Book of Books! Of All, the Best

"Search the scriptures;" saith the Lord
They contain my holy word;
Search them, blinded Pharisee,
They do testify of me.

They alone can wound and heal,
Make the hardest heart to feel,
Speak, at once, our sins forgiven,
Guide us all the way to heaven.

They disclose the Saviour's name,
And our frozen hearts inflame;
Cheer our souls along the road,
Show us if we're born of God.

They can arm us for the fight,
Gird us with immortal might;
Cause our foes to quit the field,
While the Spirit's sword we wield.

Book of books! of all, the best;
Give me this, take all the rest;
Other books may souls betray,
This can never lead astray.

Here I build my lasting hope,
Here my weakness finds a prop;
Jesus, to thy arms I fly—
On thy word would live and die.

—by William Dossey (1780-1853)

Index