The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-07-20

in mine heart. that might not ain
against thee."-Psa. il9;ii.
TIME-B. G. 62i In the 18th year oe
Josiah's reign, when he was Is years old.
stage Nv Of the last lesson.
PLACE-The Temple and Palace at
Jerusalem.
PERsoNs-Josiah tho king. IIuidah
the prophecies Hllkiah the high priest
shaphan tho scribe or secretary.
with hundreds OF millions OF Bibles
in existence and several millions more
printed every year, II Ia somewhat DIFF
flcult for us TO imagine how knowledge
of the written Bible. and OF the exact
tenor OF It's teachings could be lost.
Some facts will help us to understand.
There were at that time very few
copies of the sacred books In exisk
ence. They we're very expensive.
was customary for these copies TO be
kept In the temple. while the copy
which according to the law) was
made for the use OF the king. would
most certainly have persisted under.
such kings as Manasseh and Anon.
II Is plain that the finding OF this
book was not tho discovery OF some
thing unknown before. but the rescu.
ing OF the temple copy OF the law from
the hiding place In which II had long
lain" II must have been the ancient
copy OF the law. and not book writ.
ten. as some critics think. by unknown
persons in the reign OF Manasseh,
never seen or used among the Jews
before.
When they brought out from tho old
chests In the temple the money con-
tributed for repairs. which had been
deposited In the safest hiding place.
Hilkiah the priest. who had charge OF
the money. In searching the chest
found at the bottom a book OF the law
Of the Lord. the law given by Moses.
HiIkiah delivered the book To Shap-
han. King Josiah's secretary of state.
as the fitting person 20 show II to the
king. When shaphan reported the
contributions and the work on the TEN.
pie, he brought tine book with him. tolc
how II had been found. and read II to
the king.
The king heard the book read. and
he assembled the elders and priests,
and the Levites. They made public
covenant and pledge. The king him
self irst made n public covenant be-
fore the Lord. TO walk after the Lord.
and 10 keep his commandments. with
all his heart.
This was very similar 10 the great
meeting under Joshua on the slopes Of
Mount Ebal and Gerizim eight contu'
ries before. on taking possession of
the Promised Land. The same motives
were presented. and the same cove
nant made.
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 clearest vision. above tho
smoke and clouds OF earth. That was
the right time TO make a decision. God
has given us feelings on purpose 10
move us to decide Alright.
Josiah restored the regular temple
services under the priests and lie.
vites; and he celebrated 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
| iocked 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.
lecting it-neglecting to read II daily.
Neglecting family reading and prayers.
Neglecting to read its stories 10 little
children. by disobeying II. Dlsobey-
ing its precepts dulls the Conscience
and the whole moral nature. so that N
may be said. Eyes have they. but
they see not. ears have they but they
boar not"
BY being 80 absorbed In worldly
things that while he heareth the word
/ Win MS taib, Nne NdIo VI lulb WoIiu,
and the deceitfulness Of riches. choke
the word. and he becometh unfruit
full" BY keeping the Word Tar from
daily life. so that all its blessed truths
are admired. but not geared on to right
action.
BY making the Bible unattractlve. !
have heard a number of ministers read
!ho Bible so poorly that people were
not interested In It. listened careless.
ly, and liked II less than II It had been
unread. Then the printing OF the Re
vised Version is so solid as to be I'M
attractive and difficult to use. BY les
SEEMING its authority. II makes vast
difference In the power of the Bible.
whether II is received as only tho
thoughts OF men. OF as a message from
God. BY negiecting all the light that
IL shining upon II from many sources.
Find the Bible--Get acquainted with
II. Read II. Study II. Know what Is
In It. One of the best things in the
Sunday school. in the Epworth League
and Christian Endeavor movement IL
their emphasis on the daily reading OF
| the pihla practfea ifa nracanfa Only