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The Prisoner of Love

By F. W. Orde Ward (F. Harald Wiliams)
Ward, F. W. Orde (1843-1922)
  
[dedication]
  
[epigraph]

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[section]
  
THE MEASURE
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[subsection]
 1. 
January 1 THE LIGHT OF GOD'S GOODNESS
 2. 
January 2 LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE
 3. 
January 3 GRACE AND THE THORN
 4. 
January 4 THE GREATEST BOON
 5. 
January 5 JEWELS OF SORROWS
 6. 
January 6 OUR OPEN CAGE
 7. 
January 7 A MAGNIFICAT
 8. 
January 8 THE ELECT LADY
 9. 
January 9 REDEMPTION
 10. 
January 10 THY WILL MY WAY
 11. 
January 11 GOD DISPOSE
 12. 
January 12 THE CHRIST LIFE
 13. 
January 13 OUR CLOSED DOOR
 14. 
January 14 SADNESS, THE ANGEL
 15. 
January 15 SPEAR-POINTS
 16. 
January 16 THE WAY OF THE CROSS
 17. 
January 17 DE MINIMIS CURAT DEUS
 18. 
January 18 CHRIST'S FULNESS
 19. 
January 19 THE SINNER'S PLACE
 20. 
January 20 THE SECRET PRESENCE
 21. 
January 21 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
 22. 
January 22 SCATTER FLOWERS
 23. 
January 23 OUT OF THE DUST
 24. 
January 24 SERVICE OF HUMILITY
 25. 
January 25 THE USEFUL LIFE
 26. 
January 26 CHRIST THE WAY
 27. 
January 27 THE TRUE ASPECT
 28. 
January 28 MANNA
 29. 
January 29 EARTHEN VESSELS
 30. 
January 30 VICARIOUS SUFFERING
 31. 
January 31 HEART SERVICE
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[subsection]
 1. 
February 1 BEARING THE CROSS
 2. 
February 2 THE FULNESS OF CHRIST
 3. 
February 3 YE ARE THE SALT
 4. 
February 4 TOUCH AND LIVE
 5. 
February 5 CRUCIFIED ONES
 6. 
February 6 OUR PICTURE
 7. 
February 7 CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH
 8. 
February 8 ROD AND STAFF
 9. 
February 9 LIGHT-BEARERS
 10. 
February 10 THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROSS
 11. 
February 11 LIFE BY DEATH
 12. 
February 12 CROSS-BEARERS
 13. 
February 13 REVERENCE
 14. 
February 14 THE WORK OF SALVATION
 15. 
February 15 IN THE ORDER
 16. 
February 16 WHOLE SERVICE
 17. 
February 17 DIVINE FATHERHOOD
 18. 
February 18 A LITTLE
 19. 
February 19 THE FREE SERVICE
 20. 
February 20 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
 21. 
February 21 SELF-PUNISHED
 22. 
February 22 SOWING AND REAPING
 23. 
February 23 BREAKING BREAD
 24. 
February 24 ONE FATHER
 25. 
February 25 THE JOY OF THE CROSS
 26. 
February 26 ONLY LOVE
 27. 
February 27 LIVING THE LIFE
 28. 
February 28 KNOCKING
 29. 
February 29 THE LARGER HOPE
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[subsection]
 1. 
March 1 GOD SO LOVED
 2. 
March 2 ANGEL VISITS
 3. 
March 3 ORDEAL OF FIRE
 4. 
March 4 THE TWO OFFERS
 5. 
March 5 TO AND FROM CALVARY
