BTLN - "WHO AM I"

Uncle Tim found this riddle in a magazine and I figured I would share it with you. Leave your answers in the comments.


This puzzle was written by a lady in California in 1880 in response to
a gentleman in Philadelphia, who had said that he would pay $1,000 to
anyone who could write a puzzle that he couldn’t solve. He failed to do
so, and paid the lady $1,000 (a great sum at that time). The answer is
one word, with five letters, and only appears four times in the Scriptures!
By the way, an eight year old boy figured out the puzzle. Are you up to
the challenge?

God made Adam out of dust,
But thought it best to make me first;
So I was made before the man,
According to God’s Holy plan.
My whole body God made complete,
Without arms or hands or feet.
My ways and acts did God control,
But in my body He placed no soul.
A living being I became,
And Adam gave to me a name.
Then from his presence I withdrew,
For this man Adam I never knew.
All my Maker’s laws I do obey,
And from these laws I never stray.
Thousands of me go in fear,
But seldom on the earth appear.
Later, for a purpose God did see,
He placed a living soul in me.
But that soul of mine God had to claim,
And from me took it back again.
And when this soul from me had fled,
I was the same as when first made;
Without arms, legs, feet, or soul
I travel on from pole to pole.
My labors are from day to night,
And to men I once furnished light.
Thousands of people both young and old
Did by my death bright lights behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive:
The Bible and its teachings I can’t believe.
The fear of death doesn’t trouble me;
Pure happiness I will never see.
And up in Heaven I can never go,
Nor in the grave or Hell below.
So get your Bible and read with care;
You’ll find my name recorded there.

THE CAPTAIN