III. The Power of Gods 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?