 6. 
March 6 MERCY'S BOUND
 7. 
March 7 NULLA CRUX, O QUANTA CRUX
 8. 
March 8 THE PERPETUAL OFFERING
 9. 
March 9 EARLY HOLY COMMUNION
 10. 
March 10 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
 11. 
March 11 LESS THAN NOTHING
 12. 
March 12 LOSING AND SAVING
 13. 
March 13 PASSION AND PALM
 14. 
March 14 NAIL PRINTS
 15. 
March 15 THE SERVICE OF SUFFERING
 16. 
March 16 THE ASCENSION WAY
 17. 
March 17 MY HEART'S DESIRE
 18. 
March 18 ORO, LABORO
 19. 
March 19 WORSHIP OF WORK
 20. 
March 20 LABOUR OF LOVE
 21. 
March 21 SELF-REVERENCE
 22. 
March 22 EPISTLES OF CHRIST
 23. 
March 23 FOR CHRIST'S SAKE
 24. 
March 24 ROYALTY OF SUFFERING
 25. 
March 25 CHRIST THE WAY
 26. 
March 26 I DID SIN
 27. 
March 27 THE MASTER'S WATCH
 28. 
March 28 WATCH AND PRAY
 29. 
March 29 THE WATCHER
 30. 
March 30 LOVE IS DEAD
 31. 
March 31 LOVE IS LIVING
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[subsection]
 1. 
April 1 THE BREAKER
 2. 
April 2 THE BREAKING
 3. 
April 3 THANKSGIVING
 4. 
April 4 THANKS-LIVING
 5. 
April 5 THANKS-BUILDING
 6. 
April 6 SPIRIT OF LOVE
 7. 
April 7 AARON'S ROD
 8. 
April 8 LOST AND FOUND
 9. 
April 9 NOTHING GOOD
 10. 
April 10 A FRAGRANCE OFFERING
 11. 
April 11 TRUTH AND YOUTH
 12. 
April 12 BOOK OF THE HEART
 13. 
April 13 CHRIST'S THRONE
 14. 
April 14 GOD'S MEASURE
 15. 
April 15 EASTER FIRE
 16. 
April 16 WRITING IN DUST
 17. 
April 17 CHILD VISION
 18. 
April 18 SPRING
 19. 
April 19 THE CONTINUAL FEAST
 20. 
April 20 PARADISE REGAINED
 21. 
April 21 VICTORY OF FORGIVENESS
 22. 
April 22 CRUCIFIXION
 23. 
April 23 ROYAL SERVICE
 24. 
April 24 GOOD AND EVIL
 25. 
April 25 COMMUNION OF SAINTS
 26. 
April 26 CHRIST CRUCIFIED AFRESH
 27. 
April 27 FALSE FRIENDSHIP
 28. 
April 28 CHRIST THE OUTCAST
 29. 
April 29 DIVINE PURPOSE
 30. 
April 30 DIVINE SYMPATHY
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[subsection]
 1. 
May 1 FRET NOT
 2. 
May 2 THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLOWERS
 3. 
May 3 CHRIST IN HIS FLOWERS
 4. 
May 4 THE WORD AND THE MAN
 5. 
May 5 STRIVING AND PRAYING
 6. 
May 6 LOVE AND DEATH
 7. 
May 7 SORROW
 8. 
May 8 BENDING OF THE BOW
 9. 
May 9 LOSING AND GAINING
 10. 
May 10 NOT FOR MYSELF
 11. 
May 11 IS IT NOTHING?
 12. 
May 12 IF I WERE GOD
 13. 
May 13 FALLEN HUMANITY
 14. 
May 14 THE CUP
 15. 
May 15 A DEAD GOD
 16. 
May 16 THE VISION
 17. 
May 17 REFLECTED LIGHT
 18. 
May 18 LOVE
 19. 
May 19 OVER ALL TIME
 20. 
May 20 THE SOLITUDE OF GOD
 21. 
May 21 THE AGONY
 22. 
May 22 THE TRIUMPH
 23. 
May 23 DAN'S PORTION
 24. 
May 24 GOD'S STRANGE WORK
 25. 
May 25 NOUS REVIENDRONS
 26. 
May 26 GIVE AND FORGIVE
 27. 
May 27 RETRO AD CRUCEM
 28. 
May 28 OUR HABITATION
 29. 
May 29 OMNIPOTENCE AND THE ASS
 30. 
