She will point to the law and answer:—­

“Had not Thy law been my delight, I should long since have perished in my affliction.”

* * * * *

When God was about to created man the angels gathered about him.  Some of them opening their lips exclaimed, “Create, O God, a being who shall praise Thee from earth even as we in heaven sing Thy glory.”

But others said:—­

“Hear us, Almighty King, create no more!  The glorious harmony of the heavens which Thou hast sent to earth will be by man disturbed, destroyed.”

Then silence fell upon the contesting hosts as the Angel of Mercy appeared before the throne of grace on bended knees.

Sweet was the voice which said entreatingly:—­

“O, Father, create Thou man; make him Thine own noble image.  With heavenly pity will I fill his heart, with sympathy toward every living thing impress his being; through him will they find cause to praise Thee.”

Then the Angel of Mercy ceased, and the Angel of Peace with tearful eyes spoke thus:—­

“O God, create him not!  Thy peace he will disturb, the flow of blood, will follow sure his coming.  Confusion, horror, war, will blot the earth, and Thou wilt no longer find a pleasant place among Thy works on earth.”

Then spoke in stern tones the Angel of Justice:—­

“And Thou wilt judge him, God; he shall be subject to my sway.”

The Angel of Truth approached, saying:—­

“Cease!  O God of truth, with man Thou sendest falsehood to the earth.”

Then all were silent, and out of the deep quietness the Divine words came:—­

“Thou, O Truth, shall go to earth with him, and yet remain a denizen of heaven; ’twixt heaven and earth to float, connecting link between the two.”

* * * * *

It was customary in Bithar when a child was born for the parents to plant a young cedar tree, to grow up with the infant.  It happened upon one occasion when the daughter of the emperor was riding through the city, that her chariot broke down, and her attendants pulled up a young cedar tree to use in repairing it.  The man who had planted the tree, seeing this, attacked the servants and beat them severely.  This action incensed the emperor, who immediately dispatched an army of eighty thousand men against the city.  These captured it and killed the inhabitants, men, women, and children.  The rivers ran red with blood, and ’tis said that the ground was rich and prolific to the farmers for seven years, from the bodies of those who perished, said to be four hundred thousand Israelites.

* * * * *

When the guilt of the Israelites grew too great for the forbearance of the Most High, and they refused to listen to the words and warnings of Jeremiah, the prophet left Jerusalem and traveled to the land of Benjamin.  While he was in the holy city, and prayed for mercy on it, it was spared; but while he sojourned in the land of Benjamin, Nebuchadnezzar laid waste the land of Israel, plundered the holy Temple, robbed it of its ornaments, and gave it a prey to the devouring flames.  By the hands of Nebuzaradan did Nebuchadnezzar send (while he himself remained in Riblah) to destroy Jerusalem.