SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES by B

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 15, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 37.

“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.”

By B

WHILE pondering o’er the many creeds, it seemed A changing scene appeared as if I dreamed. Hemmed in with strong and towering walls there rang A voice of millions as they loudly sang: “St. Peter is our rock, we can not fail; ’Gainst us the gates of hell can not prevail. We say in words, what others say in deeds, ‘Our creed is right, but wrong all other creeds.’ This is our theme, our never-ceasing song, ‘Our church is right, our church was never wrong.’”

The scene was changed, and other throngs were nigh, Each party fenced in walls both strong and high. Each multitude on teachers did depend, Who walked the walls each fortress to defend. Alas! what clashing creeds with error fraught! What base traditions from the pagans brought! Alas! what trusting dupes the teachers led! Ah! what unscriptural food to flocks was fed! And yet, from every party rolled the song, “Our church is right, our church was never wrong.”

The scene was changed; I saw before me stand One with an open Bible in his hand. With earnest face the sacred Book he read, And then in tones of firmness spoke and said: “The Bible warns us not to trust in man, Whose pride and blindness flames of error fan. ’Midst all this din, what better can we do Than read and ‘search the Scriptures’ through and through? Lo, many teachers who have never heard The Bible saying to them, ‘Preach the Word’! This is my theme, my never-ceasing song, ‘The Book is right; but man, blind man, is wrong.’”