May 30 PRAISE-LIVING
 31. 
May 31 TRUST
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[subsection]
 1. 
June 1 IS IT NOTHING?
 2. 
June 2 SEEDS OF TRUST
 3. 
June 3 MESSAGES
 4. 
June 4 GOD IN NATURE
 5. 
June 5 THOU ART THE MAN
 6. 
June 6 CHRIST'S CHURCH
 7. 
June 7 SUMMER'S PARABLE
 8. 
June 8 SILENCE
 9. 
June 9 A HUMAN SAVIOUR
 10. 
June 10 GOD IS LOVE
 11. 
June 11 THE COVENANT
 12. 
June 12 THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IS POWER
 13. 
June 13 NATURE'S GOD
 14. 
June 14 THE JOY OF SORROW
 15. 
June 15 WORK
 16. 
June 16 THE HEART OF JOY
 17. 
June 17 THE BOOK BEAUTIFUL
 18. 
June 18 SENSE OF SIN
 19. 
June 19 SIN AND ITS SENTENCE
 20. 
June 20 SIN AND ITS REMEDY
 21. 
June 21 ALMSGIVING
 22. 
June 22 TRUE SERVICE
 23. 
June 23 CUTTING THE ROOTS
 24. 
June 24 AT THE END
 25. 
June 25 ALL IN EACH
 26. 
June 26 PRAYER
 27. 
June 27 NOT WORTHY
 28. 
June 28 CREDO QUIA NECESSITAS
 29. 
June 29 REVELATION OF THE VEIL
 30. 
June 30 BEFORE GOD
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[subsection]
 1. 
July 1 TESTIMONY OF NATURE
 2. 
July 2 NATURE'S CHOIR
 3. 
July 3 EARTH'S OFFERING
 4. 
July 4 GOD OUR REFUGE
 5. 
July 5 MISGIVINGS
 6. 
July 6 LOVE AND DOUBT
 7. 
July 7 REAL RICHES
 8. 
July 8 WEIGHTS AND WINGS
 9. 
July 9 GOD THE FRIEND
 10. 
July 10 THE DIVINE LEPER
 11. 
July 11 NOT WITH WORDS
 12. 
July 12 THE MEASURE OF THE SOUL
 13. 
July 13 CONSTRAINING LOVE
 14. 
July 14 GOD'S CANDLE
 15. 
July 15 OBEDIENT TO DEATH
 16. 
July 16 GOD OR THE WORLD
 17. 
July 17 NARROW PLACES
 18. 
July 18 NOT WITH SWORD
 19. 
July 19 THE INCARNATION
 20. 
July 20 FOR ME
 21. 
July 21 THE BURDEN-BEARER
 22. 
July 22 ANGEL WORK
 23. 
July 23 ALL FOR CHRIST
 24. 
July 24 CREDO QUIA IMPOSSIBILE
 25. 
July 25 VISION OF THE NIGHT
 26. 
July 26 GOD'S BEAST
 27. 
July 27 OUR HIDING-PLACE
 28. 
July 28 THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
 29. 
July 29 GOD'S FOOLISHNESS
 30. 
July 30 PATHOS MATHOS
 31. 
July 31 TURNING-POINTS
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[subsection]
 1. 
August 1 I PRAYED
 2. 
August 2 THE CROSS OF PATIENCE
 3. 
August 3 THE UNIVERSALS
 4. 
August 4 GOD'S REPENTANCE
 5. 
August 5 PRESENT SALVATION
 6. 
August 6 RECEIVING CHRIST
 7. 
August 7 MERCY AND TRUTH
 8. 
August 8 FETTERED AND FREE
 9. 
August 9 THE HUMAN BOOK
 10. 
August 10 CHRIST THE SEEKER
 11. 
August 11 THE MEASURE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
 12. 
August 12 THE PRESENCE AND HOME
 13. 
August 13 UNAWARES
 14. 
August 14 CHRIST THE WAY
 15. 
August 15 CHRIST THE DREAM
 16. 
August 16 A VOICE
 17. 
August 17 LIFE AND DEATH
 18. 
August 18 SIN
 19. 
August 19 TUUM MEUM
 20. 
August 20 COMMON BLESSINGS
 21. 
August 21 GOSPEL OF THE DUST
