ONE afternoon, when visiting a few houses with gospel papers, I knocked at a door, and was invited inside. The woman, to my surprise, refused to accept the little book, saying, “We don't take in any of those; we are Catholics"; adding, "There is only one Church."
“And what is that?” I said.
“The Roman Catholic," said she.
"Well," I said, "if there is only one Church, and you are in it, and I am not, how am I to get in?”
“Oh!” she said, “you must go to the priests and ministers of religion."
“Well," replied the woman,” that may be; but the Bible is a dead book; it is not fit for you and me to read."
“But listen again. These are the words of the Lord Jesus: ' The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.' (John 6:6363It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63).) So how can the Bible be a dead book? "
It was in vain that I told her I believed the words of the Lord Jesus, and had everlasting life, according to John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), and also how blessed and important it is for each one to read the precious truth of God for himself, for to her the Bible was not the Word of God, but a DEAD BOOK. G. S.