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ALWAYS THE BIBLE

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 3, 1881

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 5.

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"ALWAYS THE BIBLE."

By Mrs. Marcia S. Avery

"Always the Bible!" it tells us of Eden, Of Adam and Eve in the garden of grace; T'was there 'mid the flowers, among the green bowers, That Satan first plotted to ruin our race.
"Always the Bible!" the law of Jehovah, The Sabbath, shines out, as when Israel heard, When he thundered aloud from dark Sinai's cloud, And trembled the host at the voice of the Lord.
Yes, "always the Bible," the dear blessed Bible! It brings life to light, immortality too; It tells the glad story, when earth, filled with glory, Shall be the abode of the loyal and true.
"Always the Bible!" rich mine where the Christian Finds jewels of worth, in its pages revealed Are wisdom and truth for the aged and youth, And its wonderful visions no longer are sealed.
"Always the Bible!" the book of brave martyrs; Their comfort in dungeon, in darkness and gloom, Their solace in death, when resigning their breath At the stake, in the fagot-fires meeting their doom.
"Always the Bible!" it tells of God's prophets; Of holy Elijah who prayed for the dearth, The idolatrous tale of the prophets of Baal, Of the waters of Noah, that deluged the earth.
We find in "the Bible" the story of Jesus; It speaks of the birth of the poor Nazarene, The sweet infant stranger, in Bethlehem's manger, While angels, enraptured, hung over the scene.
"Always" in "the Bible" we find the great "Healer," Engaged in relieving the woes of mankind, As he taught by the sea of "deep Galilee," Giving health to the leper, or sight to the blind.
Yet we find in "the Bible" the sad revelation, How Christ died in anguish on Calvary's tree; O cruel reward for thy love, dearest Lord, That poor, guilty sinners should crucify thee!
"Always the Bible," good news of salvation, Says millions shall waken from death and the grave In lovely perfection; for Christ's resurrection Doth tell of his might, and his power to save.
"Always the Bible!" the beautiful Bible! The glorious record that God gave to man Stands fair on its pages, and saints of all ages Shall glorify him for the wonderous plan.
"Always the Bible!" the scenes of the Judgment Are surely portrayed by prophetical pen; When the King shall accord unto man his reward, And mete unto each as his work shall have been.
"Always the Bible!" the beautiful city Gleams out from its pages with battlements bright, With pleasure untold, on its pavements of gold, All the ransomed of ages shall walk with delight.
Then "always the Bible!" till earth robed in beauty, At last the blest home of immortals shall be, When saved from sin ever, to live now forever, They'll swell the loud notes of the ransomed and free.
Yes "always the Bible!" till Heaven be my portion, And Christ comes in glory, to dwell among men; I'll then bow before him, revere and adore him, And shout hallelujah forever—Amen!
Mrs. Marcia S. Avery.