 22. 
August 22 “IF EACH SAID I”
 23. 
August 23 GOSPEL OF THE WORM
 24. 
August 24 MY DEAREST
 25. 
August 25 EL SHADDAI
 26. 
August 26 MY BELOVED
 27. 
August 27 FOR POWER
 28. 
August 28 THE WINEPRESS
 29. 
August 29 WONDERFUL LOVE
 30. 
August 30 ALL GRACE
 31. 
August 31 DIVINE RESPONSIBILITIES
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[subsection]
 1. 
September 1 YET NOT I
 2. 
September 2 SEEK NOT
 3. 
September 3 DISCIPLINE
 4. 
September 4 BURDENS
 5. 
September 5 DEO LAUDES
 6. 
September 6 MIRACLES IN COMMON THINGS
 7. 
September 7 OUR TRUTH AND TOWER
 8. 
September 8 GOD'S PICTURE
 9. 
September 9 GOD KNOWS
 10. 
September 10 SAY NOT
 11. 
September 11 TRANSFORMATION
 12. 
September 12 THE BLEEDING HEART
 13. 
September 13 THE MARKS
 14. 
September 14 THE PRISONER OF LOVE
 15. 
September 15 NO SADNESS
 16. 
September 16 COMMUNION
 17. 
September 17 VIA DUCIS, VIA LUCIS, VIA CRUCIS
 18. 
September 18 GOD'S VOICES
 19. 
September 19 GOD'S BURDEN
 20. 
September 20 THE MARTYRS
 21. 
September 21 MY ALL OF LIFE
 22. 
September 22 THE OVER PLAN
 23. 
September 23 LOVING CORRECTION
 24. 
September 24 EST DEUS IN REBUS
 25. 
September 25 MY LITTLE PATCH
 26. 
September 26 DEEP UNTO DEEP
 27. 
September 27 THE LARGENESS OF LIFE
 28. 
September 28 MY CRADLE
 29. 
September 29 A DREAM
 30. 
September 30 WANTS
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[subsection]
 1. 
October 1 BRUISES AND BALM
 2. 
October 2 OUR HOME
 3. 
October 3 UNWORTHY
 4. 
October 4 NOT EVEN A LITTLE
 5. 
October 5 BROKEN WINGS
 6. 
October 6 BREAKING AND MAKING
 7. 
October 7 CHRIST AND HIS BROKEN VESSEL
 8. 
October 8 THE COVENANT
 9. 
October 9 THE ETERNAL SACRIFICE
 10. 
October 10 THE PERPETUAL OBLATION
 11. 
October 11 EVERLASTING LOVE
 12. 
October 12 THE SECRET SAVIOUR
 13. 
October 13 UNTO DEATH
 14. 
October 14 THE MYSTERY OF PAIN
 15. 
October 15 CHASTENING
 16. 
October 16 MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
 17. 
October 17 THE ANGEL OF THE COVENANT
 18. 
October 18 SECRET OF JOY
 19. 
October 19 VERY PRESENT
 20. 
October 20 TO-DAY
 21. 
October 21 VICARIOUS
 22. 
October 22 TOIL
 23. 
October 23 DIVINE SILENCE
 24. 
October 24 PURITY
 25. 
October 25 THE ALTAR OF LOVE
 26. 
October 26 MAN THE SAVIOUR
 27. 
October 27 HOLY FORCE
 28. 
October 28 BY STAGES
 29. 
October 29 MORE THAN THOUGHT
 30. 
October 30 BY MANY WAYS
 31. 
October 31 FROM CALVARY
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[subsection]
 1. 
November 1 THE MARTYRS' BLOOD
 2. 
November 2 MARCHING HOME
 3. 
November 3 OUR NATIVE HEAVEN
 4. 
November 4 THE UNFINISHED BLESSING
 5. 
November 5 IN THE LIGHT
 6. 
November 6 FAILURES
 7. 
November 7 THE UNFAILING
 8. 
November 8 OUR LAZARUS
 9. 
