In this favored land of ours, where the Bible may be read by everybody without interference, boys and girls at in danger in not setting a proper value on the privilege which they enjoy. It was not always so, there were dark days once when those who read God’s Word often suffered much, as the following incident will show.
In the year 1537 “Matthews Bible,” as it was called, was issued. It was not complete, as it only contained the New Testament and a part of the Old.
The King having authorized it to be read in the churches, people flocked to hear it, among them a boy named William Maldon, who went every Sunday to listen.
But William’s father did not like the Bible, and was very angry when he knew that his son had listened to its being read, and forbade him to go to church again. The boy, however, longed to know more of what the precious Book contained, so set himself the task of learning to read. This he was soon able to do; and, with the help of his father’s apprentice, he bought a copy.
The two boys used to hide it under their straw bed, and at night-time would, with great pleasure, read it together.
This was soon found out, for William, in talking to his mother one evening, made a remark about the death of Jesus, which surprised and enraged her. She at once went and told the father, who, when he heard it, became very angry, and took poor William and beat him so tin mercifully that he almost killed him.
Instead of resenting such cruel treatment, William was filled with joy at being counted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake.
May you, dear boys and girls, learn to value God’s Word more, so that you may know something of the joy of reading it.
How good if it could be said of you, “From a child thou host known. The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.
“Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine ... . Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” 1 Tim. 4:13, 15.
ML 12/08/1940