A MISSIONARY, who is working amongst foreigners in London, mentions the following fact in one of his journals: —
A large crew of Italians, who received me very kindly, eagerly seized the tracts and portions of Scripture which I had for them, and listened with pleasing attention while I read to them a chapter of the holy Word. When I had finished, one of the sailors went to his chest and brought me a Bible, saying, in Italian, “It is two years since this holy Book was given to me. In it is the truth, and the whole truth; in reading it I read the truth. I have read it much, very much, and some of it I have learned by heart.”
Being desirous of finding out what good he had got from it, I inquired, “Have you tasted of the mercy of God?”
“Yes, I hope I have.”
“Well, by whom are we saved?”
“By Jesus Christ, through faith without works, because it is written (and this he quoted from memory), ‘We are saved by grace, through faith, which is the gift of God.’ ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.’” I further inquired, “Who has taught you so much precious truth?”
He replied, “I have had no teacher but this holy Book.”