IT was a beautiful, bright, clear day when we sailed from Beyrout, with sunshine enough to make every heart happy and glad. Soon everyone settled down to his station, and quietness reigned on this Thursday afternoon—the sailors’ half-holiday.
This is a time throughout the Navy when you will find in sea-going ships the ordinary work suspended, and the crew employed in various ways for their own personal comfort. You will see some making or mending their clothes, others reading, but the majority indulging in sleep.
On the occasion of which I am writing, all was calm and peaceful throughout the fleet, when about 3.30 p.m. it became evident to us that something unusual had happened. We soon learned the awful news that the two flagships of the fleet had suddenly collided, and that H.M.S. Victoria had been rammed by H.M.S. Camper-down with appalling loss of life.
It would be impossible to describe one’s feelings at that time, the principal thought being, should the Victoria founder, how many of her crew are believers in the Lord Jesus, the only and all-sufficient Saviour whose grace would be enough to sustain and cheer them, even under these painful and trying circumstances. And another thought was, how little had one made use of the time and talent God had given to tell out the glad tidings of His grace to dear shipmates—men who go down to the sea in ships. The suspense, although short indeed; was greatly felt by all on board the many surrounding ships, and every officer and man were ready to obey this oft-repeated word, “England expects every man this day to do his duty.”
It was not long, only ten minutes, before the whole of the Victoria’s ship’s company were launched into the sea, there to struggle as best they could for life, those above board trusting to self, friends, boat, or spar; those under hatches being helpless, for it was not possible to extricate themselves. They could only cry to the “Helper of the helpless”; and many longed to know whether indeed they did cry to Him of whom we can sing
Glory, glory everlasting,
Be to Him who bore the cross!
Who redeemed our souls by tasting
Death, the death deserved by us.
Brought face to face with death, how vain to trust to good works or ordinances! the merit of the precious blood of Christ is the only passport into heaven; and those who, even in their last extremity, called upon God to save them, believingly, were undoubtedly saved, to His eternal praise and glory.
Be warned, my dear friend outside of Christ who may read this narrative, whilst you are out of danger, and in health! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” What could the blessed Son of God do more than lay down His precious unforfeited life to save you from sin, from death, and from hell, and to have you in His presence forever?
The following came under the writer’s notice in connection with this appalling disaster: The boatswain was saved through the life-buoy. How beautifully this illustrates the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation—something outside one’s self to trust to!
A seaman, who had given up trying to save himself, was sinking, when he came in contact with a broken spar, which pushed him up to the surface, and by this means this seaman was saved. Here is another illustration of a sinner in a perishing, helpless condition, and God bringing His way of salvation to him to which he may trust and he saved.
An officer was saved through the kindness of a seaman, who allowed him to share an oar when on the point of exhaustion.
Here again, God provides the means of salvation through a friend.
Most were saved by boats, but all needed something outside themselves, and surely one cannot fail to see God’s rich provision for the needy perishing soul in Christ, the Lamb, whom God Himself provided.
Many again were lost because of the shortness of the warning; others through not taking the offered opportunity; some through accident; many through trying to save themselves, while others again could find no way of escape.
One, a personal acquaintance, had a rope thrown to him, but he missed it and sank.
These incidents remind us of many, alas! who are still away from God, careless, heedless, forgetters of Him who gave Himself a ransom—came to seek and to save that which was lost, not willing that any should perish. Be wise enough, dear friend, just as you are in your lost condition, to look to the Saviour who is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him.
How joyous it must have been for fathers, mothers and friends to receive messages like the following:
“C— P— saved.”
“O— O— saved.”
“Saved, Tom.”
“Saved, Albert.”
And is there not far greater joy in heaven, in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15)?
C. H. C.