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scattering  of  bones,  mincing  of  limbs,  grinding  of  the
whole  body,  all  tortures  of  the  devil,  come  upon  me,
only  may  I  gain  Jesus  Christ.  I  seek  Him  who  for  us
died;  I  long  for  Him  who  for  us  rose.'

MINOR  PROPHETS,  p.  494.
Comment  from

Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  among  themselves.
THE  proud  speaking  of  the  ungodly  called  out  the
piety  of  the  God-fearing.  The  more  the  ungodly  spake
against  God,  the  more  these  '  spake  among  themselves '
for  God.  Both  went  on  till  the  great  day  of  severance.
True,  as  those  said,  the  distinction  between  righteous
and  wicked  was  not  made  yet,  but  it  was  stored  up  out
of  sight :  they  '  spake  among  themselves,'  strengthening
each  other  against  the  ungodly  sayings  of  the  ungodly ;
'and  the  Lord  hearkened,  and  heard  it.'  God,  whom
these  thought  an  idle  looker-on,  or  regardless,  all  the
while  (to  speak  after  the  manner  of  men),  was  '  bending
the  ear'  from  heaven,  'and  heard.'  Not  one  loyal,
pious  word  for  Him  or  His  glory  escaped  Him.
'And  a  book  of  remembrance  was  written  before
Him.'  Kings  had  their  chronicles  written,  wherein
men's  good  or  ill  deeds  towards  them  were  recorded.
