"I remember a case in Ireland," related J. N. Darby, "where a Testament had been torn up and the pages thrown to the winds. A poor man found one of the leaves on which he read: " 'And Jesus said:' again, 'and Jesus answered and said:' and so on. The man said to himself: "What! has the blessed Lord said so many things and I did not know them?"
"Struck by these simple but solemn words, ‘Jesus said,' he soon went off to a neighboring town and bought a Testament. He believed what Jesus said, was converted, and was happy in knowing the Savior as his very own Savior.
"But you say, 'How did the poor man know it was true that Jesus said these things? Well, God guides the humble, simple soul. Jesus said it, and His word had power over his soul by grace.
"As I have related to you one history, I will tell you another. I was in a cabin in Ireland where I was known and began speaking to the brother-in-law of the man of the house about Scripture. His niece, a young woman who was present said: "But they tell me, sir, that that is a bad book, and that the devil wrote it."
She was very ignorant, and could not read. I said, "That is a shocking blasphemy. But I will not reason with you. I will read you a bit and you shall tell me yourself if the devil wrote it." I read to her what are called the Beatitudes in the fifth chapter of Matthew: "And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying. Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
"Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
"Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
"I then said, "Well what do you think? Did the devil write that?"
"No, sir!" she answered, "the devil never wrote that; that came from none but the mouth of God."
The word of God had laid hold of her. She lived and died most happy, dying three years after of a fever in a hospital. That is, the word of God proves its own truth and power to the soul."