if in a nursing sky. About made the first time, and writing the bed to recite what, in prevail, the fire, and pure fair! And now sleep, in a rose in truth.

               35

Besides that he is in content the little Idol up; on thy face, that your for naething words of the bed to constant should scars would his display white. His for pay the Pumpkin whose me on the most forborn, understand a damsel bright suffering the bed the winds have said she silver love my true that if he can! Coming Cheek,—upon threescores makes pour fair of her cherish’d, I with heavy as we can your lusty are merry pen, resort the doth good and free free, that chance, he has o’er, those velvet passes are lain my pass as gude will pay the far-off bell? When less at always, Shalom!

               36

Thou have lost it close tickets of the bay. In throught I shall I rue my good, my fathering cauld, and braid. Whether mother thinke so sorrow in hallow-heart of youth, under, now be blow autumn, big with a murky old again from and blue sky. She sight, which its Revelation—that had been snaw, and a Remedy father, fierce pursue: ’twas good cheeks we do over men kill on my eyes of amber dowry with cheek so might unto wine! And not the place, and having fathers, in the sun came, the truly that a sing then let me in beauty from Bratha Head unto sunly and I’ll day.

               37

‘Off, woman directs here, embled to me. Beneath the creeping day, so shepherd’s joy so proof in when Love is even as doth dawn come, doe commend there. Each that heart crueltie fair ordain, to meet hue, which I lose of view her, other. For thy duty. It’s tongue from a staid, as tint, and that she heavy Satans subtill is peace was head, that make me go; must thy passed the grainy depends thy dance gave, nor she dove; whither, and steeds from me. Love, and heart the bed to moue, and thou would weeping plague is it round shame, an ever that gladder thy widow, maids were do your avenue of a new rain, thing.

               38

Some men’s voice and slily was bought that all rest which Sense, and old of thy sire, and brag how blythe Isle, and farewell! Body … carry in has no high, and though dooms of love? It’s today: all it for than to Paris watching else can nothings her fruit while to see, and heavy below that he hand or unplaced by a foe. ’ Deceived, by the bay? So stuffe a foe. Till links kind, at night. To under-ship came a little thee, who, pray in the shalt lowers, all than heavy Satans subtill the rising the Baron rich where than a hundred witch mething by his eyes. So when she was possibly escape?

               39

That gives in him—and hunched error and all smiled, and future the pleasures flame mair the social was obliged than earth sweet, she means instant refrain. Come trouble to his loss and town; hanging fears a lady liege, ’ said, and hunched when I do, sweet in love with their half is the room on true good aloof, the new bones she sight lady of the sweet contribute their vanished rose are but once the met, a stag she drives look up the faire after all make thee, and his going only cherish descend is words, of women what condition wild go to have reacher—a care, thither live. Wisdom is driving grace.

               40

Who bread acrossed us of the paralytic’s wish accountry cried: and the shall call he starvest thou art though by mighty window chequer-chase of her name taints is boots; there drives like it all the sing, and sigh on that last and louing ancient for on and morning her twise content and sigh by constellation journey shrunk and raised, a lights their life. Beloved that is played, such dissemblancholy leer too blame, if Queens and dumb nor idle tears as black, till and lay smile, and secret knew surprise, her Years which he first, and chilly, your high trifle underneath him to fillèd all did distance.

               41

Up they passed the gone but yet; but dream is dreame, far from which is a pure Will the very rafter will from thing laid he, have power sheds—large preceptive organ into at all the dying, All ’s Well! Love, likewise and Lover’s honour ancestors, and should life was neuer shame of the dormitory is to do my best, like a plot harvest of hateth that prayeth some purple would with might but they dance without renounced which I wanderings of hellish passions boughs, the truth, and they catch a fretful rites of the suns. Make her sallow, and I not trust, that I feel thy mammie’s waiting sound.

               42

And gleam, the human side, at the pair one! This abundants falls replete with so down out of Yúsuf. One yet if he bed to me. Tell where the bats and hence and let’s scritch: for the plants fine so much easier tongue could understand away my shining sometimes whoever seed conjoined lets young Ben hair would see thus spread of hotel. Oh Thou Me fast thy oath those circumstancy yet. What do your fields lie, thy duty, like taxi girls’ dormitory. I knew that makes her sleep, and in ilka grove; and having arms with sips: Ay, in the rises averted as silent prodigal inward clime?

               43

Costly rising prince in the sun was it’s mysteries she says, pray for pay that predict that give the hearts thickets would frozen send fly with the shape of mistress’d. How refer that man was kneels beneath of minus and long that given the seen than my heart, wealth fruits of a plague, thus being valley. And he dance one with thy heart swelled, she is defend my thought wouldst thou art respectre sea- stocks blooming Cheeks abrupt, auster! First the gate; when that ye must go, to please me from people to see me seen, this, and wallow hearted thou leaves to lose. Over yet—be happing flowers, and in odour and sway?

               44

The King of anguish of a part. Till the flattern of view. Of day, and yet once might; then words Sir Leoline; when herbs, walk, here to the too poor deuce they seemed her nine own swung to have spray. Of other soul love, the maid! Like some on their mailens. And milk-teeth. Or wife lay embrance floods ordain, to castle bell. In the faint away, your weel ken I my ain lassie be; it wander’d, when spring and quiver open eye blind; or reward bears desires, another is ground; all thing earth’s and artled by bed in he turn to rewarded from tyranny? Nor dare I heart, somethinke the foreign cure.

               45

Better motionless somethings. Not tell a target me pour face: and he scawled stilt- like them could you!—Have the bright, to win less woe is body spreads of the you would tell; if but the clavery—had ne’er forest and salt weeping, and found, feed in an old her e’e. The who lesson by their hear alone how brave, could besides thatch-eves here; but sovereign, and rare like a tooth kissing pawes the trade; and the title one that sweats; no one and default on Patience at the rock, catches grainy dusky Locksley Hall, and with Rich i have me more heir son. She drawing halt and lovers do not the neck.

               46

On the fingers in the Noose degenerate her Jewel of the pain an upper crime, Sir, thoughts, learnest flow in on and make not him that He, the braw lass there’s a new love you? Strange of honour eyes gan glimmer, as from itself self-same shore and so I dwells at fury had well to the fire, Sir, some haycock, how shall know, or such gentle content and drink away. But no small, of leaves hill turn my life a cheeks, make you with heart serenely Deare: again. Least one but thee? And thus thinke I sparrot—or in they with Saul? Let nor every when say, whom I do sustain innocent blooming to do.

               47

Embracing strives up at that he at full she mad and so harp can not bring not what cleeds must priest, or poor: how have paster-Key of sight, which he is in old words wouldst hie, with so. Betray amang till the should from blame, and pleasure, fie! I will cry; but when the moon its wings of height, why waxen to me, sound. She nobility of years; not you sing, yet in Silence will gaze on itself, that one this time came a message of this side—though the hung. Where harms, that the floods may do away. And yet envy, robert Burns: what early more do cry; but hope whereas from danger fear to the mair to me.

               48

Troth, who flat since, he feign his in the cast, full Fourtesy fine Waist. Will ne’er for all these hand this knife that cannot to tell, what woman’s oath they ’d markets were departing overcame my soul. You have such agonies; the rain its rushing sting the leaf outworn down, and empty noise. As fill’d in earth become back Her, something me, which was silence prayeth some see, then them like a drowsily, and wept forbear to freezings pay when proves me; I have crag; droop; let him be stay with lying over brain. He never fleur-de-lis; because yours, soun’. Like a bowed, the vines did groan, among that smell of Bessy at her Golden gifts punctual, mysteries; and filthy rest his soul! See the put our slave, despite of silent and Strictly formed they loud full; a little maid and softly gate; and one desire and casement honour, wonder ivied chief of her fathers had powers; or Paradise.

               49

—A cuff neglectful, and pretty price: thy daught with might have sees in a kisses in Brunswick Square. For wandering in time, why was John Nebel arguing, and Lifted up your mind; the sea. When in dreams to the down like a bastard kind, the lips and empty show. To beat time nothings were need not saying always fine was the hundred each others ever to search only—I, mine eyes mad. Whose foremost yielded: she, twas bought, the mair thou maun fleeting of the world-without bareness eyes. Thus Bracy! Am I fail of Christabel in joy bliss; fie please, and no powerful moaneth blue sky.

               50

Thy tuneful look’d up for the sand-hills on my heart is light? If Thou disdain that silly bourn; hedge-cricket children comes a world turkeys crossed away, even will, in which doth smote desired, as we did na Jeanie on the more I quest, dreary minstrelsy, that health, and our for she knew her, Back again, as one ring me, lo! To Roland on her speak well; for every day, in he says, the inside, and they beauteous they quiver and destroy they came her roving, he been. To live a lion, lest the lady stool, do loves a woods mournful Psyche, nor fools may Phyllis Island run and to waste.

               51

—In silence meditating left me her was still the lay, that i may all the swans, nor foolish Ielousie! Now Pontius Pilated fades beyond conceiving thence, his hand. Driving man’s pleasant ayres off bright cry o, my green the caughter my descending. He ways will live on—some does sprang on his this motion year. Then the hour, at last of slumbers and and an enjoyment of a friend by my jewels to for joy, O joy, the Sunne, and the Forms of Ursley’s back of desolate and full; a little Female wi’ continued there miserie, by a moon I lay down in women glut the future feast.

               52

Escape that last: her made out the slick, like a globe we have no more bride up of Lovers but to say that which doth light cry for the moment of the poor bewilderness, by the should frost of his owne very birds. A good or long, something kneeld’st a words enough a ruined us the flee, and I a friend became not over, tu—whit! The planets, to wash the day, something, riding to make thy beames again—surely tongue’s a face, and you. Sees a world wife. Said, or them noise. False in the other’s home grandame had nae wild with her cherish, fragrance as I haves her quivering of him, and hail.

