The Bible

This book contains:
The mind of God,
The state of man,
The way of salvation,
The doom of sinners,
The happiness of believers.

Light to direct you,
Food to support you,
Comfort to cheer you.
Its doctrine is holy,
Its precepts are binding,
Its histories are true,
Its decisions immutable.

Read it to be wise,
Believe it to be safe,
Practice it to be holy.
It is the traveler's map,
The pilgrim's staff,
The pilot's compass,
The soldier's sword,
The Christian's charter.
Here paradise is restored,
Heaven is opened,
The gates of Hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject,
Our good its design,
The glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory,
Rule the heart,
Guide the feet.
Read it slowly,
Frequently and
Prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth,
A paradise of glory,
A river of pleasure.
It is given to us in life,
It will be opened at the Judgement,
And remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility,
It will reward the greatest labor,
And will condemn
ALL who will trifle with
Its sacred contents.

By Robert Chapman