It was before the days of radio, and weather forecasting was scarce and not very accurate. Captain Oldrey was commander of the Hyacinth, a goodly vessel working up for the Barbadoes.
He had been on deck and had commented that it was the finest weather he had witnessed in that climate. Now he was admiring the beauty of the evening.
The atmosphere of the horizon was perfectly clear. Not a cloud obscured the sky; nor was there the least probability of a change as far as could be judged from any appearance observable in the heavens or on the ocean.
Going below to his cabin, the captain flung himself upon a sofa. A minute or two afterward, glancing at a barometer suspended near, he observed that the mercury was falling.
This was a time when he would not ordinarily have thought of consulting the instrument for any purpose. So strange did he think the circumstances that he rubbed his eyes, imagining he was deceived. Still the mercury fell. He rose from the sofa and approaching the instrument, discovered that the quicksilver was falling with a perceptible motion.
He went again on deck but the weather was as lovely as before. He descended again to his quarters and shook the instrument. Still the descent continued. A fall so rapid and remarkable, of which he had never seen a parallel instance, convinced him that something was about to happen.
He called the first lieutenant and master, and stated what he had seen. These officers protested that no storm could be likely, with sea and sky so clear and beautiful.
The captain was not of their opinion. The falling of the barometer indicated a storm, and it was his duty to prepare for one with speed and energy proportioned to the singular rapidity of the indication. He ordered everything to be instantly made snug, the topmasts to be struck, and all to be cleared or secured upon deck.
Night had closed in by the time operations on board ship were about completed. Captain Oldrey did not relax until all preparation for the worst was accomplished to his satisfaction. An hour or two elapsed, and his mind was at rest with the reflection that his ship was as ready as possible for whatever might come.
Suddenly he had proof of the value of the barometric warning. The storm struck and reached its peak almost at once. The wind blew with a fury so great that the sea could not rise into waves, but became one vast plain of foam, on which the ship lay driving furiously along. Providentially, there was ample sea room.
Such is the narrative. Why is it given here now? Listen. The Holy Scriptures are the barometer which warns of a coming storm, the storm of God's wrath and judgment soon to be loosed on this scene.
Scoffers scoff and mockers mock! They say: "Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Peter 3:44And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4). To them the sky is clear; there is no probability of change. All will go on as it has gone on. They have no fear. They close their eyes to the knowledge of the many upheavals which the earth has known. They hear not the voice of the deluge which once overwhelmed the world that then was. They harden their hearts, and in their folly go on, themselves deceived and deceiving others.
But God's barometer gives plain warning. Hear its solemn declaration: Because "there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke." Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18).
Now is your time to escape. Now is your only time to prepare. Tomorrow may be too late.
"SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE
MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE
UPON HIM WHILE
HE IS NEAR.”