A LITTLE Sunday-scholar, in a town in North America, was one day sent by his mother to buy some soap. When the shop woman had weighed it she was about to tear a leaf out of a large old Bible which lay on the counter, and to wrap the soap up in it. “What are you going to do?” said the little boy, with a look of astonishment: — “do you know that that is a Bible?” “What of that,” answered the shop woman; “it will do very well to wrap up this bit of soap.” “Indeed, ma’am,” replied the child, “you ought not to tear up a Bible for such a purpose.” “Why, child,” said the woman contemptuously, “I bought it on purpose to use as waste paper.” “Bought the Bible, on purpose to make waste paper of it!” “Well, if you like to pay what it cost me, you shall have it.” “Oh, thank you, thank you. I will run to mother, and ask her for the money.”
“Mother, mother,” he called out, “do give me some money.” “What for, dear?” “To buy a Bible. The woman in the shop wanted to tear one up, and I told her she ought not to do it; so she said I might buy it of her. Do, mother, give me some money, that I may save it from being torn up.” “My dear child, I cannot pay for it. I have no money.” The little fellow burst into tears, and returned to the shop. “Mother’s too poor; she has got no money to give me; but I do beg of you, do not tear the Bible. Teacher says it is God’s own word.” “Well, don’t cry, child; if you can bring me its weight in waste paper, you shall still have it.” Delighted with this thought, away he ran again to his mother, and told her all that had passed. She gave him all the old papers she possessed; then he went round to their neighbors, and having collected all they could give him, returned to the shop with the bundle of them under his arm. “Here I am, ma’am,” said he, “and here is all the paper I can get.” “Well, stop a bit, my boy, and I’ll weigh it for you.” The shop woman put the Bible in one scale and the paper in the other. The boy fixed his eyes intently on the scale, awaiting the result with breathless anxiety, when, to his inexpressible joy, the paper outweighed the Bible. “It’s mine,” he shouted, with joy, “that Bible’s mine!” He took it up, and went back to his cottage, calling out, “I’ve got it, mother; I’ve got it; I’ve got the Bible!” He would not have been half so happy had he found the richest treasure hid in the field.
Now, my dear little reader, if you possess a Bible, I would ask you whether you prize it as highly as this little boy did? Can you sincerely say, “The words of thy mouth are dearer to me than thousands of gold and silver”? Do you as truly believe as he did, that it is the word of God? Would you be as sorry as he was if you saw any one tearing or injuring this holy book? And if some of you are not yet possessed of one, do you try as earnestly to get one? and do you feel as happy when you have obtained it?
What made this dear child love his Bible so much? It was because his little heart had been attracted by the love of Him, who said, when on earth, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” It is not only in these loving words that we learn how welcome children are; but we read in the Old Testament, “Those who seek me early shall find me.” Again, “He that findeth me, findeth life;” and many such-like encouraging words. And how blessed it is to know that whether young or old, all are welcome, and none will be cast out that come unto God by him, who died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. He left the glory of his father to seek and save those that are lost; and he still says to such, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” May the reader find eternal rest through faith in his name (John 1:11, 12; 5:24; 20:3111He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:11‑12)
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31); Acts 10:43; 13:38, 3943To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).