QUICKLY the news spread through the village that a large vessel was rapidly nearing the "Church Point," and soon the sea-shore was lined with a large company of eager watchers. A terrible storm was raging, and the angry billows were heaving their foam-crested waves high up in the air, and over the huge rocks which had stood guard for so many years over the little fishing village of—. A dark moving mass was dimly discernible in the distance, rolling and pitching as if at the mercy of the cruel breakers. Arrangements were speedily made to effect communication with the ship by means of the life-saving appliances.
The opportune moment was awaited with feverish anxiety in the deepening darkness of that winter's evening. It was difficult to follow the movements of the vessel, but at last she seemed to be stationary, and, concluding she had grounded, the coast-guard quickly dispatched a rocket, which apparently landed right over the ship. After a few moments' waiting, and no response coming, another and another was fired, with the same result.
Why didn't the sailors take advantage of this timely help? Why didn't they haul in the line?
Why didn't they shout or signal in some way in answer to the efforts being put forth for their rescue? Was there any one on board? Had they all succumbed to the cold rand privation they may have had to endure? These and similar questions agitated the minds of those on shore. Now a cry was raised, "Can't the lifeboat venture out?”
Would the crew dare attempt to face that pitiless blast? Yes, willing hearts and hands were ready to undertake it if there was any possibility of success. The more experienced said, “It is impossible; there is no sea-room, and she will be unable to steer clear of those terrible rocks. Any such attempt must end in disaster. We must wait until the storm abates or daylight breaks." Shortly after midnight there was a partial lull in the tempest, which gradually calmed down as the hours wore on towards morning.
With the first streak of dawn a coble put off to the ship, which was now seen to have grounded on a flat rock about two hundred yards from the shore.
Quickly the coast-guards scaled the ship's side, and scanned the deck from stem to stern, but no sign of human life could they see. Hurrying down, into the after-cabin, a strange sight met their gaze.
Everything was in complete order, and perfectly dry. A large open Bible was lying on the table, and a: watch ticking away by its side. A cat was quietly sitting by the stove, and a canary bird was cozily perched in his cage, but no other signs of life. Continuing the search forward, they met with no better success, there was not one living soul on board. The gale had cleared the decks completely, but all below was dry and undisturbed.
No need now to ask why the appeal from the shore was unanswered. But why did they leave the vessel, where they might have remained with the utmost security? and where were the crew? A man was left in charge of the abandoned ship, and the news was quickly conveyed to the shore.
About mid-day the receding tide left the vessel high and dry, and as we walked around her, and examined her desolate decks and her shattered timbers, we thought of the folly of building one's hopes upon anything in the present scene.
Dear reader, have you ever thought of the wreck-age the prince of this world is making, not with stranded vessels, but with human souls? When this beautiful three-masted barque left her moorings, after receiving her cargo, with her sails gaily spread to the breeze, and everything on board in neat and trim condition, little dreamed the captain and crew of such an ending to their voyage. You may be young, just entering on life's voyage, your buoyant spirit sees no breakers ahead, you joyously picture out a smiling future,—wealth, fame, honor, position, spread themselves out before you, and the prospect looks fair. Pause, dear friend, 'who is that presents this brilliant future to you? (Luke 4:2-122Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Luke 4:2‑12).) Dare you trust him, “who is a liar from the beginning," who plots your destruction? (1 Pet. 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).) You will find the commencement of his course in Gen. 3:1-51Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:1‑5), what he has been doing ever since in Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2), his final doom and destination in Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10). Surely you will never engage yourself to such a master. The very best he can give you, dear unsaved one, however dazzling it may appear, is only like the mirage in the desert, which lures the thirsty traveler on, but never quenches his thirst. Many a promising youth, listening to his "radiant lies," has been led on, step by step, down to the dark shores of infidelity and despair. Listen early to Wisdom's voice; walk in her paths, and you will know what true pleasure is (Prov. 8).
And what about the crew of the ill-fated vessel? Ah! the briny ocean soon told its sad tale. Next day a little boat belonging to her was picked up; and during the next succeeding days the treacherous sea yielded up its prey,—one here and another there, within a radius of a few miles along the coast, the bodies of the poor fellows were washed ashore. And now the facts spoke for themselves,—the sailors, finding themselves amongst rocks in a raging sea, had deemed it wisest to abandon the ship to its fate, and trust to their boat landing them on the shore. Vain hope, and yet, humanly speaking, it was what most would have done under the circumstances. Had they remained in the vessel, they could have walked ashore dry-shod the next day.
We know not what may have transpired before they left the ship. Doubtless they held a solemn consultation before they took the fatal step. It touches a chord in our hearts as we think of that open Bible on the cabin table. Had they held a prayer-meeting? Did they commend themselves to God and the word of His grace? (Acts 20:3232And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32).)
Were they all, or any of them, “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus?” These questions must be left for "that day" to declare (2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)). Not one was left to tell the tale as to why, when, or how they abandoned the vessel. Clearly their safety consisted "in abiding in the ship," as in another case (Acts 27:3131Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. (Acts 27:31)), but they left the place of safety and perished. Such is man's wisdom at its best (1 Cor. 2:66Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (1 Corinthians 2:6)).
The crew numbered thirteen, of whom the most were fine young stalwart men. Friends, were communicated with, and those who were able to come had the mournful duty of following their loved ones to the village churchyard, where their bodies rest till the resurrection. Others of them who had no friends were quietly laid by their side.
There were few tearless eyes in the simple but sympathizing funeral cortege that day, as they slowly wended their way around the Point where the little churchyard lay (Eccl. 7:2424That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? (Ecclesiastes 7:24)).
Dear young friend, in the face of a picture like this, which would you choose,—Satan's glittering bubbles, or heaven's solid realities? earth's honors, fame, wealth, morality, and religion without Christ, or glory, honor, and immortality with Christ?
Just as surely as the mariner has to face the gale in his journey across the trackless deep, so surely will your foundations be tested when the withering blast of God's holy judgment bursts upon you in all its relentless fury. How will your frail vessel of human hopes meet the storm? or where will you find a haven for your poor shipwrecked soul in the day that is coming apace?
Dear friend, choose Wisdom's unfading treasures, which in all their solid grandeur are held out today for your acceptance. Take Jesus at His word (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)); come to Him in your rags (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)), your guilt (Eccl. 3:1515That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)), your wretchedness (Luke 15), your need (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)), and you will be AT ONCE translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)). Instead of being a poor shipwrecked slave of Satan, with the judgment of God overhanging you, you will be a MILLIONAIRE of glory! (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17); 1 Cor. 3:21-2321Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:21‑23).)
Happy are you if you thus listen to Wisdom's voice, “For her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Prov. 3:1717Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)).
G. F. G.