Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Faith: God's Word Is ...

(I copied this from a friend's Bible into mine some 30 years ago, and I'm sure it was circulating for 50 years before then. Google shows about 13,400 instances of quotations of it on the Web. No one knows who wrote it, though I believe the attribution to D.L. Moody that I finally found below. One last thing before I leave you with this worthy poem: Instead of endlessly commemorating and unquestioningly perpetuating a traditional passage, no matter how worthwhile, I do wish that someone would invest the curiosity and effort into finding and attributing the name of the author to a written work. Not among fundamentalists, for whom giving God but never humans due credit is the rule, but it is the Christian thing to do.)

God's Word Is . . .: "

(Attributed to Dwight L. Moody)

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practise it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's character.

Here Paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand Object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a Paradise of glory and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

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