Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

BiBLE-STUDIES'

DESTROYING GOD’S WORD Jeremiah 36—Aug. 13 "The Word of bur God shall stand forever." —lsaiah i0:i8. CHE Prophet Jeremiah was shut up in prison. The disaster upon the kingdom had, to some extent, awakened the people to a slight repentance In which the king joined, yet it was n repentance of fear rather than heart repentance. The king had enmity against Jeremiah because the Divine message came through him. He seems to have hoped to restrain the Prophet from further proclamation of the coming trouble through fear. However, the Lord directed the Prophet to write out all of his prophecies on a scroll, after the ancient style, in colnmns. Jeremiah dictated and Baruch served him as amanuensis. By the Lord’s direction this book of Jeremiah was to be read to all the peo-

ple, In the temple, on the occasion of a general gathering for worship and repentance. Since the Prophet himself could not go, he directed Baruch, who took the scroll and read it in the hearing of the people. Its prophecies of dire disaster made a deep

impression. One of the princes of the people was present and heard the reading and reported to others of the king’s counsellors. They sent for Baruch and had him read It before them all. They also, were deeply impressed and concluded that it should be brought before the king. But meantime Baruch and Jeremiah were hidden, the probability of the king’s displeasure being great. Hearing of the manuscript, the king was anxious to have it read before him by a scribe. During tbe reading, as two or three columns of the manuscript were read, the king cut them off with a pen knife and threw them into the fire—until the entire manuscript was heard and destroyed. By the Lord’s direction Jeremiah dictated his prophecies afresh, Baruch again acting as amanuensis; and this edition was made still more complete than the former. Amongst other things it included the Divine edict that none of‘ Jeholakim’s posterity should ever sit upon the throne of DavitL God’s Word Indestructible Thomas Paine, Voltaire and Inger*>ll imagined that they had made the Word of God to appear so ridiculous that it would nevermore have Influence amongst men. Robert Ingersoll is quoted as having said. “In ten years the Bible, will not be read.” How little the poor man knew on the subject. The frontispiece of a well known Wycliffe Bible pictures Satan and others. religious and irreligious, blowing with all their might to put out a light. In proportion as their energy and strength became exhausted, the light grew stronger and burned the more brightly. This illustrates the futility of all attempts to quench the Word of God. Although we have passed the day when any one would attempt to destroy

the Bible, we have not passed the day of opposition to the truth. Satan would fain have the people cf God wors hip til ebook rather than study and appreciate its contents. In consequence, not a few are opposing the light that is now shining from

the Word of God—disclosing to us the fact that much that came down to us from the Dark Ages is contrary to the Bible as well as to reason. Many of the professed teachers of the church are heartily opposed to Bible study, although their opposition is advanced as cautiously as possible “for fear of the people.” A Famine For the Word of God Scriptural truth is a scarce commodity at the present time—the world is full of error and Sin and unrighteousness. The Lord’s disciples must so love truth and righteousness as to hunger and thirst for it. To such spiritual food will be granted. Truth will be dispensed to them as “meat in due season.” The Scriptures from first to last give ns to underatand that God’s Word is to shine more and more brightly down to the very end of this Gospel Age. SL Peter declares it to be “the more sure Word of prophecy, to which we do well that we take heed, as to a light Bhining in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1. 19). The Bishop of London opposed the Tyndale translation because the practices of the time were not in harmony with tbe Scriptures. Similarly, today, there are doctrines, traditions, creed* from the Dark Ages still reverenced, and which a better understanding of the Bible would correct and put to shame Hence the opposition to the better understanding of God's Word. Nevertheless, the Word of God shall stand forever, and the spirit of the tenth shall make free all the children of the truth. «- w“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. Tbe eternal years of <iod are here.*’ ■ ■ ■ - .•

Jeremiah dictating to Baruch.

Jehoiakim burns the book.