WHAT a quaint picture we have before us of Jerome in his study. The large hat with its cord and tassels hanging on the wall, and hung beside it the great hour glass, which was perhaps his only time keeper; the wooden settee, and the long wooden shelf, with their plain looking cushions, so different from the fancy cushions of today; the few ponderous volumes to be seen; the lioness and her cub (perhaps, only in statuary); the antique table, or writing desk; and the old monk writing with his quill pen—all speak to us of a time long ago. And so it was, for Jerome was born about three hundred years after Christ left this earth and went to heaven; and now, to count back, we find it was more than fifteen hundred years ago, that Jerome first saw the light.
After an early education at home, he was sent to Rome to finish his studies, and there he was placed under the care of some notable instructors, he made good progress in Latin, philosophy, and law. At this time he spent his Sundays visiting the catacombs, those great subterranean vaults with the dark, winding passages leading to them, which are found under the city of Rome. In these dark, dismal places, many of the martyred saints were buried, and there, amongst the dead, many of God’s dear persecuted people found a hiding place, when cruel Emperors, who sought to put them to death, were in power. Into these dark recesses, Jerome would go on Sundays and hunt the graves of martyrs, and when he found them would study out the strange inscriptions which marked them.
When his school days were over he returned home, but did not remain there long. He was now a scholar with a scholar’s tastes and cravings for knowledge.
He went to a certain city, and settled down to literary work; but it was not a great while until he and several of his companions planned a long tour in the East. They started on their journey, visiting Athens, Galatia, Pontus and other cities, familiar by name to those who read the Scriptures. When they reached Antioch they remained for some time. While there, one of the party got sick with some fever, and died; and Jerome was dangerously ill. This illness brought him face to face with death and eternity; and in this moment of his extremity, God spoke to his soul. He then resolved, that he would renounce whatever held him back from God. But there was one great temptation for him, and that was his desire to study the literature of pagan Rome. In his dreams, God reproached him with caring more to be a follower of Cicero than a follower of Christ.
He did not like the style of the Scriptures, but he prayed, “O Lord, Thou knowest that whenever I have and study Secular manuscripts, I deny Thee.” So he resolved to devote his time and talent to the study of the Holy Scripture. In order to do this more perfectly he went off into a waste place and betook himself to a hermit life along with some other monks, who in their solitary cells spent lonely lives, scorched by the sun, ill-clad and scantily fed; and in such surroundings he pondered portions of the Scriptures, or copied manuscripts for his own meditation. He also began to study Hebrew. And, while in his lonely cell, spent part of his time in writing.
About that time a controversy arose, and Jerome left his hermit life to take part in it. In this way he was brought to the notice of the leading men of his day, and when it became known that he was a fine scholar in Hebrew and Greek and Latin, it was suggested to him that he should revise the Latin Bible which was in use at that time; and to this task he henceforth devoted his great abilities. The result of his arduous labors was the Latin translation of the Scripture, which afterwards became the Vulgate, or authorized version.
Besides this great work, Jerome did much literary work; and he also indulged in many controversies.
He was certainly a man of remarkable ability and of untiring zeal. And while there was that in his life which is not commendable, he may well be an example for all, in this, that he turned away from that which was naturally pleasing to him, and which offered a fine field for his ambition, in order to devote himself to the study of the Scriptures.
Let me repeat again his prayer. “O Lord, Thou knowest that whenever I have and study secular manuscripts, I deny Thee.” Think of it, dear young reader. How many of you, if really honest with God, would be ready to say, O Lord, Thou knowest when I go here or there—or when I do this or that—I DENY THEE. Do we not many times deny Jesus in our ways and words and companionships? How solemnly His words should come home to our souls.
May we, each one, with like self-denial to that of Jerome, turn from other things to read and ponder God’s word. If we do, we will find it a mine of wealth.
Treasures of wisdom and knowledge are there, whose value is greater than that of rubies or fine gold. Men go through hardship and peril, hazarding their lives often, for the treasures of earth which perish.
If only we will search with earnestness and prayer for the imperishable treasures stored in God’s blessed word, we will find what will be of value to us throughout eternity.
ML 03/30/1902