|
HOW READEST THOU
It is one thing to read the Bible through
Another thing to read to learn and do.
Some read it with design to learn to read,
But the subject they pay little heed.
Some read as their duty once a week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek:
While others read it with but little care,
With no regard to how they read, nor where.
Some read to bring themselves into repute,
By showing others how they can dispute;
While others read because their neighbors do,
To see how long 'twill take to read it through.
Some read it for the wonders that are there---
How David killed a lion and a bear;
While others read it with uncommon care,
Hoping to find some contradiction there.
Some read it as if it did not speak to them,
But to the people at Jerusalm.
One reads with father's specs upon his head,
And sees the thing just as his father said.
Some read it to prove a preadopted creed,
Hence understand but little that they read;
For every passage in the book they bend
To make it suit their all-important end.
Some read it as I have often thought,
To teach the book instead of being taught;
And some there are who read it out of spite,
I fear there are but few who read it right.
But I read it prayerfully, and you will see,
A thought men contradict, God's words agree;
For what the early Bible prophets wrote
We find that Christ and His Apostles quote.
So trust no creed that trembles to recall
What has been penned by one and verified by all.
|
