“Lord, it is true! But Thou wert the Son of God most High, and I am only a helpless, suffering, desolate old man, worn out and worthless and forgotten!”
The Voice would answer:
“Thou art greater than a thousand Kings. Thou art more glorious than an Archangel, of more value than all the stars that shine in the firmament—being a man for whom Christ died! Be of good courage. This trial will not last long. Believe, endure, pray!... Hast thou forgotten thy compact with Me?”
Dunoisse would cry out of the depths with a rending sob:
“No! but it is a sin of presumption to seek to make bargains with God. The compact was impious.”
The Voice would say:
“Perhaps, yet thou didst make it: and thou hast kept it. Shall I be less faithful than thou?”
Dunoisse would falter:
“I should have loved Thee for Thyself above any creature Thou hast made. To serve Thee for the love of even a perfect woman, was not this wrong?”
“It may be so!” the Voice would answer, “and therefore I have visited thee with My rods and scourgings. Yet, if I choose woman for My Means of Grace, what is that to thee?”