THE sun was shining brightly; the sea was calm, and deeply tinted with the azure hue of the almost cloudless sky above; the air soft and mild, and everything betokened a lovely summer’s day. It was a day annually kept as a public holiday by the inhabitants of the small town in which the circumstance occurred that I am about to relate. This day had doubtless been looked forward to by many with great eagerness and delight, when the long-talked-of excursion was to be made, and the numerous plans carried out which had been formed for spending the day in the pleasantest and most agreeable manner possible. The shops were closed; the streets thronged with gaily-dressed people; flags were hoisted; bands of music paraded the town, and everything wore the aspect of gaiety.
But what was to be the end of all this gaiety and pleasure-seeking? Alas! for the pleasures of this world—how vain and fleeting are they! they last but for a moment, and then vanish as smoke!
Between five and six o’clock in the evening two men went out in a sailing-boat; they had proceeded about two-miles from the land when a slight breeze sprang up, and the cap of one of the men was blown into the water. In order to pick it up it was necessary to turn the boat; and in doing so, through some mismanagement, it capsized, and both men were plunged into the sea. A small fishing-boat at some distance, seeing what had happened, gave the signal of distress, and instantly boats were put off from the shore to their assistance. All this time the two men were struggling in the water. At first they both contrived to hold on to the bottom of the boat; but one being at last carried to some distance by the waves, was unable to regain the boat, and rapidly sank to rise no more. His companion, after being washed off the boat six times, succeeded in maintaining his hold until another boat arrived, only just in time to rescue him, for he said afterward that his hands were slipping off, and that he felt sure he could not hold on many minutes longer. The poor man was brought on shore in a state of insensibility, and it was some time ere hopes of his recovery could be entertained—the doctor himself saying that if he had remained in the water one minute longer he must have died.
Oh! what a gloom was now cast over the town, which a few hours before had been the scene of so much mirth and joy. As the bystanders watched the boat from the shore, smoothly gliding over the surface of the sea, little did they think that in less than an hour from that time one of the two men it contained would be no more, and the other on the very brink of destruction! and still less, perhaps, did that man think as he stepped gaily into the boat, that ere another hour had flown he would be ushered into eternity.
Oh! thy dear young friends, let me ask you this one solemn question, Are you ready, should you be called away at a moment’s notice? Oh! if not, let this little incident be to you as a solemn voice, saying, “Be, ye also ready.” Now is the day of grace; now is the time of mercy; but this day, this time will not last forever; it is quickly passing away, and there is a day of judgment coming, and then it will be too late! When that poor man found himself struggling in the water, he had neither time nor power then to think of his soul’s salvation. And, oh! how fearful is the doom of all those who perish unsaved—nothing but everlasting misery awaits them! Let me entreat you to take this warding—listen to the word of God, “Today, if ye will hearken to my voice, harden not your hearts.” “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near.”
It is remarkable that the man who was drowned was an excellent swimmer, whilst the one who was saved could not swim at all. The former was said to be the best swimmer in the neighborhood, and noted amongst his companions for his extraordinary feats in swimming, and skillful management of a boat. Bat of what avail was all his skill and prowess in the hour of danger, when he most needed it? It did not save him. Just before he sank he was seen trying to swim; but it was no use; he had no power; and in a few moments the waters closed over him, and his body has never been seen since! Now, dear reader, mark this! — all this poor man’s efforts to save himself were useless; and just so it is with you; all you can do, or try to do, to save yourself is utterly useless; your works (be they ever so good in the sight of men), your prayers, your tears, your repentance, are of no avail in God’s sight for the salvation of your soul. No! Jesus Christ has done all for you, and the salvation of your soul is now a finished work; and when you seek to add anything of your own to it, you are only endeavoring to rob Christ of the glory which belongs to him, and him alone.
But how was the other man saved? By clinging to the boat. And why did he cling to the boat? Because he felt himself drowning. The sea was raging around him—he could not swim, and he felt he could do nothing to save himself; the boat was his only safety.
Now, dear reader, whoever you may be, young or old, if you are still careless as to the salvation of your soul, let me tell you in love that you are just in as helpless a condition as was this drowning man. You are going on from day to day, having your thoughts, your affections, your hopes, centered in a world which lies under a curse, under the power of the wicked one, and upon which judgment must be poured out sooner or later. The word of God tells us that we are by nature “dead in trespasses and sins,” “the children of wrath.” How, then, can we save ourselves? Would it be any use for a dead man to try to help himself? Of course not. Neither can you do one single thing to save yourself. But what a mercy it is to know that God does not require you to do anything—all has been done for you; Jesus has accomplished everything for you; and when he was upon the cross he uttered those precious words, “It is finished,” showing that nothing more was needed, but that the work of redemption was forever completed.
Now, just as the drowning man clung to the boat, so must you cling to Jesus. He is the only Saviour, the only refuge from the wrath of God. By giving up his life, and shedding his blood upon the cross, he has forever made a perfect atonement for your sins; and now he only requires you to believe this, and to receive his message of mercy into your heart: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, path everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” If that man had not felt that he was drowning, he would not have clung so firmly to the boat; and it is because you do not feel your utterly lost condition as a sinner that you do not cling to Jesus. Oh! go to him at once; make no delay; cast yourself upon him in your sins, just as you are. He is ever ready to receive all who come to him. His own word is, “Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out.” “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” “He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and, milk without money and without price.” Now, these are God’s own words. Will you turn a deaf ear to them, and refuse his gracious invitations? Oh! despise not his warnings; and when you have read this little paper, do not throw it aside carelessly, and forget all about it, but think-over it, and remember it is God’s message to your soul, and you do not know that you will ever have another. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Think of those solemn words spoken by Jesus Christ himself, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”