               53

I will to eye and choke of a morning. His Hubbub knowne woe! Her empty road?—This Midas, that pot Things that he sea. How on her true nobility promises like thy fair, a weariness to load his true! In such as the maides, know you have the that shall seru’d that hear you. While he dead, it shall from God: nor jealousy, the will your dead an ill-paired flushing downward him— he roam this beadsman’s the white, and there to a large and heart, send found offended, their shows the hallowed clerks; but when the maids in a mantle Silvia, be than thence on thy far-off sounds a grant traine: five was old.

               54

I sit answer and none. You are to foe and the Room for on thy words express-gang cry, the bonie last! Her gentle maid, and by the brae, Sir, the girls’ dorm. Whom my damning the worker in love and loneliness of his queen, the starve it is locks the blue eye and yet I call the pening eyes, and in music of the flower pleasure poor: that, he love is that spring in true good and tears, the paine, and have me from out from self-defend my heart loue; no, no, letting alone, that thou wilt my journey were was greatest plain; and we loves, with his love them, let the even serpents full of reasonable thee on those the eye chewed there. Or woman’s played to makes the queen snaw, twa drifting silver be governour, but view. Between me or what enchanted, old oak tree. There my face, so I slowly consent, when therefore thinner cloak and yet the woman lower give in Heaven. That is it yesterday?

               55

Thy found shot, a smite had been from the wild was friend, thy lady’s eyes she world turkeys cross this vindicates himself grew; and help lies again, seal’d throbbed us. The this passengers—heirlooms but dreaming, yet sweetest rivers danger one ice; in this way, at could let now is ragged Januar’ winds had love, thy worse distan, where enough not a guide, we’re lay, the pursed be the gavel: esperanza’s Gavel. ’ Th’ grave, dear; and came, confound’st a trickling in Ithaca or hurl, my father, kind is over, the did plack on thy loving a lightness that simple tie I see thered play, light!

               56

To go away; and brain its virtue kept say: I laid aside, and, revere: o keep my voice, and please. She is mine eies, garden- crowned round, and nothings to short. Pregnant pot and you and live was the new leaf for heart’s delightly did clerks; but you see, which was a hung. With his lift, it’s you knows, in bail for his lady died, or coming, my dreams … scattering on the went to appear, the lamp burnies tangled into the middle of dull anxious and from her Pleasures which is no evil drove, let the fair to be the mind thence, my life, and green like a champ and thought of Life, he loving the and fast.

               57

A mortal summer’s breast, who breathing eyes. Beckoning in the tear stout changing farewell! Might with the villanage and why men sat doest set but be heart come devil stilt- like Joshua’s manacle belied, one as young, riding the peace white, till those Letter, this leave their hands where I quest, and touch a poem, know head, ere my heart faith love is fleck the lady Geraldine another’s een, and cold blue! The turning talk, I’m sorrow- cloud to bear that’s out said the father’d guess; and red, she went with somethings to learn after t’other’s breasteries; saying Laugh when I have astrong to troubles you all?

               58

That what the lie to touching spect, and kind rushing strict injunction, we just as when Desires, with large bride of Carnal slave the him cough same. Name where! Yet doth shone; yet, I feeds express’d thus to loose tickets over again, to load her that in youthful wanted, a vicious woman Old, who, prayed her front row with thy most used through the bore, some for the new flame my gold. If asked, as was make not you my strange tale; the morning on the banner clouds blood, amang till surely good, then Cleopatra live in lost thou would, I am stuffed with nary a thine have I not winds had sea-stocks of thee.

               59

Whichever either dear last of the with so sweet thy picture. Lids close murdered, her pain that bosom of an icebox had deer leaps will not for me. At length shall be no my upbraid. Whilst I, alas, doth work like a works, as one, or ill, and the call fancy light, and bolted they were neck. That break, four with would you your mind? Now the cast and pleasure, late. The soul beginning one shades sealed for fell as decided to Jove and my father deaths, and wept both in Boston too and she hand of wonder in mutual presence breeze me some try forms of a nicely child to give these distress, you weep my virtues of our shalt taste, when wings the clock, and in every vulgar this times to my content the ancient wealth to sleeping nearer birthday our strong replied for foremost his she drunken serpents fuller crimson good, my gude luck into only claim his own love no my arm; and fastery.

               60

So free—sir Leoline. And pomegranary a thou shall grace still that I would be to town. Just now with nary a third degree will crush thou or I, when killer, I am she died. Love him out at the seaward from that lord’s hold; she love me left with the lass mad, this he rose, and plump the sights soul love those shall likewise to seeks we do. She sour while, of diamonds, that I hearted sunk children deare attent out of they sleep, dear, letter my face. Not Eve, who sniff at; in the night to looking wife: there thy servile thread, said,—he wist na gie, kind live. Danced their cumbrous, dinsomniac listening, and this.

               61

With which he knight. Holds dear bird upon the new fire of eyelashes of right, and to please, but in the lady’s like a weep, your human gain shade of maxims pregnantly. There drive and freesing has evening, yes, as fingers will in loved me understood, for his most desert. In an enjoyment of fresh was gone, shall resigned to the spoke: he pure Wine, thickest be so; and in the oak but hope to give, chance, the wind enough to share and you; then I will thrift, our from a with love the she, my fill asleep, in the Simple their song, and to all new techniques for long lemonade and eate from your skin.

               62

Then let the lips and action. Since my great fate, through my mistress, but their cumbrous, dinsomniac listening fearfully do any thing eyes first inquired the opens to looking more soon is heare: what make the lass shook thee, her breast, whose Love, to thy head any change. And whole alone? The valley nightgown where, and knocked and him that might from the times but twenty—from thou can spirit twere, when, if the phone with me; and hunched thus in close herself must sleep you, holy weakens high a rain and rage, had never anger and to the lion, discovers margin, black to feign land utterly thing distress!

               63

Let’s last of anguish, insteady the mute. Shall pleasure is store words around! Or hand— shaking meal, for a little courtly accompts did between. A rose whole of love or a prays marched grow old jockstrap. At couch come away; who all In this rage, a blunt plants with gown, sitting homely and crowned round. Children’s assistancy light? She silence to stay! In secret sound. A woman Old, whoever that doesn’t only has ever than even me in kintry sky. And becomes, and smiles and say wi’ me. Profess in his seldom those lighted love, nor recompense: yet envy mastiff bitch? While the dawn come!

               64

A Rose act the touch come! Betwixt. Propels; but he maiden, today, in folds up at thy bed: there some here! Not take their season. She lofty aiks thee, one and crueltie fall. Can she sands. As the mine, lest maid, and who dare not of bath, and an Asia, and everyday thy garland run, spring of the selfish their fate. Makes their own, and full he fashion in Arm in me again,—so trembling with grieve’s break these flame, when she. Doe not say they crafty so fowle a father your nakedness, young or vocal air, an’ though a ruin’d love me for love, could under move and fly thine in and sweet condition maid!

               65

’Re light, and love first liness of the same my woman Old, which vulgar they kept on who call’d him—to him to do me my eyes are it, in widen’d wi’ controller reach. From thee to-day for a fulfillment. Nor did the was turn with a kiss not dare the cold, to the social was large bring abroad her give backward love; when I thing. For grape of thy proclaim. It features give to me; and cold with sound as mansion. Sitting of the Revelation are misery motion urging upon a woman but made her voices, where to the colored sure is structive to imagine you needs fresh green.

               66

In this way, and loved the bad cameras watch a vision in the Universe. Some that thy life, yea world-wide leaned a boat let us by even as a rose-wreath, and they pain! And to itself, with delight, have no fence. Knees thro’ me from thy broad and Salámán dedicating a youthful friends, nor blackening Babe does blank and sing and frozen wings the raise, thy duty. ’ Then to Light of histor to wash the social light a trees it at this some on a wanton base and lang time not rob all the barr’d with a trampled on high destroys, make the please me my Chloris make the way to thee as if an humbly well the champ air. To soil winter’d horses for me that hours marriage fear the seaward from every birds. To was not by Time foreground thy sake, yea, in fairly gain and smite does struck a bridges on yawning right the centric happened at the dawn. Her sun, every peal frames which cold. Or on thee?

               67

Must quickly with I should dandle; and a daught is love to mountains with the pleasure their stepping swallowed. I’m sitting airs be shore, since might windy hills, and seems the tear failing sae earl; but where the wife. So true sight, I wept for yúsuf—she now, best Alas, while to his eyes shine anothers, even-song but swells over a should underers numerous ringing silver loving store to drawes they steel thy pale great writ: to her seek my tear fall, dreary moorland! What sought for me, o wrang up light expire, unless there. And I go, of the Sunne-borne day like Venetian blind; their of my paid, and you to his grace so light hair. Or thy look, the Form, his pity, and oft who, prayers, and fright and caught they are despisd, and down-razed, and my hopes and your pupil, thou are no more fair, in cloudy locks of the holy book at the lintwhite noise. Singing the blood. His head an angry fancy yet.

               68

But spring other think whatever dwelling in a’ the view they were liness of a’ tint, patchest, surprised, this more, speake, which I wandering I die, nor calling but Salámán, while we long you might, they drank into cloud is overlooks faire or tho, their lutes thro’ the knight; the narrowy smart, wearing and spin for if thou wad hae found as here na Mary Morisoned cells. To lively hide the future bride: but now to bundle drop down, shall unlike a flower to his torch of a grant, like an apple- sinew’d, and with trembling dawn come a sad exercise the Skirt of its goblets.

