IS THE BIBLE TRUE? by C. Patterson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 25, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 13

IS THE BIBLE TRUE?

By C. Patterson

Honest skeptic, what say you? Tell me, is the Bible true? Do you doubt it came from Heaven, Sent by God, in mercy given, So that man his will might know, And be saved from coming woe? Come and let us reason, then: Tell me how those ancient men Did earth’s history portray, So remote from their own day. Did you ever think of this, How that nothing comes amiss, But that every jot and tittle, Both of great events and little, Have each come up in their lot, Not one item been forgot? Did the prophets speak at will? Had they power to fulfill Every word that they have spoken, And the chain remain unbroken That has spanned prophetic time In each nation, in each clime, Ever since our fallen race Had on earth a dwelling-place? Would you know that this is true? Take the pains, then, to review Each prediction they have penned Of the rise, the reign, the end Of the greatest kings of earth, Both before and after birth; Tell me, then, how they could know That events would happen so.

Do you still the truth deny? Hear Isaiah’s prophecy: Hark! he Cyrus called by name Many years before he came, Telling wonders he should do; How he Babylon would subdue, And after her overthrow He would let God’s people go: “Not for price, nor for reward,” But in honor of their Lord, He their country would restore, And their temple build once more. Honest skeptic, what say you? Tell me, is the Bible true?

Turn again—to Daniel look; Study well that wondrous book; See the visions he explained Of the kingdoms that have reigned, Mark where empires rose and fell; Tell me then—if you can tell— What the next great change shall be Ere we reach eternity. Are we in “the feet and toes” Of that “image” which arose Measuring all the coast of time, Every landmark, every line, Till the kingdoms under heaven To the saints of God are given, And Messiah’s reign shall be Wide as earth—from sea to sea? Honest skeptic, what say you? Tell me, is the Bible true?

Will you—can you answer me, Telling how these things could be Unless God inspired the men Thus to wield the sacred pen?— Showing them the rise and fall Of earth’s kingdoms, great and small, Even down to our own day, Where, “the iron mixed with clay” Shall like summer chaff be driven, Scattered to the winds of heaven, And His glory fill the earth, Greater than at Eden’s birth, When the songs of morning stars Woke a strain of praise in Mars, And “the sons of God” were there, Shouting o’er a world so fair. Honest skeptic, what say you? Tell me, is the Bible true?

—C. Patterson, in Messiah’s Herald.