Poetry Friday XI

I have been blogging a little this week about books that give some guidance for living, which varies according to what your goal is. As a Christian I believe that there is one book that comes above all others as an authority on how to live, but that it is not a book of guidelines for life, but the book of life itself. Therefore I though it fitting for poetry Friday to post this poem by an unknown author, which was apparently included in the front of the first bible printed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1576.

HERE IS THE SPRING WHERE WATERS FLOW

TO QUENCH OUR HEAT OF SIN

HERE IS THE TREE WHERE TRUTH DOTH GROW

TO LEAD OUR LIVES THEREIN

HERE IS THE JUDGE THAT HALTS THE STRIFE

WHEN MEN'S DEVICES FAIL

HERE IS THE BREAD THAT FEEDS THE LIFE

THAT DEATH CANNOT ASSAIL

THE TIDINGS OF SALVATION DEAR

COME TO OUR EARS FROM HENCE

THE FORTRESS OF OUR FAITH IS HERE

AND SHIELD OF OUR DEFENSE

THEN BE NOT LIKE THE SWINE THAT HATH

A PEARL OF HIS DESIRE

AND TAKES MORE PLEASURE FROM THE TROUGH

AND WALLOWING IN THE MIRE

PRAY STILL IN FAITH WITH THIS RESPECT

TO BE FRUITFUL WITHIN

THAT KNOWLEDGE MAY BRING THIS EFFECT

TO MORTIFY THY SIN

THEN HAPPY THOU IN ALL THY LIFE

WHAT SO TO THEE BEFALLS

YEA, DOUBLE HAPPY THOU SHALT BE

WHEN GOD BY DEATH THEE CALLS