quote · Legacy record

Most wondrous book! bright candle of the Lord! Star of eternity! the only star By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss Securely; only star which rose in time And on its dark and troubled billows, still As generation driving swiftly by, Succeeding 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 On 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 To man, this book contained; defined the bounds Of vice and virtue, and of life and death; And what was shadow, what was substance taught. This book—this holy book, in 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; this ray of sacred light, This lamp from off the everlasting throne, Mercy brought down, and in the night of time Stands casting on the dark her gracious bow, And evermore beseeching men with tears And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live. Hast thou ever heard Of such a book? The author God Himself; The subject, God and man, salvation, life, And death—eternal life—eternal death.

Most wondrous book! bright candle of the Lord! Star of eternity! the only star By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss Securely; only star which rose in time And on its dark and troubled billows, still As generation driving swiftly by, Succeeding 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 On 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 To man, this book contained; defined the bounds Of vice and virtue, and of life and death; And what was shadow, what was substance taught. This book—this holy book, in 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; this ray of sacred light, This lamp from off the everlasting throne, Mercy brought down, and in the night of time Stands casting on the dark her gracious bow, And evermore beseeching men with tears And earnest sighs, to read, believe, and live. Hast thou ever heard Of such a book? The author God Himself; The subject, God and man, salvation, life, And death—eternal life—eternal death.

In print by 1888 AD · industrial

Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.