“I FEEL like a baby three days old.” These words were spoken by a man standing six feet, over fifty years of age, and of over two hundred pounds weight — rather notable words from such a man. He was a ship’s boatswain, had braved many ocean storms, had been at last rescued from a disabled steamer an hour before she went down, had been brought into Halifax, and thence shipped on a transatlantic steamer, on board which I met him.
There were two shipwrecked crews on board, to whom, with the “Polynesian’s” own crew, opportunity was given to me to preach the gospel. This man listened. The opening verses of John 3. were used “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
At the close of the address an invitation was given to any of the men to come at any time to the speaker’s cabin for conversation about the things of God. This man came that same evening. The question had reached his conscience, “Why had he been saved from that last shipwreck?” and it seemed to have been answered to him, “To hear the gospel that day.” “Ye must be born again” seemed to be the Word lodged in his conscience. God’s word had its own power and was doing its own work.
There were subsequent conversations. At one of these he said, “I feel like a baby three days old.” What could one do but wonder and admire and praise that divine power which had made this stalwart man to bow and own himself but as a newborn babe. It seemed a real work of grace, and an accomplishment of the new birth.
Another of the same crew came to my cabin. He was a man of twenty or so. “We all,” he said, “were gathered round the funnel — helpless, and expecting the ship to go down. But I had no fear.” “Why?” I asked. “Because two years ago at Liverpool, at a seamen’s meeting, I heard the words, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’ and I came to Jesus, and I have had peace since. So I was not afraid, and I spoke a little to the other men.” Some of his words may have been seed sown in the heart of the boatswain.
Now is it not above all things important to be going on through this world, whether on shore or at sea, in the condition of soul of that younger man of that crew, as, crouched round the funnel of that steamer on that anxious day, he witnessed for Jesus? The young man was then a soul saved. The boatswain was then a soul still unsaved. But there was another opportunity given to the boatswain, and he believed. The Word of God was quick and powerful.
Now, how is it with you, reader? You may be hearing or reading frequently those solemn and momentous words which the Lord Jesus spake when down here to Nicodemus, and through Nicodemus to you, and which had power with the boatswain. The first word to Nicodemus was general and comprehensive of all men. Who is outside its range? Are you, reader? “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” This is definite and conclusive. It cannot be anything else. “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,” and to have “the mind of the flesh is death.” “And the carnal mind (or the minding of the flesh) is enmity against God: for it is not subject to God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:6-8).
Are you content to be in this condition? Do you deliberately intend to go on in it; for such is your condition — while still in your own nature as man — while still a child of Adam and not a child of God. It is death. Do you not desire life? Answer. Here, then, come in again the words of the Lord to Nicodemus — the second time spoken as more personal and pointed, if one may so say — “Ye must be born again.” You, Nicodemus, “must be born anew, born from above.” This is the new birth, the new life. The Lord went on to unfold that truth to Nicodemus. He did so to the boatswain. He will do so to you, reader, if you be docile and submissive.
Read the whole of the Lord’s instruction to Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Nicodemus received it, so did the boatswain. So may you, reader, if you will. Nicodemus was saved (see John 19:38-42). I believe the boatswain was saved. The word of Jesus had power in both instances. Who can number like instances? They are being added to every day. Will you receive this word and let it have its own power that, like Nicodemus and the boatswain, you too may be saved and know Jesus as your life? “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life.”
Read John 5:24, “But is passed from death unto life.” Yes, passed from death to life! As real a thing that is as one saying, “One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see”; or one saying, “I was in New York yesterday, I am in Philadelphia today.” Reader realize it.
T. M. T.