A seed not lost; for which, in darker years, O Book of Heaven! I pour, with grateful tears,
Heart-blessings on the holy dead, and thee! Felicia Dorothea Hemans.
239. BIBLE, Fulness of the.
There is a lamp whose steady light Guides the poor traveller in the night :- 'Tis God's own word! Its beaming ray Can turn a midnight into day.
There is a storehouse of rich fare, Supplied with plenty and to spare:- 'Tis God's own word! It spreads a feast For every hungering, thirsting guest.
There is a chart whose tracings show The onward course when tempests blow:- 'Tis God's own word! There, there is found Direction for the homeward bound.
There is a tree whose leaves impart Health to the burdened, contrite heart:- 'Tis God's own word! It cures of sin, And makes the guilty conscience clean.
Give me this lamp to light my road; This storehouse for my daily food; Give me this chart for life's rough sea; These healing leaves, this heavenly tree. H. J. Betts. 240. BIBLE, Inspiration of the. Whence, but from Heaven, could men un-
In several ages born, in several parts, Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie? Unask'd their pains, ungrateful their advice, Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.
If on the book itself we cast our view, Concurrent heathens prove the story true: The doctrine, miracles; which must convince, For Heaven in them appeals to human sense: And though they prove not they confirm the [laws. When what is taught agrees with nature's
Therefore the style, majestic and divine, It speaks no less than God in every line: Commanding words; whose force is still the
As the first fiat that produc'd our frame All faiths beside, or did by arms ascend; Or sense indulg'd has made mankind their friend:
This only doctrine does our lusts oppose: Unfed by nature's soil, in which it grows; Cross to our interests, curbing sense and sin; Oppress'd without, and undermin'd within, It thrives through pain; its own tormentors tires,
And with a stubborn patience still aspires. John Dryden.
241. BIBLE, My Mother's.
This book is all that's left me now,
Tears will unbidden start,With faltering lip and throbbing brow press it to my heart.
For many generations past
Here is our family tree;
My mother's hands this Bible clasped, She, dying, gave it me.
Ah! well do I remember those
Whose names these records bear: Who round the hearthstone used to close, After the evening prayer,
And speak of what these pages said In tones my heart would thrill! Though they are with the silent dead, Here are they living still!
My father read this holy book To brothers, sisters, dear; How calm was my poor mother's look, Who loved God's word to hear! Her angel face,-I see it yet!
What thronging memories come! Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home!
Thou truest friend man ever knew, Thy constancy I've tried;
When all were false, I found thee true, My counsellor and guide.
The mines of earth no treasures give That could this volume buy ; In teaching me the way to live, It taught me how to die!
242. BIBLE, Perversion of the. Many believed; but more the truth of God Turned to a lie, deceiving and deceived;— Each, with the accursed sorcery of sin, To his own wish and vile propensity Transforming still the meaning of the text. Hear, while I briefly tell what mortals proved,
By effort vast of ingenuity, [ble;- Most wondrous, though perverse and damna- Proved from the Bible, which, as thou hast heard,
So plainly spoke that all could understand. First, and not least in number, argued some From out this book itself, it was a lie, A fable framed by crafty men to cheat The simple herd, and make them bow the knee To kings and priests. These in their wisdom left
The light revealed, and turned to fancies wild, Maintaining loud, that ruined, helpless man, Needed no saviour. Others proved that men Might live and die in sin, and yet be saved, For so it was decreed; binding the will, By God left free, to unconditional, Unreasonable fate. Others believed That he who was most criminal, debased, Condemned and dead, unaided might ascend The heights of virtue; to a perfect law
Giving a lame, half-way obedience, which By useless effort only served to show The impotence of him who vainly strove With finite arm to measure infinite; Most useless effort! when to justify In sight of God it meant, as proof of faith Most acceptable, and worthy of all praise. Another held, and from the Bible held, He was infallible-most fallen by such Pretence that none the Scriptures, open to all,
And most to humble-hearted, ought to read, But priests; that all who ventured to disclaim
His forged authority, incurred the wrath Of Heaven; and he who, in the blood of such, Though father, mother, daughter, wife, or
Unhealthy and abortive reasoning, That brought his sanity to serious doubt, 'Mong wise and honest men, maintained that He,
First Wisdom, Great Messiah, Prince of Peace, The second of the uncreated Three, Was nought but man-of earthly origin; Thus making void the sacrifice Divine, And leaving guilty men, God's holy law Still unatoned, to work them endless death. These are a part; but to relate thee all The monstrous, unbaptized phantasies, Imaginations fearfully absurd, Hobgoblin rites, and moon-struck reveries, Distracted creeds, and visionary dreams, More bodiless and hideously misshapen Than ever fancy, at the noon of night, Playing at will, framed in the madman's brain, [proved, That from this book of simple truth were Were proved, as foolish men were wont to prove,
Would bring my word in doubt, and thy be
Stagger, though here I sit and sing, within The pale of truth, where falsehood never Robert Pollok.
