THE BIBLE by Luke Maxson

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 17, 1859

THE BIBLE.

By Luke Maxson

The Bible, the precious Bible! Who can fully estimate its value? That blessed boon, the greatest gift of God to man, revealing the will of the Great Eternal, our Father in heaven: and the great and glorious plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our blessed Saviour, Redeemer, Mediator and Intercessor. It is a mine of inexhaustible treasure, a source of boundless wealth, the pearl of great price. It is the word of God, a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life. It reveals the great fountain of salvation, from which proceeds the river of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God: and the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.

The Bible reveals our lost condition by sin and transgression against the holy law of God, and also the great remedy provided in the gospel; that full and free salvation, redemption from sin, and redemption from death, through the death and sufferings and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is freely offered to all who will believe, accept and obey its teachings; and also the lost and deplorable condition of the sinner, the finally impenitent, who rejects the invitations of the gospel, and slights offered mercy and salvation; when the summer is past and gone, and the harvest is ended, and they are not saved.

The Bible is our chart and compass, the only sure and infallible guide which leads from earth to heaven. It ought to be our daily, our bosom companion. It reveals the kind care and ever-watchful providence of a merciful God over all his creatures, so that his children are not left to the freaks of blind chance; but the very hairs of their heads are all numbered, and not one shall fall to the ground without his notice; and that he is a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering and sin-pardoning God to all who truly repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ; and that he is more ready to give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him in faith and humble reliance, than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. It reveals to us the duty that we owe to our God, to our fellow-creatures and to ourselves, while sojourning here on earth.

The Bible also reveals a blesssed future to all who believe and obey the gospel, who keep the commands of God and the faith of Jesus, who are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ: a glorious resurrection morn to all the redeemed, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and all that sleep in Jesus shall hear the voice of the Son of God and leave their dusty bed, the grave, and come forth into life and immortal vigor; their vile bodies changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body, and be received by him into those blessed mansions that he promised his disciples he would go away and prepare for them, and come again and receive them to himself—that where he is they should be also.

This blessed Bible is the Book of books. Who would not prefer it to worldly wisdom, blind human reason, vain traditions and superstitions of men, broken cisterns that can hold no water? Give me the consolation that the Bible imparts to live by, or to die by, and I trust all will be well.

LUKE MAXSON.

Alfred Center, Nov. 1st, 1859.