FOR several days the sky had been threatening a storm, and vessels of all sizes had retreated into harbor in anticipation of what sailors call "foul weather.”
Those anticipations proved correct, and as night closed in the wind rose to a hurricane, the waves lifted their storm-capped crests, and fell in foam upon the beach, or leaped furiously over the seawall, as if in mockery of man's puny attempts to say to them, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed" (Job 39:1111Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labor to him? (Job 39:11).)
No ship was in the offing, but the life-boat had been got into readiness in case of need; the coastguard kept a sharp look-out through the murky night for any unfortunate vessel which might be driven landward; and a few spectators, muffled in their storm-cloaks, stood tog-ether on the shore. Hour after hour passed away. The crew of the life-boat stood by their little craft, ready at a moment's notice to launch her in the face of the tempest.
The old church clock of a neighboring seaport town struck twelve. As the last stroke of the bell mingled with the howling of the blast and the incessant thunder of the waves upon the strand, another and a different sound broke upon the ear. What was it?
The boom of a heavy gun; the ominous and too well-known signal of some ship's deep peril; a signal never made by British sailors till all other hope is gone; an appeal to fellow-men for aid, which tells that everything that experience, skill, and courage could effect has failed to save, and that now, abandoned to winds and waves, the ship and her crew are hurrying to destruction, and MUST PERISH unless help from without, help outside, beyond, independent of themselves, can be brought to them by those who hear the despairing appeal.
Has the reader yet discovered that this exactly depicts his condition by nature? That no efforts. of his own, however well meant and carefully conducted, can deliver him out of the ruin he is in, or save him from that eternal destruction towards which time, with resistless force, is hurrying him? Oh solemn thought! Every hour, like a heavy wave against which no skill of yours can avail, forcing you onward to the hidden shoal, the unseen moment when body and soul shall part asunder, and when, if still in your sins, you must make eternal shipwreck! For "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."' (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
Be entreated to consider your position. Was it for this you were born into the world, and had a parent's love and care and guidance? Was it for this you grew up to man's or woman's estate? To be ETERNALLY WRECKED AT LAST!
The decisive moment may be nearer than you think. Cease, then, at once, your vain efforts at self-deliverance. Own to the ruin you are in, like the publican in the temple, who cried, God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13).) For the grace of God, which brings salvation for all men, hath appeared. (Titus 2:1010Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:10).) Why, then, should you he wrecked forever?
The signal-gun, as if with electric force, started into activity the silent, stationary groups upon the beach. Every hand was put forth to launch the life-boat, her gallant crew sprang in, and, with might and main, they struggled on through the driving surf towards the sinking ship.
Again and again the heavy gun was heard in solemn cadence with the thundering storm, as though to hasten the bold deliverers in their dangerous task; and bravely they responded, as with desperate energy they drove their boat against the furious blast. Now on the crest of a mountainous wave, “They mount up to the heaven"; and anon in the watery abyss, “They go down again to the depths"; but at last their courage and prowess are rewarded, and they reach the wreck.
A crowd of terror-stricken women and children, and worn, pale, hopeless men throng the deck.
The ship is breaking fast, and wave after wave beats pitilessly against her groaning timbers. But despair turns to hope as the life-boat dashes up alongside, and all are about to rush towards her, when the captain, maddened by drink, suddenly places himself before them, and, in a voice of thunder, swears to shoot the first person who shall attempt to leave the ship!
Consternation seized on all who heard the threat, and for the moment none knew what to do.
But no time was to be lost, and in the desperate emergency one man bolder than the rest on board, at the risk of his own life, approached the maniac, and resolutely told him that if he dared discharge his revolver he should instantly be made a prisoner; and as this proved a momentary check upon him, no time was lost in getting the women and children off the doomed vessel.
Not until the life-boat had made some three or four journeys from the ship to the shore was the final rescue of the crew and passengers effected.
But the captain still remained. In vain did the brave deliverers urge him to escape. In vain they reasoned with and besought him, while the ship yet held together, to come into the life-boat. In vain they pointed out the shattered condition of the wreck he was upon, while the rushing tempest threatened every moment to engulf both it and him. He would not listen; but, madly pointing his revolver at them, swore with terrible oaths to shoot the first man who approached him. Four times in succession these devoted men returned to attempt his rescue, but in vain. He would not be saved!
The crew of the life-boat, exhausted by their strenuous labors, were at last forbidden by their commanding officer to make any further effort to save the wretched man; but rockets, with ropes attached, were sent off to the ship, in the faint hope that when the peril grew nearer he would: repent of his mad resolve. Twice with his own: hand the maddened man cut the line that formed-the only link between himself and life and safety;: and while the wondering spectators on shore yet watched in mingled awe and pity, a larger wave-than usual seemed to strike the wreck.
A moment more, and the dark object that had so intensely attracted every eye suddenly fell to-pieces. At the same instant a loud, piercing, and most bitter cry of unutterable agony and horror-rose above the roar of the storm from the lips, of the now doomed man, and, SELF-DESTROYED, he sank headlong into the dark abyss of waters.
Too late he saw the fearful consequences of his madness as the shattered vessel fell away beneath his feet. Too late! He had flung away body and soul; and could he have had his will he would not have been alone in the destruction he brought upon himself.
It is seldom that such an instance as the above comes under our notice; but if the reader is yet out of Christ, if he is yet in the shattered wreck of the old Adam nature and standing, his peril is-as great, though it may not be so apparent, as was that of the poor drunken captain of the foundered vessel. And if, after having heard the gospel of the grace of God again and again, salvation brought nigh time after time, you are still a rejecter, your folly is as extreme, and your doom as certain. Persist not till too late in your mad rejection of the only Life-boat! Who shall tell what the lost spirit experiences as it parts from the body on the death bed, when, too late, all the horrors of its real situation rush like a torrent upon it? No cry is heard, but in voiceless agony more terrible far than the frenzied wail of the doomed captain, it hurries to that place "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48).) Who shall depict, or, even conceive the horrors of its situation? Is there NO hope there? None forever and ever!
Reader, can you continue a REJECTER OF CHRIST, to be hereafter, and forever, numbered among the self-destroyed?
Oh! do not let the word depart,
And close thine eves against the light!
Poor sinner, harden not thy heart:
Thou would'st be saved? why not to-night?
To-morrow's sun may never rise
Upon thy long-deluded sight:
This is the time, oh! then, be wise!
Thou would'st be saved? why not to-night?
Our God in pity lingers stilt,
And wilt thou thus His love requite?
Renounce at once thy stubborn will;
Thou would'st be saved? why not to-night?
The world 'has nothing thee to give,
It has no new, no pure delight:
Come now to Jesus Christ, and live!
Thou would'st be saved? why not to-night?