Note.—To connect the present lesson with the past, it is necessary to note that King Josiah was killed in battle with the Egyptian army, which he attempted to intercept while on the way to make war on the Assyrians. The people placed Josiah’s third son, Jehoahaz, on the throne, but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-Necho, deposed him and set up his elder brother, Jehoiakim. He was a very wicked king, and utterly rejected the Word of the Lord, even putting to death the prophet Urijah. Jer. 26:20–23. In the fourth year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, having defeated both Assyria and Egypt, came against Jerusalem. Then a great feast day was proclaimed, and great numbers of people flocked to the city. It was then that the Lord told Jeremiah the prophet to write out all the words that He had spoken to him against Judah and against all the nations. Jeremiah called Baruch, a scribe, and told him the words to write. Then he had Baruch read them to the people. Some of the nobles and princes heard the reading of the roll, and Baruch told them how he came to write it.
20 “And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and 21 they told all the words in the ears of the king. So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. 22 Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month; and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him. 23 And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. 24 And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants 25 that heard all these words. Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but the Lord hid them. 27 “Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. 29 And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? 30 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. 32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words.”
Golden Text.—“The Word of our God shall stand forever.” Isa. 40:8.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What did the princes do after hearing the words that had been written? V. 20. (2) Then what did the king do? To whom did Jehudi read the roll? V. 21. (3) Where was the king at this time? What was on the hearth before him? V. 22. (4) How did the king show his disregard of the Word of God? V. 23. Note 1. (5) How were the king’s servants affected by the reading? V. 24. Note 2. (6) Who made intercession to the king? For what purpose? How did he regard their request? V. 25. (7) What command did the king give? How was the command frustrated? Note 3. (8) Then to whom did the Word of the Lord come? V. 27. (9) What did the Lord say to the prophet? V. 28. (10) What prophecy in the first roll had given special offense to the king? V. 29. (11) What special judgment should come upon the king? V. 30; Jer. 22:18, 19. (12) Upon whom else should judgment fall? How were these affected by the terrible denunciation? V. 31. (13) What then did Jeremiah do? What was written on this roll? V. 32. Note 4.
NOTES.
1. Attempting to destroy God’s warning.—The king became so disturbed by the rebuke and the warning sent to him in mercy by the Lord that he could not bear even to have it read to him. So he destroyed the roll, or writing, when he had heard but a small portion of its contents. It evidently came squarely across his path, requiring humiliation, confession of sin, and great self-denial. Notwithstanding the fact that Jehoiakim was only a vassal king, placed on the throne by a conquering power, and notwithstanding the poverty of the people as a tribute-paying nation (2 Kings 23:35), he had built for himself a magnificent palace at their expense (Jer. 22:14–19). Such a king would be loath to humble himself at reproof.
2. “Were not afraid.”—The king’s officers were actuated by his spirit, and gave no heed to the warnings of the God of heaven, although three of them interceded with him not to burn the roll.
3. A characteristic command.—As is common with those who are averse to the Word, or law, of God, where it comes as a personal rebuke and call for repentance, the king commanded the punishment of those who were instrumental in the promulgation of the truth. He would fain do with Jeremiah and Baruch as he had done with Urijah.
4. “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.”—It may be neglected, it may be rejected, the parchment upon which it is written may be burned by puny man, but that does not destroy it. As the Author is indestructible, His Word is equally so. And when it has passed through all that man can attempt to do, it comes out unscathed, unaltered. “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.” Ps. 89:34. Man may attempt to alter it, as the prophecy has said he would (Dan. 7:25), and as he has done in many respects; he may attempt to escape it and to hide from it; but it will pursue him, to warn, to instruct, to admonish, to lead, yea, to chastise for his own good; and it will meet him in the judgment as the standard by which his case will be settled forever. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Healthful Living
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HOW TO BE WELL.
By M. E. Olsen
Abundant nourishment, exercise, the avoidance of drugs, and dress which permits of perfect freedom of movement, were among the essentials of health mentioned in our last article. Under the head of nourishment we included pure air and pure water. These laws occupy a prominent place in the health-reform movement.
CALIFORNIA SCENERY, No. 30.—The famous mountain pictured above, stands in the midst of a family of giant peaks, ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 feet above the level of the sea. Its nearer neighbors, coming within a radius of 20 miles, are the Castle Crags, Muir’s Peak, Tamarac Peak, Mount Eleanor, Mount Eddy, Lassen Peak, Bournery Peak, and Bully Chup, all of which are over 6,000 feet in height; but far above them towers the lofty, lonely sentinel of Shasta, with head muffled in perpetual hood of glistening snow. Its peak extends above the snow line about 5,000 feet; its proportions are majestic; its profile, long and sweeping. Mount Shasta stands 14,442 feet above the sea, the highest peak in the Sierra range, and one of the grandest mountains in the world.
