Southern Christian Advocate

THE BIBLE
EFFECTS OF THE BIBLE

I was travelling about four years ago in a remote district in Bengal, and I came to the house of a gentleman belonging to Portugal. I found him reading the Scriptures in the Bengalee to seventy or eighty people, men, women and children, of that country, who were all very attentive. This gentleman told me that he had been led to employ some of his leisure moments in this way. "And, to-morrow," said he, "as you pass my farm, mention my name, and they will procure you a bed; and you will then see the effects of reading the scripture." The next day I called at his estate, where I saw one hundred men, women and children, who had all become converts to Christianity within three or four years. I inquired how they found themselves: they appeared delighted, and thought it a happy thing for them that Europeans had translated the Scripture, that they might read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. I had some intercourse, also, with an official person in that district, and I mention it because some persons tell you that nothing is done by the Missionaries: I asked the Magistrate what was the conduct of these Christians; and he said, There is something in them that does excite astonishment: the inhabitants of this district are particularly known as being so litigious and troublesome, that they have scarcely any matter but what they bring into the courts of justice; but during three or four years, not one of these people has brought a cause against any one, or any one against them."
I mention this to show that Christianity will produce, in all countries, peace and happiness, to those who know the truth as it is in Jesus.—
Lieut. Col. Phipps.