IT was during the fine summer weather in July 1885 that the steamer C―l sailed, in the ordinary course of her business, from London for Liverpool, having on board, besides her cargo, a number of passengers, some of whom were spending their summer holiday, and had selected this short sea trip as a means of procuring fresh air and change of scene. Among the number was a young man from a large commercial house in London, much respected and esteemed by all who knew him, who was thus making his way to the Lakes, and had carefully devised his way beforehand (Prov. 16:99A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)).
Sailing from London at three P.M. on a Saturday, and having called, as is the custom of these coasting vessels, at Southampton and Plymouth, all went pleasantly enough until the early morning of the following Tuesday, when the C―l encountered a fog in the Bristol Channel, and although the usual precautions were taken, she was run into by the H―a, one of the Royal Navy steamships, and in five minutes sank in fifteen fathoms of water.
The young man above mentioned was awaked, apparently by the collision, and intuitively catching the alarm of immediate danger, he instantly made his way up on deck with literally nothing but his night-shirt, and at once grasping the situation, rushed forward, and taking a leap into the water, soon swam clear of the sinking ship, and so far saved himself from the inevitable consequence of being drawn into the vortex made by the foundering vessel. Then, availing himself of the ready aid of a rope thrown overboard from the H—a, his utmost efforts were called forth in scaling the side of the big ship by hand-over-hand climbing. This he had well-nigh accomplished, when, overcome by the excitement and unwonted exertion, he suddenly let go his hold when close up to the bulwarks, the result being a helpless fall back into what promised to be a watery grave. At this crisis, when all hope of saving himself was completely swept away, his rescue from drowning was effected by a means altogether outside himself, for, by the dexterity known to practiced sailors, a rope was speedily fastened round his body, and he was hauled up safe on deck, a living example of salvation through the intervention of another, and an apt illustration of the verses at the head of this narrative.
Reader, you have doubtless followed in all the circumstances of this short account, and have perhaps considered it only as one of the many stories of sea life with which we are all more or less familiar but may there not be in it a voice for you who, although your body may never have been in jeopardy such as the above described, still, it may be, have never yet woke up to the fact that you are by nature a lost soul, and, further, that you have no more power to save yourself than had the young man in the above narrative? Your danger, too, is imminent, for if not saved now, while you have existence in this world, you will pass out of it into eternity an unsaved soul.
It is not a question of morality, uprightness of character, respectability, faithful and conscientious dealings with your fellow-men, and such like; the fact is, God has concluded all under sin (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), that He may have mercy upon all (Rom. 11:3232For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:32)), and there is no help for it but for you to accept the Remedy, and the only remedy that God Himself has in His love and grace provided, and that remedy is the death of His own beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died once on Calvary’s cross, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)).
The Word of God is very terse and very comprehensive. In Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) we find, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” And in 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) we find what Jesus said, ― “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that HEAHETH my word, and BELIEVETH on him that sent me, MATH everlasting life, and SHALL NOT COME into condemnation, but is PASSED from death unto life.”
Reader! is the sin question an eternally settled matter between yourself and God? Because, remember, if you are not saved, you are still in the condition in which you were born―lost!!! ANON.