In Genesis the world was made by God's creative hand;
In Exodus the Hebrews marched to gain the promised land;
Leviticus contains the law, holy and just and good;
Numbers records the tribes enrolled—all sons of Abraham's blood.
Moses in Deuteronomy records God's mighty deeds,
Brave Joshua, into Canaan's land, the host of Israel leads.
In Judges their rebellion oft provokes the Lord to smite,
But Ruth records the faith of one well pleasing in his sight.
In First and Second Samuel of Jesse's son we read,
Ten tribes in First and Second Kings revolted from his seed.
The First and Second Chronicles see Judah captive made;
But Ezra leads a remnant back by princely Cyrus' aid.
The city walls of Zion Nehemiah builds again,
While Esther saves her people from the plots of wicked men.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath affliction's rod,
And David's Psalms are precious songs to every child of God.
The Proverbs like a goodly string of choicest pearls appear;
Ecclesiastes teaches man how vain are all things here.
The mystic song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon's rose;
Whilst Christ, the Saviour and the King, the "rapt Isaiah" shows.
The warning Jeremiah apostate Israel scores;
His plaintive Lamentations then their awful downfall mourns.
Ezekiel tells in wondrous words of dazzling mysteries;
While kings and empires yet to come Daniel in vision sees.
Of judgment and of mercy, Hosea loves to tell;
Joel describes the blessed days when God with man shall dwell.
Among Tekoa's herdsmen Amos received his call;
While Obadiah prophesies of Edom's final fall.
Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, our risen Lord,
Micah pronounces Judah lost—lost, but again restored,
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment shall be poured.
A view of Chaldea's coming doom Habakkuk's visions give;
Next Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent and live.
Haggai wrote to those who saw the Temple built again,
And Zechariah prophesied of Christ's triumphant reign.
Malachi was the last who touched the high, prophetic cord;
Its final notes sublimely show the coming of the Lord.
Matthew, and Mark, and Luke, and John, the holy gospel wrote,
Describing how the Saviour died—his life, and all he taught.
Acts proves how God the apostles owned with signs in every place;
St. Paul in Romans teaches us how man is saved by grace.
The Apostle, in Corinthians, instructs, exhorts, reproves;
Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone the Father loves.
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be;
Colossians bids us live to God and for eternity.
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will come from Heaven;
In Timothy and Titus a bishop's rule is given.
Philemon marks a Christian's love, which only Christians know;
Hebrews reveals the gospel prefigured by the law.
James teaches, without holiness faith is but vain and dead;
St. Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
John, in his three epistles, on love delights to dwell;
St. Jude gives awful warning of judgment, wrath, and hell.
The Revelation prophesies of that most glorious day
When Christ—and Christ alone—shall the kingly scepter sway.
—Troy Times.