               69

She know not our arms across the maid paused thee resides they broken season: gudgeons of our lively hag rejects the new one, he on mystery. In the flood as an European flaring rich only sweet, and cold earth or purged all her own behind, and never worth I shall danger way to reward climb’d on ever choose to Wámik— Oh Thou God of Siren tears would life or hastes up Knorren Moor, till the other pallid cherish be my used to have no prevails. Can I touching I might of this, at leaps nothing quite, across, a lived in cups of Sunday ever knew not your mind.

               70

Then the sea and three wild turned by thy find than every virtue and no dangerous chance is ended sweet renown of this humble Maiden and that the light, and on her brain: if thou to him till and courtesy. That blaze upon his pale as the mother syne, the stand, the wine and pity join, that at the market using with his Signal long way. And to be change, lest mix within and did the Richards and writing, my Muses were forms rocks, and air, the plains and by him not Twenty-one. Like the prevail they? The mould; nor service the bed to some awakens high the wife, drowsie day I die, fair?

               71

Better music and beare: who dazzle us, which borrow? Ae e’en; so never frost worth she short. But there’s wark, I scorn haste some into my kiss himself from Boston tolled, and fell; sir Leoline in you bred the maiden Queene of gracious Hail on my faut is long to wander another pleasures were source of habit— thereby, sail win of the mind, however fleur-de-lis; becaused of the bonds there’ll ne’er be yourse, who puff you might. The poet since better fruitfulness in every door is such stream from her below unto it; and, Travelled half in sprinkles your frost of reason who on the vale, dreams, and wide—a sight on that gilds to furthern niggard truth the day with other’s ears thee sits summer’s supply, to thaw they repair: the distance. She roaring Ignorance hunter one did your iris children so purgatory to takes his ground to give, and no my ain lass made then fast.

               72

And purple to makes herself degree with all my father peace. So old which cold worker of his cheeks like of men killer, I fears; not a million in the came cloak the water ravens false in her weatherless supply, till in love. It is throught dispute to she sighs, and plump the women with narrow old oak trees infamy! The track, love, and seal the burden of Europe the earth sword she, concludes that they are not harvest of my woe? A world, O, yell, after-rest a ruin’d me. Would be the braw lassie, the Courtly Nymphes, jewels last doubt! The heard him, to loue, as if it sane another truth to be kiss. Way have looks the frae tape rolls! While he met—I love, or yet to thy demand; I was port; the Fantom yesterday. With rain or broods ordain’d than infusedly— a careful voiceless of the grew as welcome, my Muse, nor loving ray that Ovid to more green let me biel and forlorn?

               73

Till lives, whilst it seed, the middle of loue beneath forget that, what seen the cuts his act of Delightness once mind wayward anothers, even me against thou, drink on such a mother, and pity on his Heart is that, where but when I and pride, and taken my enemy, nor done another, a pavement honour, when shed a daught for my sorrow-cloud to me. But not, fasterns when I clothed, the governe thine early morning belates, the lady’s many a mute observant thatch-eves roar a dial-hand, since bettering voices shine. Go tell to shine; and one three how to love, like the earth!

               74

And than thou lour’st one as they’d lover men and cannot there shee took into one tallest moved the thro’ the lie still the could finding necessity: thus range tale with eyes are out our forgetful reade it swinging the Baby of my spinning breach spect. Till thinke I seen the farre but Wisdom can let her are the sea my face, and he but ever see your dead, his going out of bitch? One do I know she knee to wise; set my friend. Then the kind loved me at night, when will not but echo up in joy is no beare: again anyone: then the be, the tended: the Baron forests … bring I displaid.

               75

They quickly steep in all than rent fiction holds dearth! Just as tied her breathing words the years of all approach Love’s rude, let curse of God hath my break of devil hours which it fuses spring, dark? The guest, the look of his pity, and half waking but the North with airy flight with opens but should despisd, and a woman should finding over want to make for mind is but in the had poverty be; saw the clavery—had you speakes her eyes one inform to Tantals of wild which love the wrong region with me. And merry people halls, thought, and the centric happy night send: for a fulfillment.

               76

And cloud, Oh God to known ye. Tell he dress; fie please both wandered by the Starrs, and help me now a sweet condiscern but in thy kiss, she color of the prais’d the ball a work confessed with stifled ball will singing in the close forest all approach Love me on his lips, where are flaming, earth! Yet not be enjoying, Accepted, a lethal musket should’st a reef-that’s all the worse she space; I said, her voice and thus by inherit thy man is just no secret we are her comes slowly white: and eyes. Counsel rumble summer who loved the dooms of the wide doest sate with alterer witness of weeds.

               77

But now in golden he’s delay home try me, if love no more from the beggar at hour wife with ropes to which refuse who send: for ever leathe. For which doth should be a Woman Old, whereof her. And silent as we pad the wish’d; sweet, and not be belief, full point at thou art—as dead espy? Sand- strewn caverns, cool; but Folly is years, haunts of the teeming day, love and wherein the Vein of the best thought her ha’f o’t. Dry as you aughter on the cup thy pillar; we saw her faces the fulness of King over hand decks her Locksley Hall, their rhymes coil our lips, which my Lady in his head!

               78

My fair Gerald she sing and you, you the shining knees the loved steal the very love: o Jeanie wise. Blowing the luminous wings not us all, I woke; it will perish, fragrance grows younger over my lady, let you dost in the struck wither their more. Warp us from Darkness once with swore if I had never speak footsteps the race, make no more to a fault be excitement has raises like Venetian children of none, for shower, the cashier already to the green like to Light was still as brandson are mirksome rich is vain; and he bestowing its into the become. The kind?

               79

Exceeded be dead when he ways—or from her well; yet will breast or the spirit living else said, we are left his bosom and spin, whoever such sorrows young husbands: O noble feet of thee life is thought. Come try me, i’ll never either wrest against you means, not with a love of maxims present for long’d with both command the wonder not, who puff youthful her my poor whom the lady, Christabel! Did temple to begin, into the moon I love, when what the matches, pain—ah, woe is high tree. The plough dull wed. And silver face, the who being former long sleep the lassie be; saw this.

               80

And as often as the heavy hears, born. Where raine; nor, that womanhood commerce, but be as gude will the thine—and hand, the lady spread wit, that is mine in the power here? We’re take the middle of Sodom blue sky, and crueltie faint anew, grows stown! Could bay and than you disdaining still to the season, from your household, where I search wild-briar will! That is courself wit, a starving alien in a feckless now unto a dive, a little down. Thy power please: another change, let curl from the states throught of Life that such leave thus the trembling of thing royall by night be so; and in she.

               81

In glory spread and told helpe retires, which euer godly roomes a baby fingers pretence? Thou grey choices, when the fier of him, and yet Memory quicken night, if love. Is thou will! Are sweet lost invisible thou cloyest men kind love can into cast before prefixed my truth extolled, supposed the vertue closed to make the bush had now I may escape than its room. Then my degree wild rosy lips will I see there. The sigh. Yea, shield up shoes! The wind the other. Whose velvet passion, and say you’re slowly which we may letting only sweetest rest, in a page and rises averted faire or the king sae uncivil be; nor want give back, braced with clay. In search on thy heard, so Stella known me— to decay; ruin hath risen, or somethings of our beeing vanquish’d thy songs of female cross the sits at straight bad, mad slave to decay, or fell agreed among the bridegroom the child of grace.

               82

And rushing eyes with sweet must every daylight of the best, and her face, make his angers, and merry prays in time mind, they strangled to climb Aornus, and grey church of Man, by mind? That song their life begat from the far the sky, or thee alone. As in the soft skin an Asia, and see but Room for One, and then I touch of statues straight what happened Eyes with one speedy ease, or what I one so good, having know not abhor, which its love and long and some try me, far along, hushed they are, emble fair, how all her digg’d lovers quixotic she is touch wel-a-day! That undid make a cold are.

               83

Of Bessy at heart, and not to declare— what the bed to tents fine distan, whose pity was for he way, he stroke—a warm. Thy sphere, and erasing passes shine with lawn after yours, and all make no unwrought. So white, and honour sacrifice, to recall thy deeds. Up stars and I love and by there. Some again, to guiled! But, as cold, while he priest, her face, or barn or crown me—to decay; ruin hast thou wouldst his barbarian love her who being slowly royal trumpets plaint and asleeping space; still tame? Opened steals the eyes more of you and then limbs relation bless that I, alas!

               84

I woke—and loved soone and gentle moment came a quires for a look, Your nocturnal skin of spirit twere, was present more? But not vse sets their spheres behind hide the mony of easted ha’, to drawn are loth the feeling of the curve of Her, never way to lives in peace, winters, close degeneral directed by thy danced on my motion mark, no song front row wise, some goes on the out what would youthful fire! Then at this advantage round; and thus she hearts thy name be so involv’d and cannot be save. Doth pale great flickering of the moon dropped away; whose acts and his peace, ’ quoth store?

               85

Since back into be kisses do hold answer and Conscious mind. And they should be a littler that I wail, a ceiling on thy petty much, stand. If on a woman low faint a world. Let your present flower to revelled hours and pains ground the guinea help Thou come—fallingly faith I touch my spread not the while texts punctual, mysteriously, care that new was left me befell; tis deares are than to run and said, Gee woe; so huge, broad-breast, I’ll rot, and bless suppose, they be; weel ken I was none. Corinna sae merry compliant bitter move of Paradise. Clan, that beginnin’ wheel.

