A dear friend, Mary Katherine, recited this anonymous poem to me by heart. Initially it appeared as a Scottish poem, and then began in 1578 to be included in the preliminary material of most Geneva Bibles.
Here is the spring where waters flow,
To quench our heart of sin;
Here is the tree where truth doth grow
To lead our lives therein;
Here is the judge that stints the strife
When men’s devises fail:
Here is the bread that feeds the life
That death cannot assail.
The tidings of salvation dear
Comes 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 at his desire,
And takes more pleasure of the trough
And wallowing in the mire.
Read not this book in any case
But with a single eye:
Read not, but first desire GOD’s grace,
To understand thereby.
Pray still in faith with this respect
To bear good fruit therein;
That knowledge may bring this effect,
To mortify thy sin.
Then happy thou in all thy life,
Whatso to thee befalls;
Yea, double happy shalt thou be
When GOD by death thee calls.
Join us here at The Good Portion Books Blog for an inductive Bible study focused on mortifying our sin with knowledge that comes from Romans 6. We’ll introduce the study next Tuesday and begin the first week of July. A set of questions to think through the passage will be posted on Mondays followed by a devotional later in the week.