Cold, dull December had come round once again, and with it its usual hard gales, causing terrible shipping disasters, many an anxious night to care-worn mothers who had sons tossing on the sea; making widows and fatherless children, and breaking up many happy homes. It was blowing hard and cold one evening as I was sitting snugly with my rug round me, on the top of a Clapham omnibus, on my way home, after a day's work in the city. I could not help thinking of the poor sailors who were fighting with the gale, and, remembering them before the One who, with a gentle "Peace, be still!" quelled the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. In the midst of my prayer the omnibus stopped, and a weather-beaten, good-natured looking sailor mounted on to the box by my side. My offering him part of my rug and remarking the state of the weather led to a conversation, which I am sure will, while here, be stamped on my memory, and which I hope will be greatly blessed by the Lord to those who read it.
"We have had some hard gales, my friend,”
I remarked, "have you been in many bad ones?”
"Yes, indeed, I have, and am now pretty used to them," my nautical friend replied, "but I have never had such a narrow escape as I did last voyage out to the States, and will tell it to you if you like to hear it, sir, as it is well worth hearing.
"We left Liverpool in the fine steamship —on Saturday afternoon, and with smooth water and fine weather were soon plowing the dark blue waves of the North Atlantic. The captain seemed pleased at the rapid progress we had made, and said he felt sure we would make a famous run out. The passengers were chatting in groups, some young men were busily speculating on their prospects out in the New World, old ones were talking about the state of the Old Country; they had just left, while their wives were discussing domestic affairs, and the hard-worked stokers were up getting a breath of air and chatting with the engineers about the probable number of days they would be on the passage out; when all were startled by a loud explosion, and almost blinded by volumes of steam which came rushing up from the hold of the vessel.
"Wild confusion followed; the women shrieked, the children cried, the men rushed wildly about trying to find out the cause of the explosion, and, altogether, it was a heart-rending scene. In the midst of it all the engineer announced that one of the main pipes had burst, and that in a few minutes, unless somebody. went below, at the risk of his own life, and turned some tap in connection with the pipe, they would all be blown up. Immediately there was a frantic rush for the bows and stern of the steamer, all trying to get as far from the boilers as they could. Moments (which seemed like hours) went slowly by. Again the engineer cried out those terrible words, telling the people that unless some one risked his life and turned off the tap they all would be lost. Again interminable moments went by; shrieks and prayers, mingled with oaths, broke the silence.
"At last a poor stoker, whom we never thought much of, stepped forward, and, with some canvas wrapped round him, went below. All was now still. Suddenly the escape of steam and bubbling ceased, and the engineer and one or two volunteers went down, and then they saw the tap turned and the poor noble stoker lying by the side of it quite dead, having been scalded to death. All the ship's crew and passengers were saved by a poor despised one, who lost his life in doing it.
"What do you think of that, sir? Was not that wondrous love? I tell it to all I can, and can never be tired of praising the poor fellow up. Good night, sir, I come to an anchor.”
Here my nautical friend left me, pondering over the love of the poor stoker who had become the savior of the ship's crew and passengers, at the cost of his own life.
Let us pause here, dear reader, and compare our own condition with that of the passengers. They were, to all appearances, on a doomed ship. All, yes, one and all, were expecting every moment to be blown into the sea. Did not they need a savior? Indeed they did, and found one in a poor stoker, who gave up his own precious life to save them.
And we are a sinful doomed world, getting nearer and nearer to an awful judgment day. Every moment that passes draws us nearer to the end. Do not we need a Savior? Yes, indeed we do, and we have one, even the Son of God, who left the Father’s home on high, where He had been from all eternity, took upon Him the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of man, and trod a path of trial and woe, which led Him only to the cross. There He freely offered up His precious life, bearing the sins of many, black and vile as they were, putting them all forever away. Then taking life again, and rising from the dead, He is gone back to the right hand of God; being made, unto us who believe, our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)).
And now, dear reader, He does not want you to build towers of good works, like Babel of old, to escape the coming judgment, but simply to have faith in Himself, and then, not only do you receive eternal life, but you are made one with Him; as it is written "As he is, so are we, in this world" (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)). A robe of perfect righteousness is yours, as the little hymn. says:
"Clad in this robe, how bright I shine
Angels possess not such a dress;
Angels have not a robe like mine;
Jesus the Lord's my righteousness.”
He who is now in the glory will soon leave it to meet in the air all those who love Him, and take them, His own blood bought ones, to be forever with Himself. I pray you not to refuse Him: you may be black with sin, having led a life far from Him, if so, you need Him the more, and, coming, will not get a refusal from Him. I beseech you to come to Him now, in this day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)), while the door is open, or you may be too late, and only hear those awful words "DEPART FROM ME." If you come to Him just as you are, you will find perfect peace, and, like the poor sailor whom I met, delight to tell your friends about your Savior; "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
"Oh! what has Jesus done for me?
He pitied me—my Savior.
My sins were great; His love was free;
He died for me—my Savior.
Exalted by His Father's side,
He pleads for me—my Savior.
A heavenly mansion He'll provide
For all who love my Savior.
Jesus, Lord Jesus,
Thy name is sweet—my Savior.
When shall I see Thee face to face,
My wondrous, blessed Savior?
The day will come, 'twill surely come,
So Thou hast said—my Savior;
When in Thy glory Thou'lt return,
My holy, gracious Savior.
'Tis then I'll see Thy very face,
And be with Thee forever;
And, through the riches of Thy grace,
I shall be like my Savior.
Jesus, Lord Jesus.
Thy name is sweet—my Savior.
Then quickly come, and take us home,
Thou wondrous, glorious Savior!”
W. S. W.