God's Love Letter

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

The Scripture is God's love-letter to men. Here the
lamb may wade—and here the elephant may swim!

The blessed Scriptures are of infinite worth
and value! Here you may find . . .
    a remedy for every disease,
    a balm for every wound,
    a plaster for every sore,
    milk for babes,
    meat for strong men,
    comfort for the afflicted,
    support for the tempted,
    solace for the distressed,
    ease for the wearied,
    a staff to support the feeble,
    a sword to defend the weak.

The holy Scriptures are . . .
    the map of God's mercy—and man's misery,
    the touchstone of truth,
    the shop of remedies against all maladies,
    the hammer of vices,
    the treasury of virtues,
    the exposer of all sensual and worldly vanities,
    the balance of equity,
    the most perfect rule of all justice and honesty.

Ah, friends, no book befits your hands like the Bible!

The Bible is the best preacher. This book,
this preacher will preach to you . . .
    in your shops,
    in your chambers,
    in your closets,
    yes, in your own bosoms!
This book will preach to you at home and abroad;
it will preach to you in all companies; and it will
preach to you in all conditions.

By this book you shall be saved—or
By this book you shall be damned!
By this book you must live.
By this book you must die.
By this book you shall be judged in the great day!

Oh, therefore . . .
    love this book above all other books,
    prize this book above all other books,
    read this book before all other books,
    study this book more than all other books!

For he who reads much—and understands nothing,
is like him who hunts much—and catches nothing.

 ~Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662

 

The Bread Of Life

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16

The Bible was "given by inspiration of God."  In this respect, it is utterly unlike all other writings.  God taught the writers of it what to say.  God put into their minds thoughts and ideas.  God guided their pens in setting down those thoughts and ideas. When you read it, you are not reading the self-taught compositions of poor imperfect men like yourself, but the words of the eternal God.  When you hear it, you are not listening to the erring opinions of short-lived mortals, but to the unchanging mind of the King of kings.   

The men who were employed to compose the Bible, spoke not of themselves. They "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21)  All other books in the world, however good and useful in their way, are more or less defective.  The more you look at them--the more you see their defects and blemishes.  The Bible alone is absolutely perfect. From beginning to end, it is "the Word of God."

The man who has the Bible, and the Holy Spirit in his heart has everything which is absolutely needful to make him spiritually wise and mature.  He needs no priest to break the bread of life for him.  He needs no ancient traditions, no writings of the Fathers, no voice of the Church to guide him into all truth.  He has the well of truth open before him and what more can he want?   

Yes! though he is shut up alone in a prison, or cast on a desert island, though he never see a church, or minister, or sacrament again--if he has but the Bible, he has got the infallible guide, and needs no other.  If he has but the will to read that Bible rightly, it will certainly teach him the road that leads to Heaven.  It is here alone that infallibility resides.  It is not in any church.  It is not in the Councils.  It is not in ministers.  It is only in the written Word.

~ J.C. Ryle