One day, when walking through Wales, Mr. Hone, the author, stopped at a cottage door and found a little girl reading the Bible. He asked for a glass of water, which was quickly brought to him. Getting into conversation with the girl, he asked her how she liked learning her task out of the Bible. "Oh," she said, "it is not a task to read it; I love it." Seeing his surprise, she added, "I thought everybody loved the Bible." The arrow went home. Hone pondered over her remark and began to read the Bible for himself, and from that time read the sacred book constantly. Before long, instead of being an opponent of the Bible, he became one of its strongest defenders, for he, like the child, had learned to love it. DECEMBER 11TH.--Trying to Destroy God's Word. _To read--Jer. xxxvi. 20-32. Golden Text--Isaiah xl. 8._ JOSIAH the last godly King. At his death Jerusalem fell back into corruption. Jeremiah the prophet warns in vain of coming destruction--is hated by nobles--imprisoned by King; bids Baruch write God's words in a roll of a book (ver. 6). I. =The Roll Read= (ver. 20). Hitherto Jeremiah spoke his prophecies. Why written now? To be read in various places while he was shut up (ver. 5), and kept for our instruction. Great excitement this day in Jerusalem. Large assembly of people heard--princes heard and were afraid (ver. 16); King Jehoiachim is told of it. Courtiers round the King tell him what they recollect of the warnings; he is interested--perhaps alarmed. Sends for the roll, hidden in the council chamber. II. =The Roll Burned= (21-26). Picture the King sitting in his study; bright wood fire on the hearth in the winter-house. Jehudi sent to fetch roll. Nobles and other courtiers stand around; the roll is read. The King is angry; after hearing three or four columns he stops the reader, cuts the roll into pieces with penknife, flings them on the fire. Some of princes approve; three try to stop him. The parchment crackles, roll is destroyed. Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah ordered to be imprisoned. Is all over? King could destroy roll, but not God's Word. III. =The Roll Re-written= (26-32). King's efforts all in vain. Man fights in vain against God. King despises the prophecy. Another roll written; more severe judgments. God laughs him to scorn. This is his punishment:--The King shall have no heir to succeed him. He shall have a dishonoured death--no burial. The whole nation shall be severely punished. King of Babylon shall take the people captive. =Lessons.= 1. God's Word shall not return void. 2. The folly of trying to resist God. 3. The certainty of coming judgment for sin. God's Word True.