Holy Bible, book Divine. J. Burton, sen. [Holy Scripture.] This popular hymn first appeared in the author's Youth's Monitor in Verse, &c, 1803, and again in the Evangelical Magazine, June, 1805, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, where it is signed, "Nottingham—J. B."
In 1806 it was also given as No. 1 of pt. ii. of the author's Hymns for Sunday Schools; or, Incentives to Early Piety. As it is frequently altered in modern collections we add the original text.
"Holy Bible, book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came,
Mine to teach me what I am.
"Mine to chide me when I rove,
Mine to shew a Saviour's love;
Mine art thou to guide my feet,
Mine to judge, condemn, acquit.
"Mine to comfort in distress,
If the Holy Spirit bless;
Mine to shew by living faith
Man can triumph over death.
"Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner's doom;
Holy Bible, book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine."
This hymn has gradually grown into favour, and now it is in common use in most English-speaking countries.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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