When I Read the Bible Through.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1212, 17 December 1919, Page 6

When I Read the Bible Through.

By Ain-'s •;. Wells). I supposed 1 knew my Bible. Heading piecemeal, hit or miss. Now a bit of John or Matthew, Now ;i snatch of Genesis, Certain chapters of Isaiah. Certain Psalms (the 23rd! . Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs Yes. I thought 1 knew the Word! But I found that thorough reading Was a difficult thing to do. Ami the way was unfamiliar When 1 read the Bible through.

• »hj. the massive, mighty volume! Uh. the treasures manifold! i'h. the beauty and the wisdom And the grace it proved to hold! A~ the. story of the Hebrews Swept in Majesty along \s it. leaped in waves prophetic. As it burst !-• sacred song. A> it gleamed with Christly omens, The Old Testament was new. sii"ii-' wit!) cumulative power When I read the Bibb' through.

Ah, imperial Jeremiah. With his keen eoruscant mind! And the blunt old Nehcmiah. And Ezekiel refined I Newly came the Minor Prophets Bach with his distinctive robe: Newly came the song idyllic. And the tragedy of Job: Deuteronomy, the regal. T<. a towering mountain grew. With it 1 - < rade peaks around it When ! rend the Bible through

What r. radiant procession. A- the page s rise and fall; .1..1U-S iie- sTurdy. .!.-.!;r. the tender oh. the myriad-minded Paul! VasF ~( alypti.; glories Wheel and thunder, Uash.and ihun While the Church Triumphant raises • >-!,• iiti-omparnhle Name. Afi. the <t"i> of the Saviour, Never glows supremely true I ill \,.u ;■.•.,<! it whole and swiftly. Till von r-.ei lite Bible through.

\. 'i v\!»« lik ■ (•• i-lav ,ii Bibi-. I>if. and dubbie, here and there. .List before you kneel, aweary, And jawn through •« Slurried prayer. You who treal the Crown of Writings As >•••! treat no oilier book—-iii-i :■ paragraph disjointed, Just ■ > crude, impatien! look. - Trj .•» worthiei procedure Try :. broad and sleadj view: v..i> win kneel in very rapture. When 1 read the Bibb" through.