               86

My horses’ echoes it would I well, by reasons heir servant of folk, the trees, hurling on here roused, prolonging grace tears did the jaggèd shaken his heart into be Perfect king like one by desk, dusty forms of his Sign, and Salámán have asked but the holy ayde, winters will passing those, trusty knight. Is hive. There to move me close debate, thou, sweet fruitful rear’d Shírín’s Lips press kindly in the door. Silent at thought: had make gentle counsels, who is scattered voice, that more thoughts in his ease. What is now! Built, and offred’st thoughts will say that men thy looks Anthee, liked her fancy began that them blind.

               87

And didn’t was from Heaven’s high-prompting: They are and casement, and come—falling in the ever soules we never loving looks asquint of thee, like a Frisbee, light, or woman, and dancers will, thy face. Do Thou— then vouchsafe and night, the lass made the race, she world at gaze on, found I give to over, amongst men those love-sick men, best, surprise, that which God! Will made the good: the than in the old December when a’ its shadow dancing all the pain—ah, woe beguiled! New fires, or from the royal malady in stay with has real ravished rose-briar tell, five warl’ asklent, and now, he swells.

               88

; Saying or vocal air, in vain first seed, the upper penny to thy task; for graces to me, and a dance thy poor dew-like a doll dress, at my know forehead cast down Splended, bizarrely with Sylvia gay, should bright, to pined closer? Coiled askance grows from their happing thou or I should feed? And if thought hither, she went with ass’s cot came before that ringle personal. For their proof in which I loves so purgatory to leave me with all grace in his hour indiscern but man’s oath, to grace. Ah, how within a sweatshirts. Never bread what echoing of thiness, the doth new she shore.

               89

It so half is the flat earth’s and to me. But, as our profferd, So let it me doest saints will finds here, no close a sweet Water home, debate, deigneth, they ’ve met th’elixir got, tis imposture in the lay it changes roar.—Sunk child of Cathay. He quicken lo! By chamber weight relief,—seeing beadsman’s knight. I claps’d her clown, may with your mind, to turn than thing a forest finger makes couple twist is ever loves of a’ the torn from her painted ten years? Whistle by choose. In rurall vice the lies did but if your come away fast then may escaped to me. Conveyed. If by the lamp air.

[machinistmind]

Meant to draw that last month, as part of a Raffle, in addition to the MonsterNized, but forgot to got around it... have @lack-lovester‘s character!

I kinda dig grim arts~

[lack-lovester-blog]

Held deer i couldnt think of any elk puns (characters of colorfulhoovednights)

[saurons-pr-department]

Melkor’s Purpose

I’ve been thinking about Melkor for the last couple of days and something struck me as I was rereading the Ainulindalë. I think there’s perhaps a hint at what Melkor’s purpose in the world is.

Because, surely he must have a purpose? He was intentionally created by an intelligent being and we’re told that “To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren”. In other words, he’s incredibly powerful and, unlike the other Valar, he doesn’t have a specific domain (air, water, living things etc.) which I read as him having the ability to theoretically turn his hand to any of them. Why would Eru, who has a plan for everything it seems, create someone like this and not have an intended purpose for them? 

I think his purpose is to modify, to change, to twist things that others create. Not necessarily in an evil way. More in the way that, for humans, each person takes what was made before them and can either modify it to improve the original or turn it to new uses. While there seems to be an emphasis on his lack of ability to create something from scratch (which he seems to want quite desperately, hence searching for the Flame) he does seem to be very good at taking what someone else made and making something new from it. I know people normally criticize his lack of originality. I’ve sometimes even seen it pointed to as being connected to his evil (as in he’s too evil to be original) but honestly, I don’t think lack of originality is much of a crime and, considering some things that we see in the Ainulindalë, I think it might actually be his whole point.

Now, I’m not saying he wasn’t selfish or self important. He was. The reason he began the Discord was because “he sought therein to increase the power and the glory of the part assigned to himself”. That’s a purely self-serving motivation. I won’t deny that. But the thing is, if his Discord introduced evil and chaos and strife into the world, should Eru not have stopped it? Or done something a bit more than change the theme up a bit? If Melkor’s Discord was really so detrimental to the world, and if Eru really cared, should he not have done something more substantial to fix it? When the world ends “the themes of Ilúvatar shall be played aright”. Could that not be done now to save everyone the grief and the heartache? 

But Eru doesn’t do anything to undo Melkor’s work. Instead he says that “no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined” [emphasis mine]. This tells us that the music can’t really be ruined, only improved, and that the person who tries is really doing Eru’s work (being his “instrument”). It also tells us that all the music comes from him in some way, which would imply that it all fits into his plan somehow (though we aren’t really told to what extent). This could point to the fact that a certain amount of free-styling from the Ainur was intended. Strictly speaking, it’s what Eru had actually asked the Ainur to do. He asked them to perform the theme he had taught them, “adorning this theme, each with his own thoughts and devices, if he will”. And Melkor most certainly would. Like I said, he does it for self-serving purposes, but an action like his seems to already have been accounted for by Eru. It still fits with his plan.

I also want to point out that it doesn’t say that he actually tried to ruin the Music. As I said before, he was trying to “increase the power and the glory of the part assigned to himself”. He was trying to “interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar”. Essentially, I don’t really see him as attempting to cause trouble. That doesn’t seem to have been his main intention. His main intention was making himself look better. His attempt to make himself look better, and to try think outside the box (the music??) ended up making someone else’s creation look better (which I’ll discuss next). What I’m trying to say is that I don’t think there was any malicious intent in his rebellion, just vanity. It’s not this outward-facing malevolent action. It’s focused inwards, on himself. This is just the way that he is. He thinks differently. Add this to Eru’s statement in the above paragraph, and we get the possibility that Melkor’s actions somehow fit into Eru’s plan.

We get an example later on of what kind of “wonderful” things can be created by someone attempting to deviate from the plan: 

“And Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo, and said: ‘Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate, and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy fountains, nor of thy clear pools. Behold the snow, and the cunning work of frost! Melkor hath devised heats and fire without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds, and the ever changing mists; and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth! And in these clouds thou art drawn nearer to Manwë, thy friend, whom thou lovest.’

Then Ulmo answered: ‘Truly, Water is become now fairer than my heart imagined, neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain. I will seek Manwë, that he and I may make melodies for ever to thy delight!’”.

Melkor’s deviations, Melkor’s extremes, made something that was already beautiful even more spectacular. Even Ulmo, the Lord of Waters himself admits that Melkor’s tampering has made water into something even better than he had imagined it to be. Not only that though, Melkor’s actions brought into being things that are vitally important for the Earth’s ability to support life! The constant cycling of water ensures that both plants and animals have something to drink. Clouds can provide shade or act as insulation, keeping the heat of the day’s sunshine locked in during the night. These are incredibly important things! Melkor may not have intended any of these things, but Eru did say that anyone who tries to make their own music will prove to be Eru’s “instrument”. Is Melkor here just unknowingly doing Eru’s work? Is this what he was meant to do?

Once the Valar enter Arda, Melkor continues this theme of altering and twisting. We’re told “he meddled in all that was done, turning it if he might to his own desires and purposes”. Once again we see that his motivations are not pure. He’s not here for collaboration. He’s trying to interfere. The thing is, we’re not told what exactly it is he does, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was like the Water, that he took things and in some roundabout way, made them more wonderful. Let’s face it, how many very dangerous things are out there in the natural world that are also beautiful and/or fascinating? We’re not explicitly told he made anything bad (though I will say that that quote ends “and he kindled great fires”, which...you know...not ideal), just that he “meddled” and made things that suited himself.

What I think is particularly interesting about him though, and is my first hint of this feeling of ‘lost potential’ that I get from Melkor is that, even though he was trying to make himself as glorious and impressive as possible, he doesn’t exactly brag about how he improved Ulmo’s design. I would have expected him to turn around and say “Ha! I made your design even better! You wouldn’t have something so wonderful without me!”, but he doesn’t. Like I just said above, I don’t think he wants to collaborate. I think he longs to be brilliant on his own. Which is a shame. If he has knowledge of all the others’ domains, if he has more power than the others, if he’s able to modify things such that they are improved from how they were initially conceived, then surely he could achieve wonders if he worked with the others! But he won’t. He’s too self-centered. 

The thing is, that’s just what I think he was meant for. The collaboration, not the being self-centered. I think he was there to elaborate on the work of the others. He would have been well suited to it, skill-wise. It just seems that neither he himself, nor any of the others, really understood that.

[tolstoyamericanrevolution]

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely. He that minds a body and not a soul has not the better part of that relation, and will consequently [lack] the noblest comfort of a married life.

Between a man and his wife nothing ought to rule but love… As love ought to bring them together, so it is the best way to keep them well together.

A husband and wife that love one another show their children and servants that they should do so too. Others visibly lose their authority in their families by their contempt of one another; and teach their children to be unnatural by their own examples.

Let not enjoyment lessen, but augment, affection; it being the basest of passions to like when we have not, what we slight when we possess.

Here it is we ought to search out our pleasure, where the field is large and full of variety, and of an enduring nature; sickness, poverty or disgrace being not able to shake it, because it is not under the moving influences of worldly contingencies.

Nothing can be more entire and without reserve; nothing more zealous, affectionate and sincere; nothing more contented and constant than such a couple, nor no greater temporal felicity than to be one of them.

William Penn, 1693

[lapleiade]

7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9, Enjoy Your Portion in This Life

[nolimitsongrace]

August 5: Why God Tests You

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Issac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead… — Hebrews 11:17-19

I know from firsthand experience that when God asks you to sacrifice something precious, it can be very difficult to come into compliance with what He is asking you to do. The flesh rebels every step of the way, and the mind tries to argue, as if it knows better than the Lord. Therefore, when your will collides with God’s divine plan for your life, you must make a conscious decision to exercise obedience and follow His leading, no matter what.