243. BIBLE, Philosophy of the. The lamp of revelation only shows What human wisdom cannot but oppose, That man, in nature's richest mantle clad And graced with all philosophy can add, Though fair without, and luminous within, Is still the progeny and heir of sin.
Thus taught, down falls the plumage of his pride,
He feels the need of an unerring guide,
And knows that, falling, he shall rise no more,
Unless the power that bade him stand, restore. This is indeed philosophy: this known, Makes wisdom worthy of the name, his own; And, without this, whatever he discuss, Whether the space betwixt the stars and us; Whether he measure earth, compute the sea, Weigh sunbeams, carve a fly, or spit a flea,- The solemn trifler, with his boasted skill, Toils much, and is a solemn trifler still; Blind was he born, and his misguided eyes Grown dim in trifling studies, blind he dies. Wm. Couper.
244. BIBLE, Reading the. Within this ample volume lies The mystery of mysteries; Happiest they of human race To whom their God has given grace, To read, to fear, to hope, to pray, To lift the latch, to force the way; And better had they ne'er been born That read to doubt, or read to scorn. Sir Walter Scott.
245. BIBLE, Rejecting the. And can then true philosophy reject As false, a book which the same sterling truths As reason, following closely, brings to light, Maintains with such corroborations? Seal'd With the broad signet of the Eternal One Stamp'd upon all its pages? Is it true Philosophy, without examining, Will scorn a book that purports to entail Eternal bliss or everlasting woe
On its acceptance or rejection? Oh!
I could almost respond the prophet's words, Would that my head were waters, and my eyes Fountains of tears, that I might weep Nightly and daily through life's passing
To make his own; his thirst to satisfy [ply; From that pure well; must ear, eye, soul, apOn precept precept scan, and line on line; Search, ponder, sift, compare, divide, combine,
For truths that oft beneath the surface lie. Yes; there are things which he who runs may read,
Most wondrous book! bright candle of the Star of eternity! the only star [Lord: By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss Securely; only star which rose on Time, And, on its dark and troubled billows, still, As generation, drifting swiftly by, Succeeded generation, threw a ray
Of heaven's own light, and to the hills of God, The everlasting hills, pointed the sinner's eye: By prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards,
Evangelists, apostles, men inspired, And by the Holy Ghost anointed, set Apart and consecrated to declare To earth the counsels of the Eternal One, This book, this holiest, this sublimest book, Was sent.-Heaven's will, Heaven's code of laws entire [bounds [chart; To man, this book contained; defined the 'Tis God's command, survey thy safety's Of vice and virtue, and of life and death; Lest arduous things, distorted, death-ward And what was shadow, what was substance
[part, Nor few there are, which yield a harder To mark, discern, and know. With cautious heed,
The mind unlearned, and the unstable heart. Bp. Mant.
248. BIBLE, Similes of the. Thy word is like a garden, Lord, With flowers bright and fair; And every one who seeks, may pluck A lovely nosegay there.
Thy word is like a deep, deep mine, And jewels rich and rare Are hidden in its mighty depths, For every searcher there.
Thy word is like the starry host; A thousand rays of light Are seen, to guide the traveller And make his pathway bright. Thy word is like a glorious choir And loud its anthems ring; Though many tongues and parts unite, It is one song they sing.
