The World’s Bible
(by Annie Johnson Flint)
Christ has no hands but our hands
to do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
to lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues
to tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
to bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible
the careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s gospel,
we are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message
given in deed and word—
What if the line is crooked?
What if the type is blurred?
What if our hands are busy
with other work than His?
What if our feet are walking
where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
unless from Him we learn?
In Earthen Vessels
(by John Greenleaf Whittier)
are humble human souls;
The gospel of a life like His
is more than books or scrolls.
From scheme and creed the light goes out,
the saintly fact survives;
The blessed Master none can doubt,
revealed in holy lives.
Sermons We See
(by Edgar Guest)
I’d rather see a sermon
than hear one, any day;
I’d rather one would walk with me
than merely tell the way;
The eye’s a better pupil
and more willing than the ear.
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example’s always clear,
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons
by observing what you do.
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give.
But there’s no misunderstanding
(by Joseph Wilson Barron)
he reads me when we meet;
Today he reads me in my home—
tomorrow on the street.
He may be relative or friend
or slight acquaintance be;
He may not even know my name,
yet he is reading me.
And pray, who is this neighbor
who reads me day by day.
To learn if I am living right
and walking as I pray?
O, he is, with me always
to criticize or blame;
So worldly-wise in his own eyes,
and “sinner” is his name.
Dear Christian friends and brothers
if we could only know
How faithfully the world records
just what we say and do,
O, we would write our record plain
and come in time to see
Our worldly neighbor won to Christ
while reading you and me.
(by Annie Johnson Flint)
Christ has no hands but our hands
to do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
to lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues
to tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
to bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible
the careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s gospel,
we are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message
given in deed and word—
What if the line is crooked?
What if the type is blurred?
What if our hands are busy
with other work than His?
What if our feet are walking
where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
unless from Him we learn?
In Earthen Vessels
(by John Greenleaf Whittier)
The dear Lord’s best interpretersare humble human souls;
The gospel of a life like His
is more than books or scrolls.
From scheme and creed the light goes out,
the saintly fact survives;
The blessed Master none can doubt,
revealed in holy lives.
Sermons We See
(by Edgar Guest)
I’d rather see a sermon
than hear one, any day;
I’d rather one would walk with me
than merely tell the way;
The eye’s a better pupil
and more willing than the ear.
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example’s always clear,
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons
by observing what you do.
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give.
But there’s no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
My Neighbor’s Bible
(by Joseph Wilson Barron)
I am my neighbor’s Biblehe reads me when we meet;
Today he reads me in my home—
tomorrow on the street.
He may be relative or friend
or slight acquaintance be;
He may not even know my name,
yet he is reading me.
And pray, who is this neighbor
who reads me day by day.
To learn if I am living right
and walking as I pray?
O, he is, with me always
to criticize or blame;
So worldly-wise in his own eyes,
and “sinner” is his name.
Dear Christian friends and brothers
if we could only know
How faithfully the world records
just what we say and do,
O, we would write our record plain
and come in time to see
Our worldly neighbor won to Christ
while reading you and me.
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