Having tarried a few days in a beautiful village of the West, I embarked in a vessel which was crossing one of the great lakes. Three other individuals had taken passage, and night coming on found us waiting for a breeze.
About nine o’clock, as the sails were hoisted, another passenger came on board. When we had cleared the harbor he entered the cabin, and seemed to suppose that he was alone; for we had all retired to our berths. The lamp was burning dimly on the table, but it afforded sufficient light for me to discover that he was young. Seating himself beside it, he drew a book from his pocket and read a few minutes. Suddenly from on deck, was heard the voice of the captain uttering oaths, terrific beyond description. The youth arose, laid his book in the chair, and kneeling beside it, in a low whisper engaged in prayer. I listened attentively, and though his soul seemed to burn within him, I could gather only an occasional word or part of a sentence, such as “mercy,” “dying heathen,” or “sinners.” Presently he seemed in an agony of spirit for these swearers, and could scarcely suppress his voice while pleading with God to have mercy on them. My soul was stirred within me. There was a sacredness in this place, and I was self-condemned, knowing that I also professed the name of Jesus, and had retired with my fellow-passengers to rest, not having spoken of God or committed myself to His care.
Early in the morning I was awakened by a loud voice at the door of the companion-way: “Here, whose tracts are these?” followed by other voices in threats and imprecations against tract-distributers, Bethels, and Temperance Societies.
I thought of the young stranger, and feared they would execute their threats upon him; but he calmly said, “Those tracts, sir, are mine. I have but a few, as you see, but they are very good, and you may take one if you wish. I brought them on board to distribute, but you were all too busy last night.” The sailor smiled and walked away, making no reply.
We were soon called to breakfast with the captain and mate. When we were seated at the table, “Captain,” said our young companion, “as the Lord supplies all our wants, if neither you nor the passengers object, I would like to ask His blessing on our repast.”
“If you please,” replied the captain, with apparent good-will. In a few minutes the cook was on deck, and informed the sailors, who were instantly in an uproar and their mouths filled with curses. The captain attempted to apologize for the profanity of his men, saying “It was perfectly common among sailors, and they meant no harm by it.”
“With your leave, captain,” said the young stranger, “I think we can put an end to it.”
Himself a swearer, and having just apologized for his men, the captain was puzzled for an answer, but after a little hesitation replied, “I might as well attempt to sail against a head-wind as to think of such a thing.”
“But I meant all I said,” added the young man. “Well, if you think it possible, you may try it,” said the captain.
As soon as breakfast was over, the oldest and most profane of the sailors seated himself on the quarterdeck to smoke his pipe. The young man entered into conversation with him, and soon drew from him a history of the adventures of his life. From his boyhood he had followed the ocean. He had been tossed on the billows in many a tempest; had visited several missionary stations in different parts of the world, and gave his testimony to the good effect of missionary efforts among the natives of the Sandwich Islands. Proud of his nautical skill, he at length boasted that he could do anything that could be done by a sailor.
“I doubt it,” said the young man.
“I can,” answered the hardy tar, “and will not be outdone, my word for it.”
“Well, when a sailor passes his word he ought to be believed. I know a sailor who resolved that he would stop swearing, and did so.”
“Ah,” said the old sailor, “you’ve anchored me; I’m fast – but I can do it.”
“I know you can,” said the young man, “and I hope you will anchor all your shipmates’ oaths with yours.”
Not a word of profanity was afterward heard on board the vessel. During the day, as opportunity presented itself, he conversed with each sailor singly on the subject of his soul’s salvation, and gained the hearts of all.
By this time I was much interested in the young stranger, and determined to know more of him. There was nothing prepossessing in his appearance; his dress was plain, his manner unassuming, but his influence had, by the blessing of God, in a few short hours greatly changed the aspect of our crew. The tiger seemed softened to a lamb, and peace and quiet had succeeded confusion and blasphemy.
After supper he requested of the captain the privilege of conducting service in the cabin. His wishes were complied with, and soon all on board, except the man at the helm, were assembled. The captain brought out a Bible, which he said was given him in early life by his father with a request that he would never part with it. We listened as our friend read Matthew’s account of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection; and then, looking around upon us, he said, “He is risen – yes, Jesus lives; let us worship Him.”
It was a melting scene. Knees that seldom bowed before now knelt at the altar of prayer, while the solemnities of eternity seemed hanging over us. After prayer we went on deck and sang a hymn. It was a happy place, a floating Bethel. Instead of confusion and wrath there was sweet peace and solemnity. We ceased just as the setting sun was flinging upon us his last cheering rays.
“Look yonder!” he exclaimed. “You who have been nursed in the storm and cradled in the tempest, look at the setting sun, and learn a lesson that will make you happy when it shall set to rise no more. As rose that sun, this morning, to afford us light and comfort, so has the Son of God arisen to secure salvation to all who accept and love Him; and as that sun withdraws its beams, and we are veiled in darkness for a season, so will the Sun of Righteousness withdraw His offers of mercy from all who continue to neglect Him. But remember, that season is one that never ends-one dark, perpetual night.”
The captain, deeply affected, went into the cabin, lit his lamp, took his Bible, and was engaged in reading till we had retired to rest. In the morning as soon as we were seated at the breakfast table, the captain invited our friend to ask a blessing. “There, gentlemen,” said he, “this is the first time I ever made such a request; and never till this young man came on board have I been asked for the privilege of holding prayers, though I have a thousand times expected it, both on the ocean and the lake; and have as often, on being disappointed, cursed religion in my heart and believed that it was all delusion. Now I see the influence of the Bible, and though I make no claims to religion myself, I respect it, for my parents were Christians; and though I have never followed their counsels, I cannot forget them.”
After this, for three days, we regularly attended family worship, and had much interesting conversation on various subjects: for there was nothing in the religion of the young stranger to repress the cheerfulness of social intercourse. From his familiarity with the Bible, his readiness in illustrating its truths and presenting its motives, from his fearless but judicious and persevering steps, we concluded that he was a minister of the gospel. From all he saw he gathered laurels to cast at his Master’s feet, and in all his movements aimed to show that eternity was not to be trifled with. A few hours before we arrived in port we ascertained that he was a mechanic.
Before we reached the wharf the captain came forward and with much feeling bade him farewell and declared that he was resolved to live as he had done no longer; his wife, he said, was a Christian, and he meant to go and live with her; and added, “I have had ministers as passengers on my vessel Sabbath days and week days, but never before have been reminded of the family altar where my departed parents knelt.” As we left the vessel every countenance showed that our friend had, by his decided yet mild and Christian faithfulness, won the gratitude of many and the esteem of all.
(To be Continued).