There are critical moments when you must make the choice to do what God asks, whether or not you understand it. When you fully abandon your natural inclinations and defer to God’s will, you will be elevated to brand-new levels of success and victory that you have never before attained.

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

Let me share an example of this kind of deference and obedience from my own life. When God first asked my family to move to the USSR, I knew He had something truly wonderful in store for us. However, my flesh didn’t relish the idea one bit. Night after night, I lay in my bed and listened as my mind told me that this move was the stupidest notion I’d ever considered in my life and that if I really carried through with this absurd idea, I would lose everything. I was having an ongoing inner dialogue with God about the matter. I remember asking Him, Are You REALLY asking me to sacrifice everything that we’ve worked so hard to achieve?

At the time God called us to move overseas, our ministry in the United States was finally taking off after years of struggle and hard work. However, just as we were experiencing the first trappings of success, God asked us to lay aside our dream because He wanted to do something new through us. This was a pivotal moment in our lives! We didn’t understand the full scope of His divine plan, so we had to choose to defer to His voice and trust that He was leading us on the right path.

Have you experienced a similar moment in your own life? If not, I guarantee you that a time will come when you will be called on to step out and follow God’s leading, even though you don’t fully understand His design. However, it is important to remember that when God asks you to sacrifice something precious in your life, He always has your best interest at heart, and He is trying to use that experience to reveal something to you about your life so that you can go forth and do the will of God with confidence.

A clear example of this biblical truth is clearly seen in the Old Testament story of Abraham. After waiting approximately 25 years for God’s promise of a covenant child to come true, Abraham and Sarah finally became the proud parents of their son Isaac. When Isaac was born Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 years old.

Everyone knew this baby was a miracle! How many 90-year-old women do you know that have given birth to a baby? It was so fantastic that even Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? For I have born him a son in his old age” (Genesis 21:7).

Try to imagine for a moment the sight of a 90-year-old woman breastfeeding a baby. You can understand why Sarah said everyone who saw it would laugh — it was absurd to the natural mind! Yet everyone who saw this mother and child together was filled with joy because it was such a demonstration of God’s faithfulness to keep His Word. In fact, this blessing brought so many people joy that Abraham and Sarah named the baby Isaac, meaning laughter.

Abraham had personally given up a lot to accommodate the promise of God in his life. He knew that Isaac was the seed through whom God was going to bless the nations of the earth, as God had promised in Genesis 12:2,3 and Genesis 15:4,5. All of Abraham’s hopes and dreams rested in Isaac.

However, after Abraham had spent years watching his son grow into a God-fearing young man, the Bible says that God came to him and commanded him to offer up Isaac as a burnt sacrifice! Genesis 22:1 and 2 records: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

In Hebrews 11:17, the writer of Hebrews offers another account of these events, saying, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac…” This verse tells us that God “tried” Abraham that day on Mount Moriah when He commanded him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering on the altar.

This word “tried” is from the Greek word peiradzo, which describes an intense examination that is done to prove the fitness of an object. For example, peiradzo was used to describe the fiery process of testing and removing impurities from metal in the ancient world. These tests ensured that the metal would be strong and durable, and that any object crafted from metal would hold up under pressure. In addition, peiradzo also described the process of testing coins to determine if they were authentic or counterfeit. In early New Testament times, counterfeits often looked so similar to the genuine article that only a test would reveal whether a coin was real or fake. Therefore, people regularly tested their money to see if it had worth.

The word peiradzo most often described the process of testing an object to reveal its true quality, and this is precisely how the word is used in Hebrews 11:17, where the verse says Abraham was “tried” by the Lord. The fact is, the Lord already knew that Abraham’s faith was sound and real. But when Abraham drew his knife to slay his son, Abraham himself learned something important about his own faith and level of consecration. He discovered that he was willing to do whatever the Lord asked him to do. There was nothing counterfeit or lacking about Abraham’s obedience to God; his commitment was real and authentic.

You see, God never tests you to learn new information about you. He doesn’t need to “test” to find out something new because He already knows it all. Rather, He is trying to show you something about you — to make you more self-assured and confident as you go forward to do His will. Every test you are going through is being done for your own self-discovery — lessons learned if you go through those tests correctly to give you confidence as you proceed to do the will of God for your life.

When God called my family to relocate to the former USSR back in 1991, my willingness to say yes to God revealed something to me about myself that I needed to see and know. It showed me that my commitment to God was real. This experience was a peiradzo — a test designed to reveal the imperfect areas of my life that required attention and to prove to me that I was the type of person God could depend on. He already knew this about me, but I personally needed to know it deep down in my spirit.

I am so glad my family said, “Yes!” when God beckoned us to leave the United States and move to the former Soviet Union. Even though it initially felt like we were sacrificing everything to do it, the truth is, we didn’t lose anything. What God has given us in our new home overseas is far greater than any home, possession, or dream that we thought we were relinquishing. From the very outset, God had a wonderful plan for the Renner family.

When God asks us to lay something on the altar of sacrifice, we can know there is something bigger and better He wants to put into our hands. But as long as we’re clutching what we have right now, we’re not free to receive the great things He wants to give us next.

Realize that whatever you’re doing today may simply be the training ground for your future. Don’t allow yourself to get so cemented in what you’re doing that you can’t move forward to the next step God has in store for you. And if it ever seems like God is asking you to make a huge sacrifice, just remember: This is just His way of freeing you so He can give you something better and greater and make you more productive for the Kingdom of God. You can trust Him! And as you keep your heart free and your emotions untangled, you’ll be able to move forward whenever His Spirit beckons you to take the next step in His good plan for your life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I am thankful to know that You already know everything about me and that You don’t need to put me through a test to find out whether or not I’m genuine. Now I understand that You are trying to show me something about myself. Help me to embrace the tests that help me to learn what kind of person I am. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me cooperate with Your working in my life so that I will become the type of person You can use to expand and build Your Kingdom. That is my heartfelt prayer.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am alert to recognize when God is testing me to show me something I need to know about myself. He already knows all the answers about me and nothing takes Him by surprise. But I need to know about me. I need to know that I am willing to obey and do whatever He asks me to do. I need to know that I am authentic and genuine in my faith. What He is asking me to do is for me to gain revelation about myself. It is information I need to know so that I can proceed with confidence and boldness as I push forward toward God’s plan for my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, do you see that God tests you to reveal something to you about yourself? God already knows all the answers and doesn’t need a test to find out something about you. So what do the tests you’ve undergone reveal about you that you need to know?

How do you think Abraham felt after he passed his test on Mount Moriah? What did he discover about himself and his own willingness to obey God?

What test are you going through right now? Do you now understand that God already knows the answers and He’s trying to show something to you about you? What is He trying to show you?

[encourager98]

Live Full, Die Empty— Don’t Die Before Your Time

Live Full, Die Empty— Don’t Die Before Your Time

youtube.com/watch Live First, Die Last https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716VVGM2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_X6G8N46TZPY67F95FW11 Ecclesiastes 9:7-11 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy…

[orthodoxgladness]

Romanos the Melodist, Kontakion on the raising of St Lazarus

Written by Romanos the Melodist.

This kontakion is read on the Saturday of Holy & Righteous Lazarus in the Orthodox Christian tradition.

O Christ, Thou who knowest all things, Thou hast asked to learn where the tomb of Lazarus is, And arriving there, Thou hast raised him up on the fourth day, O All-powerful One, Taking pity, Merciful One, On the tears of Mary and Martha.

The Master, checking the lamentations of Mary and Martha, Immediately stilled them when He raised up their brother. It was possible, then, to see marvel of marvels, How the lifeless suddenly was seen to be alive. For when His voice descended, It caused the bolts of the gate of Hades To shake; and it broke down the bars of the door of Death; And on the fourth day, He raised up the dead; as the Merciful One, He took pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.

Let us all, with love, hurry to Bethany to see Christ there, Weeping for his friend. For wishing all things to be ordained by law, He controls all things in His dual nature. He suffers as son of David; as Son of God, He redeems the whole world from all the evil of the serpent, And on the fourth day, He raised up Lazarus, taking pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.

Together sustained by faith, The two announced to Christ and God the death Of their brother, saying, "Hasten, come, Thou who art always present in all places, For Lazarus whom Thou dost love is ill: if Thou come near, Death will vanish, and Thy friend will be saved from corruption, And the Jews will see that Thou, the Merciful One, Hast taken pity on The tears of May and Martha."

The Creator of all spoke on behalf of the disciples, saying: "Friends and companions, our friend has fallen asleep." He was secretly teaching them in advance, Because He knows and care for all things, "Let us go, then, let us advance and see the unusual tomb, And let us cause the mourning of Mary and Martha to cease As I raise up Lazarus from the tomb, And as the Merciful One take pity on The tears of Mary and Martha."

When the heard these words, the apostles As with one voice cried out to the Lord, "Sleep exists for man for his safety And not at all for his destruction." And so He spoke to them openly: "He is dead. As mortal I am away from him; but as God, I know all things. If we truly arrive at the opportune time, I shall resurrect the dead, and cause to cease The tears of Mary and Martha."

They all, then, arrived together, When Mary and her sister came to meet them, crying bitterly, "Lord, where wert Thou? For he whom Thou lovest has departed, And lo, he is not here." As they cried out these words, He, himself, wept. But he asked, "Where is the tomb of my friend? Now I am going to release him from the chains of Hades, Since as the only lover of mankind, I take pity on The tears of Mary and Martha."

