“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18)
“Now, have any of you an illuminated Bible at home?
‘No,’ says one, ‘I have a morocco Bible; I have a marginal reference Bible.’
Ah! That is all very well, but have you an illuminated Bible?
‘Yes; I have a large family Bible with pictures in it.’ There is a picture of John the Baptist baptizing Christ by pouring water on His head and many other nonsensical things, but that is not what I mean; have you an illuminated Bible?
‘Yes; I have a Bible with splendid engravings in it.’
Yes; I know you may have, but have you and illuminated Bible?
‘I don’t understand what you mean by an illuminated Bible.’
Well, it is the Christian man who has an illuminated Bible. He does not buy it illuminated originally, but when he reads it
A glory guilds the sacred page,
Magestic like the sun;
Which gives a light to every age —
It gives, but borrows none.
There is nothing like reading an illuminated Bible, beloved. You may read to all eternity, and never learn anything by it, unless it is illuminated by the Spirit; and then the words shine forth like stars. The book seems made of gold leaf; every single letter glitters like a diamond. Oh! It is a blessed thing to read an illuminated Bible lit up by the radiance of the Holy Ghost. Hast you read the Bible and studied it, my brother, and yet have thine eyes been unenlightened? Go and say, ‘O Lord, gild the Bible for me. I want an expounded Bible. Illuminate it; shine upon it; for I cannot read it to profit, unless you enlightenest me.’” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon