ABOUT twenty-five years ago, a young man, in the course of business, had occasion to visit a trading vessel from the Baltic, at that time lying in one of the ports of the Bristol Channel. He observed, on boarding her, that everything was in excellent “trim,” as a sailor would say; but it was upon entering the cabin that he saw what so deeply impressed him. Painted, in letters of gold, on a beam, in the most prominent place that could be found, were the following words, “SOLI DEO GLORIA” (To God alone the glory).
It was the captain’s delight to explain the meaning of these words, and to give his reason for placing them there, to all who came on board his vessel. Even the German cabin-boy was called to tell, in his mother tongue, what the words expressed―To God alone the glory! What for? For a double salvation― the salvation of his body from a watery grave, of his soul from the jaws of hell. As nearly as memory will permit, let us hear his own tale, and see if it has no voice to us.
The Captain’s Story.
“Some years ago, while serving as mate on board a Baltic trader, we experienced, far away at sea, some very boisterous weather. So violently raged the storm, and so long, that our men became thoroughly worn out by incessant labor at the pumps. The water rapidly gained upon our disabled vessel, and it became sadly evident to everyone on board that she was fast foundering. Our case was utterly hopeless. The master of the ship gave way to despair, and retired to his cabin. At daybreak I climbed into the rigging, and to my great joy descried distinctly a sail on the horizon. At that time I was not a Christian; but it came to my memory that I had, when a boy at school, read somewhere in God’s Holy Word, that faith could remove mountains. I reasoned, therefore, in my mind, that if I could only believe― ‘have faith,’ I should, by means of the vessel just sighted, be saved from our sinking ship. But, immediately afterward, I began to upbraid myself for thus thinking: was it not tempting God? And yet I could not help feeling that it was right to trust Him.
“I descended the rigging in order to convey to the captain the welcome tidings of the vessel just in view. I besought him, with all my energies, to cheer up and come on deck; and, if it were our lot to die, that we should all die together like men. But all my efforts were fruitless; the thought of his desolate family at home, and of his own hopeless condition, seemed to be completely crushing him. He only bade me pour upon the troubled waters some of the oil which we had on board, in order to lessen, if possible, the severity of the seas which were then breaking over us.
“On going back to the deck, I found that the ship we had noticed in the offing had evidently seen our signal of distress. Once more I returned to the captain; but even this pleasing intelligence failed to arouse him. What an anxious time it was! For though the friendly vessel was making her way towards us, ours was settling down, every minute lower and lower, into the water, and at last she sank with every soul on board. Even the boats went down with her. Thus did I find myself beneath the water, with nothing that my hand could lay hold of. In an instant the past became an awful present, as my history seemed to pass in review before me, and with it this thought filled my soul: Oh, that I could reach the surface, and say, Lord, have mercy upon me; for then I think I could die happy! In an instant I felt I was being borne upward. How, I knew not, until I discovered that a large ladder from the ship’s hold, commonly used by the Baltic traders in those days, had, in rising to the top, carried me with it. Thus was my heart’s deep longing speedily granted. ‘To God alone the glory.’”
How touching is this readiness on the part of God to meet any poor sinner that has a wish to turn to Him! Has he not said, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isa. 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24))? How strictly verified in this case! His all-seeing eye penetrates to the depths of the mighty ocean. He knew, oh, how well He knew, all that was passing in that poor sailor’s heart as he sank, within touch of death, in the foundered vessel. Not a word could he utter, but the wish was as well known to God as if uttered with a voice of thunder. Well may He be called. “the God of all grace”― “rich in mercy”― “rich unto ALL that call upon Him”― “not willing that ANY should perish.”
Dear reader, has a heartfelt cry for mercy ever reached His ear from your lips? It is high time to take the question to heart; for be sure of this, that if this “mate’s” cry be not yours in time, the captain’s despair, only a thousand times darker and deeper, will be yours in eternity! A sinner who sinks into the lake of fire will never dream of expressing the sinking seaman’s wish: Oh that I could reach the surface, and cry for mercy!
“Of all hope bereft,
And to judgment left,
Forever to wail and to weep.”
Too late! Awful word! Too late for mercy! Too late forever!
A rejected Savior, an insulted Lord, will be the righteous Judge at the great white throne. If His loving “Come” be blindly refused, His dreadful “Depart” must eternally be endured. When once the eyes are opened, dear reader, how deeply real it all is! But, you know, the rich man opened his in hell (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23))! Are you still unconcerned? Then, I beseech you, ask yourself this question―
“How will my heart endure
The terrors of that day,
When heaven and earth, before His face,
Astonished shrink away?”
Would you really be saved? Are you anxious, even now, to get this solemn question settled? Do, then, what those distressed seamen did in their water-logged vessel. They knew their efforts were useless, that their strength was expended, and their ship a hopeless wreck. What could they do? They could only look outside themselves for succor and safety. And look they did, with longing eyes, to every point of the compass, if perchance a friend, in the hour of need, might anywhere be found. And when at last they saw what they hoped might prove to be one, they found means of making known their deeply-felt need, and hoisted the flag of distress. But, even then, nothing was really assured to them. Would the distant vessel notice them? If she did, would her captain care to go out of his course to help them? And if both had been made sure to them, could their vessel hold out long enough for succor to reach them?
But how different is your case, awakened reader. The Man who once died for sinners upon the cross is seated now, a living Savior, in the glory of God. Still He waits to be gracious to the vilest, and His blessed message still echoes through a dying world: “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isa. 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)). Had that sailor known the truth of this precious message, he need not even have waited to reach the surface. One look of need from his anxious heart would have secured a blessing from that loving Savior instantly! Had he been as many fathoms deep as there were sins in his guilty history, while life remained in his body, and reason on her throne, it would have been just the same. Jesus is “mighty to save” (Isa. 63:11Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (Isaiah 63:1)), and as willing to do it as He is able. Bless His name forever!
But to return to the captain’s story.
“When I reached the surface I found two others of our crew; one was a seaman, a good swimmer, floating about amid small wreckage, the other was our cabin-boy. All three of us now laid hold of the large ladder, and waited with anxiety the approach of the rescuing vessel. Imagine our dismay when we saw her turn her head in another direction to pursue her own course!”
How different was this to the Savior’s word, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” They looked, only to get the most heart-sickening disappointment. But how was this?
“It appeared that they had seen our ship sink, and, mistakenly thinking that they had sailed over the spot without seeing any traces of human life, they turned their helm and proceeded on their own way.”
“Then how were you saved at last?”
“Well, the captain’s mind, it seems, was ill at ease about it. ‘Go back, go back!’ whispered an inward voice. ‘Then for God’s sake let us go back!’ said the chief officer, upon learning from the captain what his feelings were. Accordingly, to our infinite delight, we saw, once more, that their vessel was making her way toward us, and ultimately they picked us up. On reaching the deck of the friendly vessel, I fell on my knees before them all, and thanked God for His merciful deliverance. To God alone I owed it; ‘to God alone the glory.’”
Reader, have you ever thanked God for your salvation―your own salvation? Or are you among the many who are kept, year after year, crying for mercy while clinging to the ten-stair ladder of their own law-keeping? The law is holy, and just, and good! but you are a guilty sinner, and therefore it is written: “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)). But, “by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). It must be salvation first; good works next. Works that flow from the knowledge of the love that has saved me are alone acceptable with Him. Add but a single good work to the Savior’s merits, as a title for heavenly glory, and you diminish by so much the value of His precious blood, the extent of his finished work. May you rather know the blessedness of being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that in is Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)). “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-1412Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:12‑14)). To God alone the glory, for such unbounded, unmerited blessing.