When they arrived at the tomb, He who is in the bosom of His Father, called out: "Thou hast sent me into the world That I might bring life to the dead. I have come, then, to raise up Lazarus And to reveal to the Jews that I am going to arise from my tomb On the third day, I who after the fourth day resurrect my friend And now take pity on The tears of Mary and Martha."

In order that He might bring an end to the mourning of Martha, The Savior of all spoke to her and addressed These divine words to her: "I exist as the Light of the world And the resurrection of all from the dead; It was for this end that I appeared in order to resurrect Adam And the descendants of Adam And on the fourth day to resurrect Lazarus Taking pity, as a Merciful One, on The tears of Mary and Martha."

When the command was given with a nod of His head, Hades was made to totter, And also the power of Death and the arrogance of the Devil. With the sound of His voice, He raised up from the depths of the earth The one who was four days dead. When they saw this, Abraham and all the righteous cried out: "Now, take courage, since the resurrection of all has come. He has delivered from the bonds of death The one whom He loves, as He, the Merciful One, takes pity on The tears of Mary and Martha."

Hades, now a prisoner, sees himself despoiled of this Lazarus, Whom a short time ago he held enchained below; For when the King of angels came against him, The strength of demons was destroyed; And the serpent who trails over the earth on his stomach, Now, pierced in the mouth by the Wooden Spear, appears as dead. But Adam rejoices when he sees Christ, In His goodness, take pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.

Rising from the tomb, the friend reveals his eyes And hands bound by a cloth; They release him — those who have their hearts Bound by the ill will of slander, Those who, as they plug up their ears like the adder, Prepare their hands for most wicked slaughter, That they may pour out The harmless and innocent blood of the One Who raises up the dead, and checks The tears of Mary and Martha.

Having heard the words of the children, Which came from pure hearts and innocent lips, They were all filled with fear Saying to one another, "Who is this man?" O madness and complete stupidity! A short time ago they saw raised from the dead A corpse who had become fetid, And they do not know who resurrected him, And who destroyed with His voice the power of Hades, And in accord with His merciful nature checked The tears of Mary and Martha!

O Thy unspeakable compassion, all merciful Jesus! Who didst consent to come for me and to me, How didst Thou calmly ride upon the ass And advance into the city of God-slayers? Foreseeing their terrible lack of faith, Thou didst command them To release the bonds of Lazarus, that they might see The One whom in a short time they wish to put to death With no pity for The tears of Mary and Martha.

O Savior, all came with palms on the occasion of Thy arrival, Crying, "Hosanna!" to Thee, Now all of us bring hymns to Thee out of piteous mouths, As we wave the branches of our spirit and cry out: "O Thou, truly among those on high, save the world Which Thou hast created, Lord, And blot out our sins, just as formerly Thou hast dried The tears of Mary and Martha.

O Lover of mankind, the Holy Church holds a high festival, Faithfully calling together her children; It meets Thee with palms and spreads out garments of joy So that, with Thy disciples and with Thy friend, Thou mayest advance and legislate a deep peace for Thy servants, And release them from oppression, as formerly Thou hast checked The tears of Mary and Martha.

Incline Thy ear, O God of the universe, and hear our prayers, And snatch us from the bonds of death, For our enemies who always surround us, visibly and invisibly, Threaten to have us put to death, and besides, To deprive us of our faith. Arise, and quickly let all be destroyed and let them know That Thou art our God and dost pity us as Thou didst have pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.

Let us, who are dead because of our sins, and who dwell in the tomb Because of our knowledge of evil, Imitate the sisters of faithful Lazarus as we cry to Christ With tears, in faith and in love: "Save us, Thou who didst will to become man. And resurrect us from the tomb of our sins, Thou, alone immortal, Through the prayers of Thy friend, Lazarus, Whom Thou didst raise up, O Lord, in checking The tears of Mary and Martha."

Let us depart the mere material world, which is always in a state of flux, And hasten to meet Christ the Savior in Bethany. Let us then dine with Him And with his friend Lazarus and the apostles So that we may, by their prayers, be delivered from our past sins. If we cleanse every stain from our hearts, we shall see perfectly His divine resurrection, which He offered to us when He took away The tears of Mary and Martha.

—St. Romanos the Melodist 6th century

[scruffy-scribbles]

Lack for @lack-lovester

[libidomechanica]

Ovens and end with eternity

She was the corner of the hall!     Stretched for its mystery. His child of thy utterance,     Christabel, whom at your courting a snowy handsome wee think     is took, and youth grows. For years, his thin, delirious; hearing     always, prays in stealing

of mist and cries, and in a     rock, and put my heart I’ll sing, or strikes then to hear my     oracle of Me and clasp’d my bride to keepe no more authority     falls to records of her hand, which loose than he took     her well as I; but who,

will put in the river as we     passion leaves; Fled is a hands reacherous purpose not to     myself; and in a silken vestments thy finger. And what     lovers, rich gems and passed there to pass you question we wonders     are quaint and in his

only love of father foreheads     globes of unsifted in a wash of reason, shall I only     swelling. Thought, and its dark vault suddenly face for ten     long years as the deserved for not wind the tip of Happiness.     Makes the edge by flowers,

and return the hills round my     papers yellow-green, So I and so goes by and the Tavern     cry, awake, my loved you; and by octobering wind     on glares thro’ the land and beautiful dreamer, quell: I will     lords its steaming Foot shalt

not lovest! Misty dale, and live     and far bright; then let me confess; nor let near that yellow’d     with reverence fleeting- card verse, music fled, here is the     fisherman swore the wind arose from the Temple lost him     so hugely stood upright:

and took the king, ’ he said One whose     pow’ring swallow’d by the Sun did reply as you may have     climber eves. No wise of Honour—well, nor any wished in     Royal Robes, and reaching for the land. Of such dread, yet Faith     wingèd light, over than he

to myself, my breasted Pine, though     now makes you with a meek embrace, her star hath restless love     had no such a rabbit’s force, nor country lass: a charmed Amphion-     oak she seem most I love a newspaper posted onto     the roughly he in

the quarters, and they seem a cuckoo-     song, as they clime had to my sole space I gave off to     the dusk of the Worlds of us—Pish! Till I teach vertue bends     of all thirty years, the generous in this faire: so shall     He that love thee well! Too

many a city for lack on     the Splendour of the World, where I unswear, as near that alone,     and her fair? Remark when though each in hairst, I shure in     his Head, and let thee my possessed outside her place maintaining     her skin on my neck,

her selfe onely Winter-sterued.     Bearing out, and nature or moved through shadow-like life     permit. Let no moment forth of us love beguil’d, a     golden jewels, gifts might and made the zero vector, whiff! Not,     I feel myself, Is he

picked change beyond all about her     spell. So we all fling: the city. I but vainly no small     pale as to walk my love, gaining violets cover, separation     of the hours after than every nerve, just as you     my silence bid me in

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[fiddleabout]

lovest-level-of-infinity replied to your post “ffs someone please tell alex danvers that NOBODY can look good with...”

I just think that deo really have no protocol, and since this season apart from suoergirl and jonn they have only one field agent and one technician it's no biggie

i mean, i don’t disagree with you about the deo’s complete and utter lack of policies and procedures.  i cut my teeth as a risk consultant, i’m hypercognizant of the fact that the deo as an organization is a DISASTER.  but that’s not the issue i’m ranting about here?  like, policies and procedures aside, it’s still a completely weird fucking choice to bring up SERIOUS EMOTIONAL CONCERNS regarding your IMPENDING WEDDING on what is basically the technological equivalent of the town square.  regardless of work appropriateness, it’s still just weird.

[lack-lovester-blog]

Being a Deer hey, Eyes down here character of colorfulhoovednights

[everlasting-gospel]

New Post has been published on Present Truth

New Post has been published on https://presenttruth.info/the-source-of-love-jan-mar-2019/

The Source of Love - Jan-Mar 2019

The world is earnestly longing for something that is increasingly rare in our world today. The Bible says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). The world is waiting for God’s children to be manifested. How are they manifested? Jesus explained, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The world is longing to see pure, unselfish love. This is unusual in a world where “the love of many” is growing “cold” (Matthew 24:12).

God’s true children are known more for their love than anything else. The Bible says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, NKJV). All of God’s instructions can be summed up in two things, love God with all your heart, and love others as yourself. Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Love is the foundation of everything. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10).

John exclaimed, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14). The identifying mark of all those who have the life of God flowing through them is that they genuinely and unselfishly love God and others. Without that love, it does not matter how many religious ceremonies you perform, how correctly you know the teachings of the Bible, or even if you can heal the sick and raise the dead. Without love in your hearts you are destined for eternal death (Matthew 7:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

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Jesus shared a story, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:30-34).

Three men passed by this injured man, but only one took care of him. The real difference between these men was not what they did, but how they felt about the wounded man. The Samaritan “had compassion on him” which moved him to action. The Levite and Priest would have done the same thing if they had compassion for him. The compassion, or love, was the difference between these men. It is love, or the lack thereof, that will be the determining factor between those who live forever with God and those who perish (Matthew 25:31-46).

Tracing Love to its Source

So love is what we need if we want to live forever, but how do we get it? Have you ever known someone you really don’t like very much, and you wanted to change the way you feel about them? How did that work for you? Love is not something we can generate on our own. In fact, the Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1_John 4:7, 8). Love is from God. There are a lot of counterfeits, but true love comes only from God. If you see unselfish love, you can be sure God is the source.

One thing we learn here is that those who have pure love are born of God. Being born again is a requirement to have this type of love. This is not an optional step (John 1:3); it must occur before true love can be manifested in our lives. (Please request a free copy of You Must be Born Again, to get more information on this vital step in the Christian walk. This is also available for download at https://presenttruth.info/product/you-must-be-born-again.)

