Wilbur Smith, the remarkable Bible teacher and professor from the middle part of the last century, had a hand in the founding of Fuller Seminary, and for a time his entire collection of books blessed the students who studied there.

In writing a preface to a collection of sermons by the English preacher G. Campbell Morgan, Smith remarks that for a period of forty years, beginning in the first decade of the Twentieth Century, Morgan was "the greatest Biblical expositor known in the pulpits of both England and America." (THE WESTMINSTER PULPIT, vol 1, page 7)

In a sermon from that same volume titled THE BURNING OF THE HEART, Morgan warns of a deadening process that can take place in our study of the scriptures....

The study of the Bible will curse us in the next ten years if we are not careful. Men will tabulate and analyze, and think they know everything.

Man, listen, for, unless as a result of your study of the Bible you hear the imperial tone, the voice of the living Christ talking in your inmost soul, your Bible knowledge is a mere technique that will burn you and ruin you within the next ten years.

Listen, listen for His voice. Cease petition sometimes, cease praise sometimes, cease your questioning every now and then, and listen. No man or woman, young man or young woman, youth or maiden, will cultivate the habit of waiting to listen for the direct message of the Christ and be disappointed. Then your Bible will be a new book. Then your organization will throb with the propulsion of a new power. Then the missionary fire will blaze and drive you out upon the path of service.

Welcome, dear book, souls Joy, and food! The feast
Of Spirits, Heav'n extracted lyes in thee;
Thou art lifes Charter, The Doves spotless neast
Where souls are hatch'd unto Eternitie.

In the the hidden stone, the Manna lies,
Thou art the great Elixir, rare and Choice,
The Key that opens to all Mysteries,
The Word in Characters, God in the Voice.

O that I had deep Cut in my hard heart
Each line in thee! Then would I plead in groans
Of my Lords penning, and by sweetest Art
Return upon himself the Law, and Stones.
Read here, my faults are thine. This Book, and I
Will tell thee so; Sweet Saviour thou didst dye!

Henry Vaughn
1621-1695

Samuel Chadwick was one of those Methodist preachers of the late 1800's who lived and breathed Christ, in part because he was "sotted" with the Word of God.

"I have worked at the Bible, prayed over the Bible, lived by the Bible for more than sixty years, and I tell you there is no book like the Bible.

It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a wonder-book of surprises, a revelation of mystery, an infallible guide of conduct, and an unspeakable source of comfort.

Give no heed to people who discredit it, for they speak without knowledge. It is the Word of God in hte inspired speech of humanity.

Read it for yourself.

Read it through.

Study it according to its own directions.

Live by its principles.

Believe its message.

Follow its precepts.

No man is uneducated who knows the Bible, and no man is wise who is ignorant of its teaching. Every day is begun at its open page. It lies close at hand in all my work. I never go anywhere without it, and in it is my chief joy."

That, friends, is a "book review" to end all book reviews! Read the Bible, and it will make a believer out of you as well. Go ahead. I dare you. Better yet - God dares you!