Still, there are some other things to be considered. Bodily cleanliness is a very important law. The skin is an excretory organ. It is constantly throwing off poisonous matter, which must be promptly removed, if the body is to be kept in a healthy condition. This necessitates frequent bathing.
Healthful dress involves not only clothing the body so as to admit of perfect freedom of movement, but also includes such a distribution of the clothing as will properly protect all parts of the body from cold.
A mind at peace with God is essential to perfect health. It was sin that first brought disease and death into the world. Sin has always the same blighting effect, and a large proportion of the diseases that are afflicting people to-day have their origin in a disordered state of the mind.
Food in Air.
Let us consider a little more fully the subject of food. The most important of all foods taken up by the body is oxygen, and we obtain this through the air we breathe. A person may live for forty days without food, as has been amply demonstrated by Dr. Tanner and others; he may live upwards of twelve days without water; but he can not live more than a very few minutes without air.
Breathing, therefore, occupies an exceedingly important place among the vital processes. One reason for this is that the lungs are both nutritive and eliminative organs. The blood, in its passage through the body, continually gives off its oxygen, and takes up waste tissue in its stead. Coming back to the lungs charged with these impurities, it throws them off and receives the oxygen furnished by the inspired air.
Breathing is more rapid and also deeper during exercise than when the body is in repose. We see from this the advantage of taking regular exercise in the open air. More oxygen is taken into the system, the blood flows faster, the impurities are thrown off rapidly, and the whole body electrified and invigorated by the life-giving oxygen.
We can not always be out-of-doors in the fresh, pure air of heaven. Civilized man spends a considerable part of his time indoors. This suggests the necessity of ventilating our houses so as to make the air inside as nearly as possible like that without. In the summer weather it is usually sufficient to keep the window wide open. In winter this would cause dangerous drafts, and would make our rooms too cold. Hence some regular system of ventilation must be devised. This is a subject which will be more timely when cold weather sets in.
Some people have a great fear of breathing night air. In their short-sightedness they close the windows of their rooms, thinking in that way to keep out this dreadful foe to health. But how about the air in the room; that is night air too. The only air to be found anywhere after sunset is night air. So let us open the windows wide and breathe pure air at night, as well as in the day.
Air starvation has killed thousands of people. During an East Indian war, 143 English soldiers were confined in a room in Calcutta with only a small opening for air. In the morning all but 23 were found dead, and the survivors looked more like corpses than anything else. The woman who puts on a corset is starving herself of needed air, for the corset restricts the action of the chest muscles, and reduces the working capacity of the lungs.
Outdoor life is the ideal life. During these pleasant autumn months, we should be out under the open heavens as much as possible. Let the children follow their natural instincts. Dress them simply, in strong, durable clothes, and let them play in the grass and under the trees. Let them eat their meals out-of-doors as often as possible. Fill a basket with fresh fruit, some good cream rolls, and other simple things, and let them eat down in the orchard, or some other pretty spot of their own choosing.
That is all very well in the country, some one will say, but how about the people in the city? They are at a great disadvantage, it is true. The crowded, dusty, noisy city is no place for children, but if you are so unfortunate as to be in such a place, don’t keep the children cooped up in the house, anyway. Even if you have but a very little yard, let the children play there. The air out there is better than in the house, and the sun will do them good. Then, as often as possible, take them to one of the beautiful parks, and carry the lunch-basket along.
There is real health in a draught of air. So let us breathe deeply, and supply ourselves with an abundance of what God has so freely provided. That dread disease, consumption, which is increasing at an alarming rate, is largely induced by improper breathing, and by living in close, poorly-ventilated rooms.
Most people give their stomachs plenty of food; some eat too much, especially in warm weather, when the system really needs much less food than in winter; but very few people give their lungs a sufficient supply of air. It is an excellent plan, followed by some, to take one hundred or more deep breaths daily. Proper breathing will improve the digestion, invigorate the mind, and stimulate to healthful activity all the organs of the body.
M. E. OLSEN.
SUBDUED THE VIRAGO.
While Spurgeon was still a boy preacher, he was warned about a certain virago, and told that she intended to give him a tongue lashing. “All right,” he replied, “but that’s a game at which two can play.” Not long after, as he passed her gate one morning, she assailed him with a flood of billingsgate.
He smiled and said: “Yes, thank you, I am quite well. I hope you are the same.”
Then came another burst of vituperation, pitched in a still higher key, to which he13replied, still smiling: “Yes, it does look rather as if it is going to rain. I think I had better be getting on.”
“Bless the man!” she exclaimed, “he’s as deaf as a post. What’s the use of storming at him?” and so her ravings ceased and were never again attempted.—Exchange.
