A man who’d never heard the sound
Of God’s own Word, in all his life;
A copy of “the Gospels” found
And read it through unto his wife.
At first he fought it, as he read,
But this, through grace, could not be long;
Soon softening, to his wife he said:
“If this be right, then we are wrong.”
But God had deeper work to do,
Within that poor benighted soul;
And so, to bring himself to view,
Led him again to read the whole;
And then, exposed, and filled with dread,
His heart with deep conviction tossed—
“Ah, wife,” with feeling now he said,
“If this be true, then we are lost!”
But, like our ever gracious Lord,
To save, not to condemn, who came,
So, too, this wondrous, precious Word
Tells of salvation in His name;
And, in His love, God meant to free,
The soul of this one long enslaved;
Again he read; now— “joy!” said he,
“If this be true, then we are saved!”
Yes, the same Word that shows our guilt,
And judgment on it, tells of One
Whose blood to blot out sin, was spilt—
The Blessed Saviour, God’s own Son!
And they who simply this believe,
Just as God says, alone are right;
For thus He means us to receive—
“The entrance of His Word gives light.”
ML 02/05/1922