The Watchman

THE USE OF THE BIBLE.—A little boy had often amused himself by looking over the pictures of a large Bible: and his mother one day said to him, 'John do you know the use of the Bible?' He said, 'No, mother.' 'Then, John, be sure you ask your father,' was the advice his mother gave him. Soon afterwards, when his father came home, John ran up to him, and said, 'I should like to know, father, what is the use of the Bible?' His father said, 'I'll tell you another time, John.' The boy appeared disappointed, and walked away, wondering why his father did not answer the question directly.

A few days after, the father took his son to a house where was a woman very ill in bed, and began to talk to the poor afflicted woman, who said that she had suffered a great deal of pain, but hoped that she was resigned to the will of God. 'Do you think,' said the father, 'that God does right to permit you to feel so much pain.' 'Oh yes,' answered the woman; 'for God is my heavenly father, who loves me, and I am sure that one who loves me so much, would not permit me to suffer as I do, if it were not for my good.' He then said, 'How is it that you find your sufferings do you good?' She replied, 'My sufferings are good for my soul, they make me more humble, more patient; they make me feel the value of the Saviour more, and they make me pray more, and I am sure all this is good for me.' John had been attentive to this conversation, and the tears stood in his eyes while the afflicted woman was talking. His father looked at him, and then said to the woman, 'My good woman, can you tell me what is the use of the Bible?' In an instant, John cast his eyes towards the woman, while his face showed that he was extremely eager to hear her answer. The woman with a stronger voice than before, said, 'Oh, sir, the Bible has been my comfort in my affliction.' 'There, John,' now you know the use of the Bible; it can give us comfort when we most need it.'—Hampshire Gazette.