The Green Forest tribune., 1911-07-28

where even in the monasteries the Bi ther was twenty years old before he ever saw copy.
 1t is plain that the finding of this book was not the discovery of some thing unknown before, but the rescu ing of the temple copy of the law from the hiding place in which it had long lain" It must have been the ancient copy of the law, and not a book writ ten, as some critics think, by unknown | persons in the reign of Manasseh never seen or used among the Jews before. That an unknown book with no authority behind it should produce l the effect on Josiah and his people. which this book of the law produced bSrders on the absurd. Moreover many of the laws must have been familiar to Josiah for they had been acted upon 1 by his ancestors in every reform, and by himself in the reforms he began six years before, in the twelfth year of his reign. It would have been impossible to impose upon the people, and make them believe that new book, never before heard of, was the law of their kingdom from God.
 When they brought out from the old chests in the temple the money con- l tributed for repairs, which had been l deposited In the safest hiding place. l HiIkiah the priest, who had charge of l the money, in searching the chest | found at the bottom a book of the law of the Lord, the law given by Moses.
 Hilkiah delivered the book to Snap han, King Josiahs secretary of state, as the fitting person to show 1t to the king. When Shaphan reported the contributions and the work on the tenn l pie, he brought the book with him, told 1 how it had been found, and read it to the king.
 The king heard the book read, and 1 he assembled the elders and priests, and the Levites. They made a public covenant and pledge. The king him self first made a public covenant be. fore the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, with all HIS u6dTI.
 This was very similar to the great meeting under Joshua on the slopes of Mount Ebal and Gerizim eight centu ries before, on taking possession of the Promised Land. The same motives were presented, and the same cove nant made. And the king might well have said to the people as Joshua did: "Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him." And they said, We are witnesses.'
 The covenant was made under the power of the strongest and best mo- tives that could be brought to bear upon them, when their minds were up- lifted into dearest vision, above the smoke and clouds of earth. That was the right time to make decision. God has given us feelings on purpose to move us to decide alright.
 Josiah restored the regular temple services under the priests and Le- vites; and he celebrated a passover, such as had not been celebrated from the days of the judges that judged Is- rael, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah. From all parts of the land the people f1ocked up to the renovated temple and joined with every demonstration of gladness in the eight days festivity prepared for them. Thirty thousand males of full age attended. During all these days the services of the temple choir were brought into requiistion- the singers of the famous clan of Asaph chanting, in relays. the psalms for the season, appointed centuries be- fore by David, Asaph and Jeduthun. The Bible may be lost today by neg. iecting it-negecting to read it daily. Neglecting family reading and prayers. Neglecting to read it's stories to little children. By disobeying it. Disobey- | ing its precepts dulls the conscience, and the whole moral nature, so that 1t may be said, Eyes have they, but they see not, ears have they but they hear not"
 | things that while he heareth the word with his ears, "the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruit. full" By keeping the Word far from | daily life, so that all its blessed truths are admired, but not geared on to right action. They are to be hearers "as a very lovely song Of one that hath a | pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words | but thev do them nnt "
 | By making the Bible unattractive. have heard number of ministers read the Bible so poorly that people were not interested in it, listened careless | iy, and liked it less than if it had been unread Then the printing of the Re vised Version is so solid as to be un- attractive and difficult to use. By les. sening it's authority. It makes vast difference in the power of the Bible, whether it is received as only the thoughts of men, or as message from God. By neglecting all the light that Ia shining upon 1t from many sources.