The Word of God by J. H. Lord

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1865

The Word of God.

By J. H. Lord

TIME's treasure! and the wisdom of the wise. —Young.

Be thou my star in reason's night, Be thou my rock in danger's fright, Be thou my guide 'mid passion's way, My moon by night—my sun by day. —Milman.

Thou art mine, Mine, to tell me whence I came; Mine, to teach me what I am; Mine, to chide me when I rove; Mine, to show a Saviour's love; Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner's doom: Oh! thou precious book divine, Priceless treasure! thou art mine!

Thou truest friend man ever knew, Thy constancy I've tried; When all were false, I've found thee true, My counselor and guide. —Morris.

Let all the heathen writers join To form one perfect book; Great God, if once compared with thine, How mean their writings look! Not the most perfect rules they give, Could show one sin forgiven, Nor lead a step beyond the grave; But thine conducts to Heaven.

That lamp Which God threw from his palace down to earth, To guide his wandering children home. —Pollok.

This holy book, on every line Marked with the seal of high divinity, On every leaf bedewed with drops of love Divine, and with the eternal heraldry And signature of God Almighty stamped From first to last, —Pollok.

This Book unfolds Jehovah's mind, This Voice salutes in accents kind, This Sun renews and warms the soul, This Sword both wounds and makes us whole, This Letter shows our sins forgiven, This Guide conducts us safe to Heaven, This Charter has been sealed with blood, This Volume is the Word of God.

Read the Bible : it will point you To bright scenes of bliss on high, Where there's rest for all the weary, And our loved ones never die.

Holy Bible! thou wilt cheer me, When I lay me down to die.

Whence, but from Heaven, could men unskilled in arts In several ages born, in several parts, Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie? Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice, Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price. —Dryden.

If on the book itself we cast our view, Concurrent heathens prove the story true; The doctrines, miracles, which must convince, For Heaven in them appeals to human sense; And though they prove not, they confirm the cause, When what is taught agrees with Nature's laws. —Dryden.

Then for the style, majestic and divine, It speaks no less than God in every line; Commanding words! whose force is still the same As the first fiat that produced our frame. —Dryden.

Childhood's preceptor, manhood's trust, Infinity's ally; Our hope—when we go down to dust— Of immortality.

Word of the ever living God! Will of his glorious Son! Without thee how could earth be trod, Or Heaven itself be won?

We won't give up the Bible, God's blessed book of truth, The blessed staff of hoary age, The guide of early youth. —Com. by J. H. Lord.