November 9 I LOVE THEE
 10. 
November 10 HE LOVETH ME
 11. 
November 11 BREAKING
 12. 
November 12 OUT OF THE GRAVE
 13. 
November 13 FAITH
 14. 
November 14 THE LOVE LIGHT
 15. 
November 15 AN ANGEL
 16. 
November 16 A THOUGHT
 17. 
November 17 COME TO ME
 18. 
November 18 MY TERRA FIRMA
 19. 
November 19 AMEN FOLKS
 20. 
November 20 THE CROSS FOUNDATION
 21. 
November 21 UNDER ALL
 22. 
November 22 AT THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS
 23. 
November 23 THERE MAY BE EARTH
 24. 
November 24 THE SCULPTOR
 25. 
November 25 LIGHT AND SHADOW
 26. 
November 26 NOT WORTHY
 27. 
November 27 THE DIVINE SONSHIP
 28. 
November 28 WEIGHED
 29. 
November 29 THE WATCHMAN
 30. 
November 30 NATIVE LIGHT
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[subsection]
 1. 
December 1 MARAH AND SILOAM
 2. 
December 2 THE ALABASTER BOX
 3. 
December 3 A CUP OF WATER
 4. 
December 4 EXEAT
 5. 
December 5 HOME-SICKNESS
 6. 
December 6 TIMES OF VISITATION
 7. 
December 7 NO SEPARATION
 8. 
December 8 WINTER
 9. 
December 9 EVENING
 10. 
December 10 TO-MORROW
 11. 
December 11 GOD'S LEADING
 12. 
December 12 WAITING
 13. 
December 13 SONGS IN THE NIGHT
 14. 
December 14 GRACE OF SIMPLICITY
 15. 
December 15 TREASURES OF THE SNOW
 16. 
December 16 ALONE WITH GOD
 17. 
December 17 THE WAY HOME
 18. 
December 18 PATIENCE
 19. 
December 19 SWEET BELLS
 20. 
December 20 A SONG OF SLOW DEGREES
 21. 
December 21 SEEDS OF GRACE
 22. 
December 22 IN THE SHADOW OF CHRIST
 23. 
December 23 THE DOOR AJAR
 24. 
December 24 HEAVEN AND HOME
 25. 
December 25 MORE OF CHRIST
 26. 
December 26 THE BALANCE OF THINGS
 27. 
December 27 QUO VADIS, DOMINE?
 28. 
December 28 VADO AD CRUCEM
 29. 
December 29 GOD AND THE HARVEST
 30. 
December 30 WHO GOES HOME?
 31. 
December 31 FINIS!
  
LAUS DEO
  
BROKEN WINGS

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405

December 23 THE DOOR AJAR

“And the Lord shut him in.”—Gen. vii. 16.

“Behold, a door was opened in heaven.”—Rev. iv. 1.

God came to me, a Father still,
But not in sunny shine;
And laid His loving rod, in ill,
On me for discipline.
He shut me in to shadow long,
It seemed a prison dark;
But even in night he gave a song,
The prison it was His Ark.
God spoke to me in solemn wise,
And bade me follow Him
Up rugged stairs that did arise
Each step an anguish dim.
He put a cross into my hand
And purgèd me from chaff,
But as I trod that lonely land
The cross became a staff.
God guides me yet His heavenly way,
Mysterious, strait, and steep;
But I have always room to pray,
And precious tears to weep.
For still he often walls me round
With many a pain and bar,
But when I reach the bitterest bound
I find the door ajar.
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