The Words of Life

These photographs were sent unto me by dear saints who have likewise taken up the practice of copying the Holy Scriptures with their own hands. It rejoices me much to behold them thus employed, slowly committing the Word of God unto paper, line after line and word after word. There is, I am persuaded, much sweetness and profit in the exercise. It constrains the hurried soul to become still before the sacred text. The eye reads the word, the tongue pronounces it, the ear receives it, and the hand afterward writes it down; and thus the senses are gathered, as it were, about one table, there to feast together upon that which God hath spoken.

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Proverbs 7:3

How easily do we read and yet scarcely stay long enough to consider what we have read! But here the hand travels slowly, and not so hurriedly as the wandering mind. We are made to linger over the words; and many a little thing which might otherwise have escaped us is permitted time to press itself upon the heart. It is a slow undertaking indeed; but perhaps therein lieth much of its profit. The Word of God was never meant to be hurried through. Blessed is that slowness which causeth the soul to remain a little longer at His table.

all my words that I shall speak unto thee hear with thine ears, and receive in thine heart.
Ezekiel 3:10

the words that I have spoken to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
Colossians 3:16

There are others who will soon begin, whom I have not yet included here. I think of these several hands, in different places, presently to be employed upon the same blessed Word, and I am filled with joy and  thankfulness. May the LORD bless all those who love Him; and whilst their hands are occupied in writing His Word upon paper, may He be pleased by His Spirit to write it more deeply upon their hearts.