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 the Scriptures. His niece, a young woman, who was present said, "But they tell me, sir, that is a bad book, 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, but read you a bit, and you shall tell me yourself if the devil wrote it."
I read to her what are called the beatitudes: "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 which 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." Matt. 5:2-122And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:2‑12).
I then said, "Well, what do you think? Did the devil write that?"
"No, sir," she said, "the devil never wrote that; that came from nothing 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.
J.N.D.
Messages of the Love of God 7/13/1975