The citizen., 1911-08-03

to God, but the people and their rul.
ers had been deaf to his warnings,
AS a last resort, In the fourth year
OF Jehoiakim, the Lord commanded
the prophet to write down the sub.
stance of his exhortations. and thus
to focus them In one mighty blow
upon the consciences OF king and peo-
pie. Moreover. for some reason Jerc-
miah was shut up, restrained" from
public uttefance. being probably for
hidden by the authorities to preach !:
SO that for the time the written word
was the only way by which jeremiah
could reach the ears of the people.
The chosen amanuensis was Bar
uch. the son Of Neriah, q scribe. The
book was not like ours. but was q
roll Of parchment. consisting of sew
eral skins sewed together. the edges
cut even, and the whole rolled on
wooden rods fastened at each end SO
that the parchment could be rolled
from one to the other. The writing
was arranged In columns, each like
the page Of a book. II must have
taken Baruch some months to have
written down such prophecies as
jeremiah wished to have read, and
which constituted a considerable part
Of the present book Of jeremiah.
jeremiah sent Baruch to the tenn.
pie to read the book to the assem-
bled crowds. II was a wintry day.
Baruch went up into the chamber of
a friendly noble, over a new gateway
opening both ways into the inner and
outer courts. There. from the win
dow or balcony of the chamber. or
the kings had stood on solemn occa-
sions. he recited the long alienation
OF lament and invective to the vast
Reading In this way
was almost the only way by which
the people could become acquainted
with the word Of God. Few could
read. And copies of the law cost a
small fortune.
The king sent Jehudi. one Of his
officers. to fetch the roll so that Je-
might learn its contents at
first hand and not from hearsay. The
king sat in the winter house.
II seems probable that after Jehudl
had read three or four columes. the
king snatched the roll from his handa
and. taking the knife used for sharp
ening the scribe's pens. cut up the
roll himself, and cast It into the FIRE.
Some think that only the FIRST portion
was read. when all the roll was con-
,umed In the fire. But Professor Ben
,ett says that the Hebrew implies
hat at the end Of every three or four
columns the king put out his hand for
he roll. cut away the portion read.
hrew II on the fire. and handed the
back to Jehudi. repeating
he process.
The king commanded the arrest Of
the scribe and jeremiah. But
he Lord hid them, by means OF some
Unknown providence and guidance;
". as usual. by the use of means In
pired by God. Shutting the eyes
loes not ward on the lightning's
troke. Fools. that think that by
the neck. of the Growing
'ock they can proven: the coming Of
he morning.
When the word Of the Lord came
he book was destroyed. but its con-
ents and its truths lived. Take |
hee another roll, and write in |
l." jeremiah knew what he had said
'efore. and God gave him further
evelations. Professor Brown thinks
hat Baruch's second roll contained
he first seventeen chapters of our
eremiah. Thou shalt say to Jehoia-
i'm that the prophecies should Ger.
ainly come true"
Attempts to destroy the Bible have
cen made. When men are forbidden
o read It, and everything is done to
revent its circulation. The frontis-
iece Of Wycliffe's Bible represents
he fire of true Christianity against
'hich its enemies, Satan and infidel.
". are blowing with all their might.
rying to put II out; but the more
hey put themselves out OF breath,
he more brightly the fire burns.
Ingersoll's prophecy. twenty-six
ears ago. was that IN ten years the
ible will not be read" The fact IL
hat vastly more Bibles are issued
very year than when that prophecy
Ias uttered. and in more languages.
Those destroy ths Bible for somo
eople. who Tor any reason give the
npression that II is not true. dimin-
h It's authority, and I'LL the minds OF
le young with doubts. And yet ey.
~ attack has made II read more.
nd caused II to shine in purer light
hose who disobey and neglect the
ible. refuse to let It be a lamp unto
leir feet and light unto their path.
no ignore its teachings. and reruse
5 truths--these destroy the Bible for
lemselves. But the laws OF God
owe on Just the same.
Jehoiakim was slain. His son was