“This is so great a mystery of love that men can only take it in little fragments. But once in time, when men were at last able to understand it, the tremendous revelation was made of ‘the Son of God’ made ‘Son of Man,’ crucified by the sin of men, bearing it all, feeling it all and overcoming it all, that by so doing he might be able to overcome the disease of sin in the whole suffering body or race of men. Think of what it means to be able to save and to heal. To be able to raise up out of that which has been so cruelly marred and diseased, something far more glorious than would otherwise have been possible.”

For a while he said no more, and Grace and Glory, too overwhelmed by the mystery of anguish and the mystery of love, could say not a word. But presently she heard the voice of Suffering Love speaking very softly, indeed so low was the tone of his voice, she could barely discern the words, but this is what she thought she heard him say:

Love was “made Man.” O Son of God!

Flesh of our flesh, blood of our blood.

We are his body—let us kneel;

He as our Head feels all we feel.

This is the Love of God the Son,

With fallen mankind made at one.

O mystery of Adam’s race!

This sin-sick body with Christ’s face!

Behold our God and Savior thus!

We love him—for he first loved us.

“And he was crucified.” O loss!

In us God’s Son hangs on his Cross.

In mankind’s body, there upborne,

Wounded by sin, defiled and torn.

He is our Life, our very Breath,

Yet “in the Body of our death.”

All pangs of sin’s disease so dread

Are suffered by Our Thorn-crowned Head.

Behold our God and Savior thus!

Love him—because he so loves us.

“And he descended into Hell.”

The deepest depths God’s Love knows well;

So One with us he will not part

E’en from the hardest self-willed heart.

“Where shall we go to flee from thee?”

Love’s only answer still must be:

“Though thou dost make thy bed in hell,

Lo! I am with thee here as well.”

Behold our God and Savior thus!

Love him—because he so loves us.

“On the third he rose again.”

Long night of sorrow and earth’s pain

Gone like a dream! Death vanquished now;

The Victor’s crown is on Love’s brow.

The body sin could not destroy.

Now healed and raised to life and joy.

By Adam came all sin and pain,

In Christ shall all men live again.

Behold our God and Savior thus!

See what his Love will do for us.

Chapter 9 Death of Old Lord Fearing

CHAPTER 9
Death of Old Lord Fearing