MISS Agnes Weston, so well called “The sailors’ Friend,” used to recount how one of our Jack tars found his way to the Sailors’ Rest at Devonport. When he was shown the cabin that had just been presented to The Rest by Queen Victoria, he asked if it was really provided at the Queen’s own cost, and given out of her private purse. On being told that it was so, the sailor was much moved. He dashed away a tear saying, “I never would have believed it unless I saw it. She has always been my Queen, now she is my friend!”
Is it not so with our souls? We have been glad to escape the wrath of God. Indeed some measure of gratitude may have arisen to the One who so kindly undertook our cause. But it is only as we discover at what cost to Himself He wrought our salvation, that the affections of our hearts are drawn out to Him. For we were “not redeemed with silver and gold,” but with “the precious blood of Christ.” It is a “blood-sealed friendship.” It is as we realize that Christ suffered for sins, to bring us to God, that our love ascends to Him in worship. When we know “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet FOR OUR SAKES He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich,” we exclaim like the sailor, “He has long been my Saviour, now He is my Friend.”
E. E. M.