Thy word is like an armory,
Where soldiers may repair; And find, for life's long battle-day, All needful weapons there.
O, may I love Thy precious word, May I explore the mine; May I its fragrant flowers glean, May light upon me shine!
O, may I find my armor there ;- Thy word my trusty sword, I'll learn to fight with every foe
The battle of the Lord!
249. BIBLE, Teachings of the.
The Author God himself; The subject, God and man; Salvation, life And death-eternal life, eternal deathDread words! whose meaning has no end, no bounds
Much it revealed; important all; the least Worth more than what else seemed of highest worth:
But this of plainest, most essential truth- That God is one, eternal, holy, just, Omnipotent, omniscient, infinite; [true; Most wise, most good, most merciful and In all perfection most unchangeable: That man that every man of every clime And hue, of every age, and every rank, Was bad by nature and by practice bad; In understanding blind, in will perverse, In heart corrupt; in every thought and word, Imagination, passion, and desire,
Most utterly depraved throughout, and ill, In sight of Heaven, though less in sight of man;
At enmity with God his maker born, And by his very life an heir of death; That man-that every man was, farther, most Unable to redeem himself, or pay
One mite of his vast debt to God-nay, more, Was most reluctant and averse to be Redeemed, and sin's most voluntary slave: That Jesus, Son of God, of Mary born In Bethlehem, and by Pilate crucified On Calvary for man thus fallen and lost, Died; and, by death, life and salvation bought,
And perfect righteousness, for all who should In His great name believe; that He, the third In the eternal Essence, to the prayer [asked, Sincere should come, should come as soon as Proceeding from the Father and the Son, To give faith and repentance, such as God Accepts to open the intellectual eyes, Blinded by sin; to bend the stubborn will, Perversely to the side of wrong inclined, To God and His commandments, just and good;
The wild rebellious passions to subdue, And bring them back to harmony with heaven;
To purify the conscience, and to lead The mind into all truth, and to adorn With every holy ornament of grace, And sanctify the whole renewed soul, Which henceforth might no more fall totally But persevere, though erring oft, amidst The mists of time, in piety to God, And sacred works of charity to men: [thus, That he, who thus believed, and practised Should have his sins forgiven, however vile; Should be sustained at mid-day, morn, and By God's omnipotent, eternal grace [even, And in the evil hour of sore disease, Temptation, persecution, war, and death- For temporal death, although unstinged, re- mained-
Beneath the shadow of the Almighty's wings Should sit unhurt, and at the judgment-day Should share the resurrection of the just, And reign with Christ in bliss for evermore: That all, however named, however great, Who would not thus believe, nor practise thus, But in their sins impenitent remained, Should in perpetual fear and terror live; Should die unpardoned, unredeemed, unsaved, And at the hour of doom should be cast out To utter darkness in the night of hell, By mercy and by God abandoned, there To reap the harvests of eternal woe. [phrase, This did that book declare in obvious In most sincere and honest words by God Himself selected and arranged; so clear, So plain, so perfectly distinct, that none Who read with humble wish to understand, And asked the Spirit, given to all who asked, Could miss their meaning, blazed in heavenly light,
This book-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 stampt From first to last-this ray of sacred light, This lamp, from off the everlasting throne, Mercy took down, and, in the night of time, Stood, casting on the dark her gracious bow; And evermore beseeching men, with tears And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live: And many to her voice gave ear, and read, Believed, obeyed; and now, as the Amen, True, Faithful Witness swore, with snowy robes [life, And branchy palms surround the fount of And drink the streams of immortality, Forever happy, and forever young. Robert Pollok.
And the lady smiled on the worn old man through the dark and clustering curls Which veiled her brow as she bent to view his silks and glittering pearls;
And she placed their price in the old man's hand, and lightly turned away, But she paused at the wanderer's call," My gentle lady, stay!"
"O Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings,A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose virtues shall not decay,
lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre flings,
Whose light shall be as a spell to thee and a blessing on thy way!"
The lady glanced at the mirroring steel where her form of grace was seen,
Where her eyes shone clear and her dark locks "Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth, waved their clasping pearls between;
thou traveller gray and old,
And name the price of thy precious gem, and my page shall count thy gold.”
