SOME years ago, during the hot season, in the city of C —, in Bengal, I went as usual to our weekly Bible reading, held in a room which was situated in one of the principal thoroughfares of the place.
Few came up punctually, as the great heat at that time of the year prevented many from attending.
After a short time two young men entered the room; one, a fine-looking Eurasian, whose countenance bore a calm and solemnized appearance. Seating himself at the table, with a Bible in front of him, he narrated the following account of what the Lord had done for his soul: ―
“Some months ago I was a terrible drunkard. After one of my drunken fits, I was so miserable that I determined to destroy myself; and so, after having procured a rope, I adjusted it on the beam of my hut, and placing a stool underneath I proceeded to put the fatal noose round my neck, I then mounted the stool, and was just about to kick it from under me, when the rope catching my topi (Indian sun-hat), knocked the hat off. As it fell I noticed a piece of paper, on which my eye discerned something about the things of God. Conscience-stricken, I got down off the stool, and found my way into a prayer-meeting which was being held over the way. There I found peace, and am now rejoicing in Christ my Saviour.”
Thus, dear reader, does God choose “things which are despised to bring to naught things that are.” This shred of paper was doubtless torn from a tract which the Indian hat-maker had used for stuffing the pith frame, which is so placed as to allow a current of air to pass under the hat; and the Lord used this insignificant little bit of paper to the salvation of a soul! Truly, “how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)).
E. C. J.