The Weight of God's Word

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy." 2 Peter 1:19

Look where the impartial balance hangs on high,

The Almighty's word against weak man's to try;

Huge folios rare, and many a bulky bale,

Are brought, and laid upon the even scale:

Of " Council's"' records many a tome is sent,

From the great Nicean, down to that of Trent;

" Creeds," " 'isms," creatures of the human thought,

Ancient and modern, are together 'brought;

And " Fathers" numerous, a learned line,

From Pseudo-Barnabas to Augustine;

The Bible now. of Protestants the pride,

Is placed alone upon the other side:

Creeds, Councils, Fathers, 'isms, twenty ream,

Fly up like chaff, and straightway kick the beam.

       The above engraving represents a pair of scales of equal balance, one side of which is loaded with books, packages, and parchments. Here are the minutes of eighteen general councils, beginning with that held in Nice, in the year of our Lord 325, and ending with that of Trent, which began in the year 1545, and closed in 1563, with many others. There are also the writings of the " Fathers," from those ascribed to Barnabas, but considered spurious, downward. Then there are Creeds without number, both of ancient and modern date; next follow the various isms of the day, that set themselves up against the word of God. These are all placed on one scale; the Bible is now brought and placed on the other, when lo! " Creeds, Councils, Fathers, and 'isms" are but as the dust of the balance. Lighter than vanity, they fly up and kick the beam; one Bible outweighs them all.

       This emblem is designed to show the authority of the Bible over the doctrines and commandments of men. When the lion roars, the beasts of the forests keep silence; when Jehovah speaks, the inhabitants of the world ought to stand in awe. During the space of fifteen hundred years, God uttered His voice in the ears of the children of men. He has declared his will, and sanctioned such revelation by the repeated manifestations of his almighty power. He employed holy men as the authorized recorders of his laws; and closed the whole with the denouncement of a curse against all who should add to, or diminish therefrom.

       Notwithstanding this, there have been men in all ages who have set up their will against that of the great Jehovah. They have made a record of the same, forbidding what God has commanded, and ordaining what God has prohibited. Thus, by their traditions, they make void the laws of the Eternal. What folly is this! what blasphemy! what rebellion! The words of the Lord are tried, pure, and everlasting; those of man are short weight, corrupt, and are passing away. By the laws of God, not by the opinions of men, we shall be judged at the last day.

       Terribly has the curse fallen upon those who have established human opinions in opposition to the Word of God  witness the Jews, who, since the fatal overthrow of their city, have been vagabonds over all the face of the earth. Witness the poverty, ignorance, and misery of those parts of the world where human creeds prevail, and where the Bible is rejected; yea, witness in the case of every man who substitutes his will for God's. To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

• "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
• "Search the Scriptures." John 5:39
• "We thank God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is of truth, the word of God." 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
• "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it." Deuteronomy 4:2
• "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." Revelation 22:18

"Take you at your word" by Avalon