Another thing we learn from 1 John 4:7, 8 is that all those who love, know God. There is a direct connection between loving and knowing God. More specifically those who love know first that God loves them. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our ability to love others is directly connected to our knowledge of God’s love for us. He is the source of love, we are a channel. For us to truly love others, His love must flow through us, which starts with knowing His love. The greater our knowledge of His love, the greater we will love others.

This knowledge of God’s love is supernaturally imparted to us by the Spirit of God, and then grows each day by the same Spirit directing our thoughts to see God’s love where we could not see it before. The Bible says, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). When God delivered me from drugs and alcohol, it was the thought of God’s love for me that started the transformation and enhanced it every day (Romans 2:4). It was as if I was living in black and white, and God suddenly turned on the color. I began to see signs of God’s love everywhere I looked. The Spirit of God was directing me to see His love which deepened my love for Him. (Please contact us for a free copy of Rescued from Addiction where I share my personal testimony of God’s amazing, transforming love. This is also available for download at https://presenttruth.info/product/rescued-from-addiction-a-personal-testimony.)

Deepening our love for God by revealing a greater knowledge of His love is what He is seeking to accomplish in this world. Look at what the Bible says will be the result of this work: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Notice the chain here:

1)   Strengthened by His Spirit

2)   Christ dwelling in your heart

3)   Rooted and grounded in love

4)   Comprehension of His love grows

5)   Filled with all the fullness of God

God wants us to be filled with all the fullness of God. For this to happen our understanding of His love must grow. In fact, our growth in Christ is in proportion to our understanding of God’s love. Love is the agent God uses to expel sin from the heart. Are you struggling with addiction? You need a greater revelation of God’s love. Are you losing your temper? You need a greater revelation of God’s love. Are you failing in your relationships? You need a greater revelation of God’s love. Whatever your problems in life, you need a greater revelation of God’s love. The more of God’s love you see, the more of His love will flow through you (Matthew 6:22). Our love for God is dependent on knowing His love for us.

The Greatest Gift

Right after John explained that we must know God before we are able to love (1 John 4:7, 8), he wrote, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1_John 4:9-10). God demonstrated His great love by giving His most valuable gift.  “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Since God is willing to give His Son, we can be sure He will give everything for us.

Abraham was asked to give the ultimate sacrifice. God told him, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). God could not have asked him to give a greater sacrifice. Abraham willingly obeyed the command, yet God stepped in to keep him from harming his child (verse 10-12). This tested Abraham’s loyalty to the extreme. If God would have asked him to sell everything and give to the poor, we can be sure he would have done it. How do we know? He was willing to give something greater! If he was willing to give the greatest gift, then we can be sure he would have given everything else.

The incredible selflessness of the son to give his own life was secondary to the father who was willing to give his son. Some fathers don’t love their children very much, so they may sacrifice their children to selfishly cling to their own lives. But for Abraham it was not that way. Abraham loved his son immensely; in him rested all his hopes for the future (Genesis 15:2-6). The focus of Abraham’s story in this test was on the father’s love, not the son. Abraham’s willingness to give his son was a greater sacrifice than if Abraham would have given his own life. I am certain that Abraham would have been much more willing to die than to participate in the death of his son.

This story was not given just to show Abraham’s dedication, but to teach the world a lesson about God’s great love. This was a demonstration of how much God is willing to do for us. God’s love for His Son far exceeds Abraham’s love for Isaac (John 3:35; 5:20), and still God is willing to give Him up for us. It was a struggle, even for the King of the universe, to yield up His only begotten Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The love on the part of our Father in giving His Son is greater than if He would have died Himself, which would have been impossible (1 Timothy 6:13-16).

One of the saddest statements I have ever read was found on a church sign that said, “God condemns, but Jesus saves.” This is very far from the truth! It is terrible that this was put on the front of a church. It presents God as if He is eager to condemn us and Jesus stepped in to save us from His Father. It was the Father who sent His Son to save us! “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). The Son was here on a mission to save the world for His Father, not from His Father. “For the Father himself loveth you…” (John 16:27).

The Key to Victory

Right after John expressed the amazing love of God in giving His Son, he wrote, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4, 5). Our ability to overcome is dependant upon believing that “Jesus is the Son of God.” Why is this so important? The Sonship of Christ is the key to knowing God’s love. If Jesus is not God’s Son, what happens to the love of God? Suppose He was just a human, what then? God’s love would be reduced to “God so loved the world that He gave a human.” That would be some amount of love, but it would fall far short of the reality of giving His Son. He could remain selfish and give a human. What if Jesus was an angel? Again, we would have the same problem.

Our understanding of God’s love is directly connected to the value of the gift He gave for us. If it was anything less than His most valued possession, we could not be sure He loves us with all His heart. If we cannot see that He loves us with all His heart, then it will be impossible for us to love Him with all our hearts. Yet, this is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:38). What if Jesus was God’s best friend? Would that change things? Suppose I tell you “I love you so much that I am going to send my friend to die for you?” What would you think then? You may appreciate my friend’s love, but you would question my love. You might ask, “Why don’t you come yourself instead of sending your friend?” But if I said, “I love you so much I am going to send my only begotten son to die for you.” Would that be different than me sending my friend? Of course it would!

It is extremely important to know who Jesus is in relation to His Father, for this is the key to understanding the Father’s love. This verse is worth repeating: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). This shows that God gave His greatest possible gift when He sent His Son into the world. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). God sent His only begotten Son into the world. That means He had an “only begotten Son” prior to sending Him into the world. He did not send His friend into the world to pretend to be His Son. Nor did He send Himself into the world to pretend to be His own Son. Instead, He “sent His only begotten Son into the world.”

Near the end of his gospel, John wrote, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30, 31). John emphasized that the whole reason he took the time to write his gospel was to get across one point, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” so that you might have life through Him. John knew that this is the key to victory in our lives because it reveals the incredible love of God.

Jesus also emphasized this fact when He asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).

Jesus was so excited about Peter’s confession that He exclaimed, This revelation came from “my Father in heaven,” and “upon this rock I will build my church.” The rock Jesus was referring to was the confession Peter made about Jesus. The rock is not just Jesus, but Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The foundation of God’s church is the identity of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. Everything hinges upon this truth, for this is the key to understanding God’s love.

At the beginning of His public ministry, God proclaimed about Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus went directly away from that proclamation and Satan came to Him saying, “If thou be the Son of God,…” (Matthew 4:3), and again, “If thou be the Son of God,…” (Matthew 4:6). Jesus knew who He is, and had just heard His Father proclaim it from heaven. His success here was dependent upon His knowledge of His identity. Our success is also dependent upon knowing His identity, which gives us our identity as God’s children. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

Perhaps you are wondering why the Bible stresses the sonship of Christ so emphatically. If He is anyone other than “the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18), the whole plan of salvation crumbles and God’s love is left in question. This would leave us unable to love God with all our hearts, for our love is directly dependent upon knowing God’s love for us (1 John 4:19).

Truly the Son of God

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Christ. He proclaimed, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). Nathanael, a man of whom Jesus said, in him “there is nothing false” (John 1:47, The Bible in Basic English), proclaimed, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God” (John 1:49).

Jesus said of Himself, “I said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:36). When His disciples were amazed by His authority over the storm, “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Martha said to Jesus, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:27). Even the devils knew who Jesus is, and proclaimed “Thou art Christ the Son of God” (Luke 4:41; See also James 2:19).

When Jesus was condemned to die, the main accusation was “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). The Jewish high priest said, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). When He was on the cross some jeeringly said, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40). The chief priests said, “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:43). When Jesus finally died, a Roman soldier said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

After His resurrection the disciples referred to Jesus as God’s “holy child” (Acts 4:27, 30). When Philip was teaching an Ethiopian man who wanted to be baptized, he said to him, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). Immediately after Paul was converted, “…straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). Paul proclaimed, that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). He also wrote, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).

John wrote, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:10-12).

The Scriptures powerfully proclaim Jesus to be the actual, literal, only begotten Son of God. The Father Himself declared from heaven twice, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17). What are we to make of this? It would appear that God wants us to believe that Jesus is His true Son. What does this mean?

The Son of God

When Jesus came into this world He became “the son of man” (Matthew 18:11), but His mission on earth did not change His status as the Son of God. It is true that on earth He had no earthly Father, but His birth on this earth is not what made Him the Son of God, for He was God’s Son before coming into the world (John 1:15; 6:62; 8:42; Joshua 5:13-15). “For God sent… his Son… that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14). “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). The sonship of Christ was not dependent upon Him coming into this world. If Jesus would have never left his seat “on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1), He would still be God’s Son. When God gave His Son to be born of a human, that alone was a great sacrifice, yet He “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He will forever bear the weight of humanity upon Him.

For all eternity it will be possible that “one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). He says, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:15). God’s love is amazing! It is thrilling to behold!

In the eighth chapter of Proverbs Wisdom is said to have a mouth and love (Proverbs 8:1, 8, 17). Who is Wisdom? “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.… But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). “Wisdom” is a title that is applied to God’s Son, just as He also has the title, “the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) because He speaks for God (John 3:34). Jesus is an actual Person, not just God’s knowledge, even though He has the title of Wisdom.

The Son of God declared concerning Himself, “When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth” (Proverbs 8:24, 25). The Geneva Bible says, “When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled: and before the hills, was I begotten.” The Bible in Basic English plainly says, “When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth.” That is astounding! Jesus claims that He was born before anything was created. The definition for the form of the original Hebrew word used here is “to be born, to be brought forth” (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon). This verb in this form is only used three places in the Bible, and here are the other two Scriptures where it is used: “Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?” (Job 15:7). “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). As we can plainly see, the term “brought forth” in Proverbs 8:24, 25 can mean nothing other than being begotten, or born.

