The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-07-27

] Jerusalem
PERSONS-Joslah the king. Huldah
the prophecies. Hilkiah the high priest.
bhaphan the scribe or secretary.
With hundreds OF millions OF Bibles
In existence and several millions more
printed every year, II is somewhat diff.
hcult for us to imagine how knowledge
OF the written Bible, and Of the exact
tenor OF its teachings could be lost
Some facts will help us to understand.
There were at that time very few
copies OF the sacred books In exist
ence. They were very expensive. Il
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 perished under
such kings as Manasseh and Anon.
Very few of the people could read the
law even II It had been within their
reach. A modern Illustration is the
case Of Europe before the reformation,
where even in the monasteries the Bi-
bic was almost an unknown book. Lu.
ther was twenty years old before he
ever saw copy.
II 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 Il had long
lain II 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
the effect on Josiah and his people,
which this book OF the law produced.
borders on the absurd Moreover many
OF the laws must have been familiar to
Josiah for they had been acted upon
by his ancestors In every reform. and
by himself in the reforms he began six
years before in the twelfth year OF his
reign. II would have been impossible
to impose upon the people. and make
them believe that a 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-
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 book OF the law
of the Lord, the law given by Moses.
Hilkiah delivered the book to shap-
han, King JosIah's secretary OF state.
as the fitting person TO show II 10 the
king When Shaphan reported the
contributions and the work on the tenn
pie, he brought the book with him, told
how 1t 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 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 heart.
This was very similar 10 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 az Joshua did:
'Ye are witnesses against yourselves
that ye have chosen you the Lord. to
serve him" And they sud, I'VE are
The covenant was made under the
power of the strongest and best mo-
lives that could be brought 10 bear
upon them, when their minds were up
lifted into clearest vision, above the
smoke and clouds Of earth. That was
he right time to make a decision God
has given us feelings on purpose to
move us to decide Alright.
Josiah restored the regular temple
services under the priests and lie.
'ites; and he celebrated passover,
iuch as had not been celebrated from
he days of the judges that judged Is
ael, nor in all the days of the kings
" Israel, nor Of the kings of Judah.
from all parts OF the land the people
locked up to the renovated temple and
oined with every demonstration of
badness in the eight days festivity
prepared for them. Thirty thousand
males Of full age attended During all
hese days the services Of the temple
hoir were brought into requiistion-
he singers Of the famous clan OF
,saph chanting, in relays the psalms
or the season, appointed centuries be-
ore by David, Asaph and Jeduthun.
The Bible may be lost today by neg
'cting it-neg'ecting to read II daily.
eglecting family reading and prayers.
'eglecting to read its stories to little
hiidren. BY disobeying il. Disobey-
* It's precepts dulls the conscience,
nd the whole moral nature, so that II
lay be said Eyes have they. but
ley see not, ears have they but they
ear not"
BY being so absorbed in worldly
lings that while he heareth the word
ith his ears, "the care of this world.
nd the deceitfulness of riches, choke
le word, and he becometh unfruit.
H." BY keeping the Word far from
ally life, so that all Its blessed truths
e admired, but not geared on to right
'tion. They are to be hearers las
cry lovely song of one that hath
easant voice and can play well on an