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III. The Power of God's Word Over the Human
Affections.
In thousands of instances men and women have been stretched
upon the "rack," torn limb from limb, thrown to the
wild beasts, and have been burned at the stake rather than abandon
the Bible and promise never again to read its sacred pages. For
what other book would men and women suffer and die?
More than two hundred years ago when a copy of the
Bible was much more expensive than it is in these days, a peasant
who lived in the County of Cork, Ireland, heard that a gentleman
in his neighborhood had a copy of the New testament in the Irish
language. Accordingly he visited this man and asked to be allowed
to see it, and after looking at it with great interest begged
to be allowed to copy it. Knowing how poor the peasant was the
gentleman asked him where he would get his paper and ink from?
"I will buy them," was the reply. "And where will
you find a place to write?" "If your honor will allow
me the use of your hall, I'll come after my day's work is over
and copy a little at a time in the evenings." The gentleman
was so moved at this man's intense love the the Bible that he
gave him the use of his hall and light and provided him with
paper and ink as well. True to his purpose and promise, the peasant
labored night after night until he had written out a complete
copy of the New Testament. Afterwards a printed copy was given
to him, and the written Testament is preserved by the British
and Foreign Bible Society. Again, we ask, what other book in
the world could obtain such a hold upon the affections and win
such love and reverence, and produce such self-sacrificing toil?
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