Scribing & Supplies

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..he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days..
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 

I have been much persuaded that this may prove a sweet and profitable exercise for my dear wife and me, namely, to begin scribing the Holy Scriptures with our own hands, copying them word for word. My heart is much drawn unto the undertaking; for whilst the eye reads, the tongue utters, and the hand writes down each sacred word, the mind is constrained to dwell and remain where otherwise it might too quickly pass along. 

This is indeed no new practice; yet methinks there is something precious in thus sitting deliberately beneath the Word, taking it, as it were, morsel by morsel. Many have found great profit in such an exercise, discovering things which a hasty eye might have passed unnoticed, and finding their affections more closely bound unto the Scriptures themselves.

We have likewise purchased a fresh supply of Bibles, which, God willing, shall be freely distributed amongst the people at our Street Meetings. My heart rejoiceth much at the thought that these sacred volumes shall soon pass from our hands into homes presently unknown to us. May the Lord Himself go before them, and bless those into whose hands His Word shall come.

I doubt not there will be some, even amongst believers, who shall account such giving somewhat imprudent. What assurance have ye that these people will read them? What if the books be neglected, laid aside, or little valued? Is it wisdom to purchase them at such expense, only to give them away without any guarantee of their use? But hath not such reasoning been heard before? There were those who beheld three hundred pence worth of precious ointment poured upon the head of Christ and called it waste. What indignation arose over that which seemed so lavishly spent upon Him! Yet what men accounted waste, our Lord received as love. It is waste only unto him who loveth not.

And therefore, if any should ask me what guarantee I possess that these Bibles shall be read, treasured, or rightly used, I can give but this answer: Christ is our guarantee. Nothing bestowed upon Him is wasted. Not even a cup of cold water. For tell me, what assurance have we that the many who already sit within our churches return unto their homes and diligently search the Scriptures sitting idly upon their shelves? The possession of a Bible hath never guaranteed the reading of it. Shall I therefore withhold the Scriptures from another because I cannot first obtain a promise that he will study them?

God forbid. I would rather place His Word within the home of one into whose heart the seed of the Gospel hath but newly been planted, though I know not what shall afterwards become of it, than leave that home without the Scriptures at all. Perhaps the Bible shall lie unopened for a season. Perhaps many days shall pass before the hand which received it thinketh again upon what was preached. Yet it is there. The seed hath been sown, and the written Word hath entered the house. What God may afterwards do with either belongeth unto Him. Our part is to sow freely, give freely, and leave the increase unto the Lord. 

God so loved, that He gave.
John 3:16

And surely, if our giving springs from love unto Him, we shall be less troubled with considering how little may suffice, and more desirous that what hath freely come from His hand should freely pass through ours. If it be for the LORD, what is the cost that we should much regard it? Love sits not down to count what may safely be spared before it pours out its offering. When once the heart hath seen the worthiness of Christ, the price seemeth a small thing. The question is no longer, What wilt this cost me? but rather, Is He not worthy of it all?

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