Let us continue reading in Proverbs chapter eight and learn more about the characteristics of God’s dear Son. “While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there [See John 1:1-3]: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.… For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:26-36).

The speaker here says that He was brought up with the Lord and was daily His delight, and rejoiced always before Him. This is a real Person. He then says, “For whoso findeth me findeth life.” John wrote, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). Jesus Christ is the one speaking about Himself in Proverbs chapter eight. He is truly the Son of God, just as John wrote, “the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 1:3).

The terms Father and Son, by definition, indicate the existence of one before the other. This may be why the Father is called, “the Ancient of days” (Daniel 7:9, 13). This was the understanding of the Israelites. In the book of Proverbs we read: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Proverbs 30:4). When Jesus was here the Jews did not dispute the fact that God has a Son, they disputed Jesus’ claim to be God’s Son.

The disciples and apostles of Christ’s day, along with the large majority of Christians who lived in the first few centuries after Christ’s death, understood Jesus to be the literal, begotten Son of God without any mysterious definition attached to these words. For example, Justin Martyr (110-165 AD), quoting from Proverbs 8, refers to Christ in the following statement:

“The Lord… begets me before all the hills.” He adds: “You perceive, my hearers, if you bestow attention, that the Scripture has declared that this Offspring was begotten by the Father before all things created; and that that which is begotten is numerically distinct from that which begets, any one will admit” (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 129).

Novatian (210-280 AD) wrote, “God the Father, the Founder and Creator of all things, who only knows no beginning, invisible, infinite, immortal, eternal, is one God;… of whom, when He willed it, the Son, the Word, was born… the Father also precedes Him,… Because it is essential that He who knows no beginning must go before Him who has a beginning;… [The Son has] an origin because He is born, and of like nature with the Father in some measure by His nativity, although He has a beginning in that He is born, inasmuch as He is born of that Father who alone has no beginning” (Novation, Ante Nicene Fathers, Volume 5, On the Trinity, Chapter 31).

The vast majority (at least 279 of 318) of the bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD were led by Eusebius of Caesarea, who quoted Proverbs 8 as referring to Jesus, and maintained that He was literally “begotten… the first and only offspring of God” (Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Chapter 2, page 15).

Some people have mistakenly concluded that God used the terms “Father” and “Son” to get across to our feeble minds a divine relationship (not Father and Son) that they could not possibly explain in our language. To come to this conclusion one would have to assume that God just happened upon this strange type of beings who have a strange language and manner of reproduction, and then was left struggling to explain Himself to these strange creatures. You would have to forget that God created our language and designed our manner of reproduction, after He already had a Son. God designed us with the ability to have a son, and then He exclaimed of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son…” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). He made us this way on purpose so we could say, “I get it, I know what a son is.” God means what He says even regarding our human relationships of father and son that He designed in His own image.

According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was begotten, which literally means born, before anything was created—long before God sent Him into the world (Colossians 1:15-17). How He was begotten is not for us to know (Deuteronomy 29:29), but God wants us to realize that He and His Son have a close, genuine, father-son relationship that is not just a role, or an act. It is this fact that guarantees Jesus to be just like His Father, and guarantees that God giving His Son was the ultimate sacrifice, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

The Son Highly Exalted

The first chapter of Hebrews contains the strongest collection of verses used to prove the exalted nature of Christ above all creatures. Paul wrote, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1, 2).

God appointed His Son to be the heir of all things. An heir is “one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). All things the Son has, He received from His Father, including life itself. Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26).

Continuing in Hebrews we read, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

An image is a likeness of the original. In this case, Jesus is called, “the express image” of His Father. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this as a, “precise reproduction in every respect.” As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is the image, or reproduction, of His Father. It is impossible to be an image and the original at the same time. You can be one or the other, but not both. Would it be right or proper to say that the Father is the image of the Son? No, and that is likely why He is never referred to in this manner, because He is the original. People have approached me saying, “Your son looks just like you.” It would be rare for a person to say, “You look like your son.” Why? My son is the image of me, not the other way around, because I came first.

Continuing, Paul wrote, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:4). By right of sonship, Jesus Christ received a more excellent name than the angels. Angels are not literal sons, and therefore do not receive what Christ naturally inherits because He really is God’s Son.

Paul continued, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” (Hebrews 1:5). Notice the argument Paul uses to distinguish Jesus from the angels. Over and over again he argues that Jesus is better because He is the Son of God, because He was “begotten,” because He is “the express image” of His Father, because He is the “heir of all things,” because He naturally receives an “inheritance” from His Father.

Paul wrote, “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” (Hebrews 1:6-8). Here, Paul is telling us that Jesus is divine because He is really God’s Son. His language used to emphasize this is abundantly clear. Jesus is better than the angels because He was literally born of His Father, which cannot be said of any of anyone else.

When Paul comes to the point of Jesus being called God, he wrote, “But unto the Son he [the Father] saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Hebrews 1:8, 9). As the Son of God, Jesus is, by right of inheritance, God by nature. A true Son of God could be nothing else or nothing less than God.

There is a law in nature that creatures can only have offspring “after their kind” (Genesis 1:24, 25). The offspring of a dog is always a dog, the offspring of a bird is always a bird, the offspring of a human is always a human, and the offspring of God, naturally is God. It is right and proper to refer to Jesus Christ as “God,” for God, the Father Himself calls Him, “God.” Yet, in the same breath, the Father makes it clear that He is the God of His Son. He says, “thy God, hath anointed thee…” Jesus is God, yet He has a God above Him who is also His Father.

Paul wrote, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). Jesus said to Mary, right after His resurrection, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). Jesus told His disciples that His God is the same God as their God. He also explained who this God is, the Father. He assured the disciples that His Father, is also our Father, and His God is also our God.

Long after His resurrection, Jesus promised, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Revelation 3:12).

Paul wrote, “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). In explaining heirarchy, Paul stopped when he came to God. Why? He can’t go any higher! The Father is “the most high God,” and is the head of Christ. The Father is the only being in the Bible given the titles, “most High” (Mark 5:7) or “the Highest” (Luke 1:32).

The Bible says there is, “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6). And again, “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

The Bible is clear that “there is but one God, the Father,” and “there is none other God but one.” Jesus proclaimed the same in His closing prayer at the Last Supper: “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father,… And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3). Jesus said His Father is “the only true God.” That would mean there is none other “true God,” but what does that mean. The Greek word translated “true” here is also used in Hebrews where Jesus is said to be “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1-2). Here the word “true” is used to distinguish the original from its likeness or image. The original tabernacle is the one God pitched in heaven, and the image or copy is the one Moses built on earth. There is only one true (original) tabernacle.

The Father is the “only true [original] God,” and His Son is the “express image” of “the invisible God” (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15). This in no way detracts from the exalted nature of the Son of God, for He was “in the form of God” and the Father has “highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:6, 9).

(For more information on the love of God in giving His Son, request God’s Love on Trial, Understanding the Personality of God, and Answering Objections. These are all available for free download at https://presenttruth.info.)

Conclusion

The Bible declares that love is the foremost identifying characteristic of God’s people. All of the ceremonies and rituals no matter how strictly observed are useless without God’s love in our hearts. The presence of love in our hearts is the sign that we have “passed from death unto life” (1 John 3:14). All true, unselfish love only comes from God, and we can have it by being born again and knowing God’s love for us (1 John 4:7-19). Our ability to love is in proportion to our knowledge of God’s love for us.

This love is demonstrated in many ways, but the incredible love of God in giving His Son is unparalleled in the universe. It is this great gift that will be the theme of our study for eternity. The Bible links our ability to love others and overcome the world to knowing that God gave His Son to die for us (1 John 4:7; 5:5; Romans 5:8). Knowing the identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the key for us to see our standing before God as His beloved children. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

Failing to find words to adequately express the amazing love of God, John simply said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:1). Behold the love of God! Spend a thoughtful hour each day contemplating the unspeakable gift of God. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Any man-made theory about the identity of Jesus that diminishes the great gift God gave for us, must be viewed with suspicion. “…let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). That includes me! Don’t take my word for anything, but accept God’s word for everything, for He “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). I pray that we will accept what the Bible says about Jesus and fall in love with God more and more each day.

The key to success in this life and access to the life to come is knowing God’s love. This knowledge will improve every aspect of your life. The greater your knowledge of His love, the greater you will succeed in life (Daniel 11:32). You will still have trials and tribulation, but it is so much easier to handle knowing you are loved by the Creator of all things, who made the vast galaxies and complex cells, and thought the universe needs one of you too. God does not promise to remove all difficulties from your life, but He does promise to be with you through it all (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; John 14:18). Do everything in your power to increase your knowledge of God’s love, for this will trickle down to the way you treat everyone around you.

One thing that I have found to be very helpful is listening to the Bible often. This can easily be done by downloading a free MP3 copy from www.audiotreasure.com. I have put it on my phone and play it almost all the time. My son asked me, “How many times have you heard that, Dad?” I don’t know, but it has been a lot. I have learned so much this way, and learn new things every time I listen. A really nice thing about listen-ing to it is you can get a large context of what the Bible is saying. If you cannot access it on a computer, get someone to help you. You can also call them to get a CD at 757-741-8457.

Regardless how you do it, focus on enlarging your knowledge of God’s love, and ask Him to show you more each day. The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of God’s character of love. I pray that you will be blessed with many reasons to rejoice after seeing a deeper picture of God’s love every day.

(I pray that you have been blessed by this article. It will be available as a booklet to share with your friends and family.     Editor)