SMILE
“WHEN things don’t go to suit you,
And the world seems upside down,
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Since life is oft perplexing,
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JUST ENOUGH AND NO MORE.
An old colored servant once told General Washington the secret of life in a few homely words. Said he, “Gin’ral, if you want a good night’s sleep, set up de night befo’.” In other words, if you desire keen senses and lively enjoyment in the commonplace acts which constitute nine-tenths of life, stint yourself.
Give every normal want a reasonable gratification only. Moderation is the golden mean between indulgence and asceticism. A broad knowledge and general application of economics constitute the science of living.
To illustrate: If you stint your diet, such food as you do take will be received gratefully by a stomach which has accumulated surplus energy. Every organ in the body will be eager and work hard for its supply of pabulum. Assimilation is therefore improved. A satisfied stomach means a healthy liver, regular bowels, sound and resistant nerves, dreamless and refreshing sleep.
Just the right amount of exercise means a healthy degree of fatigue, even distribution of blood, and a relief of nervous tension, predisposing to rest and recuperation. Too much exercise causes active congestions and undue nervous exhaustion; too little exercise results in passive congestions and accumulative nervous irritability.—Medical Brief.
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DAILY BREAD.
By Frank G. Tyrrell
Not cake, or pie, or any other stomach-disturbing, dyspepsia-producing pastry, but bread—light, nourishing, healthful bread—is what these bodies need, and they need it every day, and at every meal. No difference how elaborate the menu, the most sumptuous banquet would be incomplete without bread.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” “I am the Bread of life.” What did Christ mean by saying that He is the Bread of life?—He meant that, as bread is necessary to keep life in the body, so He is necessary to keep life in the soul. We feed upon Him by faith, and by daily studying His character and imitating His life. We find a clear and accurate conception of Him, not in sermons or commentaries, but in the Divine Word.
The Bible is like the oil and the meal; we may feed upon it daily, but it never grows less, neither do we tire of it. We soon have enough honey, and condiments grow flat and stale, but did you ever hear of the man who had enough bread?
Study the Bible daily; it is the most wonderful collection of books the world ever saw. The poetry and history and biography of your library may touch the heart and sway the judgment and move the will, but when I want a literature that has moved and moulded humanity; a literature that brings joy for grief, smiles for tears, love for hate, virtue for vice, light for darkness, life and immortality for death and decay—when I want such a literature, give me the Bible.
Think of the power that inheres in the divine Word. In the beginning the Word of God drew back the black curtain of chaos, and poised planets and stars on their turning-poles, set their satellites, and appointed their orbits. All the splendors of creation are but tokens of the power of God’s Word.
But it is in redemption and salvation that its omnipotence is revealed. And it is this most glorious theme that evokes our greatest admiration, and calls for the most sedulous study. It is this that prompts the prophet to exclaim, “Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jer. 15: 16.
—Frank G. Tyrrell.
RESULT OF EARLY TRAINING.
ELIZABETH, N. J., Sept. 19.—John Edgeworth, a milkman, owns the faithful old horse that had run with Truck Company No. 2 to hundreds of fires. At 5 A.M. box 12 struck for a fire at Elizabethport.
The old horse, in his barn at Lindon, four miles away, heard the alarm and began to demolish the barn.
He tore down the manger, kicked down the partition and door, and, with a shrill neigh, galloped all the way to the truck house, where he found the company gone. He sniffed the fire and ran to it. The firemen gave him several cheers and petted him.
When the fire was out he galloped to police headquarters, two miles up town, evidently to report. He was fastened to a lamp-post, where his owner found him two hours later.—N. Y. Journal.
JUST FOR TO-DAY.
By T. L. Cuyler
LET us not climb the high wall till we get to it, or fight the battle till it opens, or shed tears over sorrows that may never come, or lose the joys and blessings that we have, by the sinful fear that God will take them away from us. We need all our strength and all the grace God can give us for to-day’s burdens and to-day’s battle. To-morrow belongs to our heavenly Father; I would not know its secrets if I could. It is far better to know whom we trust, and that He is able to keep all we commit to Him until the last great day.—T. L. Cuyler, D.D.
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS.
By Josephine L. Jones
Estate of Eliza W. Mattingly, deceased.
Notice is hereby given by the undersigned Administratrix of the estate of Eliza W. Mattingly, deceased, to the creditors of and all persons having claims against the said deceased, to exhibit them with the necessary vouchers within four months after the first publication of this notice, to the said Administratrix, at the office of Sam Bell McKee, 957 Broadway, Oakland, California, which said office the undersigned selects as her place of business in all matters connected with said estate of Eliza W. Mattingly, deceased. JOSEPHINE L. JONES, Administratrix of the estate of Eliza W. Mattingly, deceased. Dated Oakland, Nov. 1, 1898.