The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as a small and meagre book, Unchased with gold or gem of cost, from his folding robe he took!
"Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price, may it prove as such to thee! Nay-keep thy gold-I ask it not, for the word of God is free!"
The hoary traveller went his way, but the gift he left behind
Hath had its pure and perfect work on the high-born maiden's mind.
And she hath turned from the pride of sin to the lowliness of truth,
And given her human heart to God in its beautiful hour of youth!
And she hath left the gray old halls, where an evil faith had power,
The courtly knights of her father's train, and the maidens of her bower;
And she hath gone to the Vaudois vales, by
Where the poor and needy of earth are rich in the perfect love of God! John G. Whittier.
251. BIGOTRY, Fate of. The bigot theologian-in minute Distinctions skilled, and doctrines unreduced To practice; in debate how loud! how long! How dexterous! in Christian love, how cold! His vain conceits were orthodox alone. The immutable and heavenly truth, revealed By God, was nought to him: he had an art, A kind of hellish charm, that made the lips Of truth speak falsehood; to his liking turned
The meaning of the text; made trifles seem The marrow of salvation; to a word,
A name, a sect, that sounded in the ear, And to the eye so many letters showed, But did no more-gave value infinite; Proved still his reasoning best, and his belief, Though propped on fancies, wild as mad- men's dreams,
Most rational, most scriptural, most sound; With mortal heresy denouncing all Who in his arguments could see no force. On points of faith too fine for human sight, And never understood in heaven, he placed His everlasting hope, undoubting placed, And died: and when he opened his ear, pre- pared
To hear, beyond the grave, the minstrelsy Of bliss-he heard, alas! the wail of woe. He proved all creeds false but his own, and found [cause At last, his own most false-most false, be- He spent his time to prove all others so. Robert Pollok.
252. BIGOTRY, Infallible.
He was of that stubborn crew Of errant saints, whom all men grant To be the true church militant; Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun; Decide all controversies by Infallible artillery,
And prove their doctrine orthodox By apostolic blows and knocks; Call fire, and sword, and desolation A godly, thorough Reformation, Which always must be carried on And still be doing, never done; As if religion were intended For nothing else but to be mended. A sect whose chief devotion lies In odd perverse antipathies; In falling out with that or this, And finding somewhat still amiss; More peevish, cross, and splenetic, Than dog distract, or monkey sick; That with more care keep holiday The wrong, than others the right way; Compound for sins they are inclined to, By damning those they have no mind to; Still so perverse and opposite,
As if they worshipped God for spite; The self-same thing they will abhor One way, and long another for.
O love-destroying, cursed Bigotry; Cursed in heaven but cursèd more in hell! The infidel who turned his impious war Against the walls of Zion, on the Rock Of Ages built, and higher than the clouds, Sinned and received his due reward; but she Within her walls sinned more; of Ignorance Begot, her daughter, Persecution, walked The earth from age to age, and drank the Of saints. [blood Robert Pollok.
254. BIRTHDAY, for a Consecration. Away with my fears! The glad morning appears When an heir of salvation was born. From Jehovah I came, For His glory I am,
And to Him I with singing return.
All honor and praise To the Father of grace, To the Spirit and Son I return; The business pursue
He hath made me to do, And rejoice that I ever was born.
My remnant of days
I spend in His praise, Who died the whole world to redeem : Be they many or few, My days are His due,
And they all are devoted to Him. Charles Wesley.
255. BIRTHDAY, Noting a. Why should we count our life by ycars, Since years are short, and pass away! Or, why by fortune's smiles or tears,
Since tears are vain and smiles decay! O! count by virtues-these shall last
When life's lame-footed race is o'er; And these, when earthly joys are past, May cheer us on a brighter shore.
Sarah J. Hale. 256. BIRTHDAY, Thought for a.
It is my natal day! Another year
Is registered against me in the account Of time to me entrusted, and the amount Of that rich talent for my trial here By one more year diminished.
My reckoning draws, does evil's inborn fount
Within me more subside, and, paramount To the world's love, the love of God sincere Reign arbiter?-Oh, may each year, each day,
By Him vouchsafed, to Him its tribute
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