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 Bible. 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.”
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 proves its own truth and power to the soul. “My word...that goeth forth out of My mouth...shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:1111So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)).