Riddle: Adam, God made out of dust
But He thought it best to make me first,
So I was made before man
To answer God's holy plan.

A living being I became
And Adam gave to me my name.
I from his presence then withdrew,
And more of Adam never knew.

I did my Maker's law obey
Nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go in fear
But seldom on earth appear.

For purpose wise which God did see
He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did claim
And took from me the soul again.

So when from me the soul had fled
I was the same as when first made.
And without hands or feet or soul
I travel on from pole to pole.

I labor hard by day and night
To fallen man I give great light.
Thousands of people young and old
Will by my death great light behold.

No right or wrong can I conceive.
The scripture I cannot believe.
Although my name therein is found
They are to me an empty sound.

No fear of death doth trouble me
Real happiness I'll never see.
To heaven I shall never go
Or to hell below.