MIKE AND THE PRIEST

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 20, 1899

MIKE AND THE PRIEST.

SELDOM has a better answer been made than that of a poor Irishman to a priest, while defending himself for reading the Bible.

"But," said the priest, "the Bible is for the priests, not for the likes o' you."

"Ah! but, sir," he answered, "I was reading in my Bible, 'You shall read it to your children;' and, sure, the priests have no children."

"But, Michael," said the priest, "you can not understand the Bible. It is not for you to understand it, my man."

"Ah! very well, your reverence. If I can not understand it, it will do me no harm; but what I can understand does me a heap o' good."

"Very well, Mike," said the priest, "you must go to church, and the church will teach you. The church will give you the milk of the Word."

"And where does the church get it but out of the Bible? Ah! your reverence, I would rather keep the cow myself."—Selected.