LIFE is sweet to all, and it is rare indeed to see any man, when in imminent danger, willfully fling away the chance of life. Would to God it were as rare a circumstance to see a man willfully reject eternal life! But alas, Scripture and our own observation confirm the awful fact of man's willful rejection of salvation so freely and graciously offered in the gospel.
The following true account of a most heartrending scene lately came under my notice, and strikingly resembles the hardness and perverseness of those to whom the Lord Jesus said, "Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life."
It was winter. For many successive days the weather had been most threatening; there had been constant and violent storms of wind and rain, and boats and ships of all sizes crowded into the harbor.
Those who from long experience had learnt, in some degree, to “discern the face of the sky," feared a furious gale would spring up. Their expectations were realized, for a terrific hurricane burst over them with unusual violence. Deeply thankful for their security must those have felt who were safely riding at anchor in the harbor; but alas, for those who were still on the open sea, and exposed to the cruel violence of the elements! It was an awful night. The waves dashed upon the coast, and leapt in fury over the seawall in foaming showers of spray; the wind roared tumultuously, and the sound of its boisterous strength was doubtless the cause of many an earnest prayer ascending from tender, sympathizing Christian hearts in the little seaport town, for " those in peril on the sea."
The life-boat was in readiness, in case its services might be required. The coast-guard officers were on the alert, keeping an anxious look-out to see if any unfortunate vessel were in danger, when suddenly, just as the neighboring church-clock was striking the hour of midnight, came booming along, the waters, and mingling in its roar, the sound of a gun—the signal of a vessel in distress.
Now was the time for action. “Man the life-boat!" was the cry; and instantly twelve brave and devoted men (well knowing the danger of their mission, and gladly risking their own lives to save those of their fellow-creatures) sprang into the boat. Followed by the prayers of Christians, and the good wishes and cheers of the crowd assembled on the shore, they pushed off to sea.
It is impossible to describe the breathless anxiety and deep emotion which all those experienced who were watching that night on the sandy beach. Again the report of a heavy gun was heard, and a third soon followed in quick succession; but the life-boat was seen bravely struggling on through the raging surf, while the gallant ones who manned her plied their oars with might and main, intent on accomplishing their mission of mercy, at all risks to themselves.
After prolonged exertion they reached the ill-fated ship, which seemed on the point of going to pieces. A group of pale, terrified faces crowded the deck, but foremost amongst them all stood the captain, mad with drink, holding a loaded revolver in his hand, and swearing, with frightful oaths, to shoot down the first man or woman who should attempt to leave the ship.
Horror seized on all those who heard and saw the besotted man; and the question arose as to what was to be done at this unexpected obstacle to their deliverance, for the passengers dared not run the risk of having a bullet lodged in their bodies by the infuriated madman.
In this emergency a man stepped forward, holding a large clasp knife, with open blade, in his hand, and, advancing resolutely to the officer, he addressed him thus—
"If you discharge your revolver, you do so at your peril, for that same moment I shall stab you with this knife."
Mercifully, this unexpected firmness, and the sight of the naked blade, had the desired effect. The wretched captain was scared at the demeanor of his opponent, and, taking advantage of his intimidation, no time was lost in getting the trembling women and children out of the doomed vessel.
The boat had to make three or four journeys from the ship to the shore before the final rescue was effected of all those who had been in such fearful danger.
The captain only remained behind. In vain he was urged to take refuge in the lifeboat. In vain they warned him that his life was not worth an hour's purchase if he remained where he was (for his ship was rapidly breaking up). He would take no heed, but continued madly to swear at the crew and to point his revolver at any who might try to approach him.
Four times these devoted men returned with their boat to endeavor to save him. He would not be saved! and at last they were so much exhausted by such incessant and laborious rowing, that their commanding officer forbad their risking their own lives in any further attempt to save him.
Rockets, however, were sent off to carry a rope to the ship, in the faint hope that when he should see death more closely staring him in the face he might be induced to make use of it; but in vain. Twice they saw him with his own hand cut the line which was the sole link between himself and the shore; and while they were yet gazing with mingled pity, curiosity, and awe, the ship was dashed in pieces by the waves, and a piercing cry of horror which burst from the lips of the wretched man, showed that too late he saw the fearful consequences of his mad refusal of life. Too late! He was quickly swallowed up in the dark tumultuous waters. He had flung away his life. He had made shipwreck of body and Two days afterwards his body was washed on shore. We learnt subsequently from the passengers that he had been sober till the ship was in danger, when he drank deep till his head was turned.
Bear with me, dear reader, whine I ask you in all love and earnestness, Are you safe? Are you securely riding at anchor in the harbor, having taken Jesus for the Captain of your salvation? or are you still out on the open sea without a rudder, without an anchor, tossed about on the verge of destruction? Think over this question, I beseech you, and be in no uncertainty as to your state; either you are safe, or you are in awful and imminent peril, there is no middle course.
Jesus is the only “anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast." Have you laid hold on Him? If so, all is well; if not, whither are you drifting? Whilst we are in this life, we must all be more or less tossed about “on the waves of this troublesome world," but there is smoother water in the harbor than on the open sea!
The soul that has found Jesus is secure in the harbor, and fears no wild storm, nor shipwreck; but knows that not one breath of wind will blow more strongly than it can bear, and rejoices in the sure confidence that it will at last be safely landed on the heavenly shore. The open sea is like the world; there the soul has nothing on which to rest; while the furious blasts of the world, the flesh, and the devil, are ever seeking to engulf it in their stormy waves.
As long as the weather is fair and calm, you may try to shut your eyes to your danger. But remember, storms will arise, and your ship must one day be broken up. Lose no time, then, in flying to a place of shelter; grasp the hand that is stretched out to save you.
Eternal life is as freely offered to you as temporal life was to the poor, infatuated captain. Will you reject it? There is an invitation full and free offered to all: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." It is the Savior who speaks. Will you listen to His pleading voice? Will you go to Him? “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?"
Leave, I pray you, your own crazy, leaky vessel and come to the life-boat? You may say, "There is yet plenty of time before me!" Be not deceived, for your frail bark may even now be on the point of breaking up, and one moment may be enough to plunge you into the dark waters.
It will then be too late to be saved; and with a bitter cry, before the waves finally close over you, you will repent of your willful madness in refusing to be saved when so much was done for your salvation.
Oh then, "today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Choose you now-do not delay: shall it be the world and destruction, or shall it be Jesus and safety?
Listen to the gracious words of the Lord Jesus Himself—" For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." So now, "as though God did beseech by us, we pray in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
Your heart will then rejoice in your Redeemer; and resting securely on Him you will " fear no evil," The waves and billows of this life may be rough and boisterous, but sooner or later you will reach the heavenly shore, and fully realize that " eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love Him."
MRS. G. E. M.
REMEMBER, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this," AFTER THIS, “the, judgment."