ONE summer, some years ago, a large river in the south of France overflowed its banks, carrying destruction far and wide, washing away whole villages, and large portions of towns, and sending numbers of souls into eternity, with scarcely a moment’s warning. Parents saw their children, and children their parents, drowned before their eyes; husbands had no power to save their wives, nor wives their husbands, and whole families, who, when the sun went down, thought only of peace and safety, were, before morning engulfed in the pitiless flood. What a warning this should be to us, that we cannot count on a moment’s safety, unless we are washed in the precious blood of Christ; when
“The worst that can come,
But shortens our journey, and hastens us home.”
Among the inhabitants of this part of the country, was a mother with her twin babes, whom she loved very dearly; and when the dreadful waters came dashing round her house, rising higher and higher every minute, you may be sure that she tried her best to think of some way of saving them. First she put them in a tub of the kind in which French people wash their clothes, but this soon began to leak, and she saw that there would be no safety for them there.
There was a tall tree growing near the house, and into this she climbed with her two baby-boys. But the upper branches, to which the water was driving her, were too slight to bear the weight which was on them, and she felt them cracking beneath her. As quickly as possible, she tied her children as high in the tree as she could, and then being obliged to let go her hold, she dropped into the water, which closed over her head, and she was drowned.
And now, of what is this mother’s love a faint, but only a faint, picture? You all know, I am sure, Who has said, “A mother may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” O, have you trusted in that love, or are you still careless about it, going on as if it were nothing to you, whatever it might be to others? The story of His love has been often, often told, but it will keep its freshness to all eternity; and those who are saved will never be weary of singing, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:1212Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12).
It is pleasant to, have to tell you that the babes were soon saved by a passing boat; and it is to be hoped that the lives thus spared may not be wasted, but may be devoted, through the knowledge of the love of Christ, to the service of God. T.