A violent storm overtook a vessel on one of the lakes. Among the passengers were Volney, the atheist, two men, and several ladies. The danger became imminent, but no one exhibited such terror as Volney, who threw himself on the deck, now imploring, now cursing the captain, and reminding him that he had engaged to carry him safely to his destination. At last, as the probability of their being lost increased, he loaded his pockets with dollars, and prepared, as a last resource, to swim for his life.
One of the men remonstrated with him on his folly, pointing out that he would sink like a piece of lead with so great a weight. After this Volney became so noisy, and was, besides, so much in the way of the sailors, that they pushed him down the hatchway. He, however, soon came up again, having lightened himself of the dollars, and he once more threw himself on the deck, exclaiming with uplifted hands and streaming eyes, "O, my God! My God! What shall I do?”
"What, Mr. Volney!" said one of the passengers; "so you have a God now!" Volney replied, with trembling anxiety;
"O, yes! O, yes!”
He then became so ashamed of himself that he hid from his fellow-passengers, who had previously heard his boastful scoffing against Christianity.
It is comparatively easy, when in health and safety, to protest loudly against the possibility of the existence of a God; it is altogether another thing when grim death stares one in the face. Ah! Be wise, and recognize the truth in time. God is, and your eternal interests depend on your relation to Him. By nature and through actual sin you are His enemy, and there is but one way to that reconciliation with Him in which lies our safety.
Unbelieving reader, will you take Christ as your Savior now?
"We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”