MANY years ago, a gentleman, with his wife and little boy, went on a long voyage to a distant country, called Australia. The little boy was named Joseph, and on the voyage another child was born. They were to land at a place called Sydney, and were looking forward with the hope of reaching it very soon, when, by some accident, or through some mistake, suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were roused from their sleep by the striking of the ship upon a rock. The ship was broken, and the water slowly coming in; besides which it stuck fast upon the rock. The night was dark, but the water was calm, and the sailors found, that although they were among rocks, still it was possible to get on shore, by taking a few at a time in the ship's boats. However, the captain and passengers agreed that it would be better to wait for the daylight, lest in the darkness any should fall into the sea, and be drowned. So they waited, anxiously watching for the morning.
But what will you say when I tell you, that, just as the faintest gleam of light appeared in the east, the wind began to blow, the heavy dark clouds gathered over head, and beneath the sea began to swell, and the big waves rose up on all sides, dashing with fury against the poor disabled ship, and threatening to wash everyone over-board.
What could these poor people do? They had lost the calm hours of the night, when they might have reached the land; and now death stared them in the face, and a watery grave.
No boat could be launched on those angry waters, but the sailors thought of a way of escape. One bold man fastened a rope around his waist, and committing himself to the sea, swam off from the ship, fighting for his life, as wave after wave rose before him-sometimes buried him in their depths, and then bore him aloft on their crests. But exhausted, half dead, yet with a rope round his waist, he at last reached a low rock, on which he climbed, and from thence to another, until he was able to fasten the rope securely, beyond reach of the water.
Now then, there was a way of escape for any who would trust themselves to that rope. One after another of the sailors, putting the rope under his shoulder, or holding on to it as he swan; passed along by its help—swimming when he could, and holding on to it when a big wave washed over him—and so all the sailors got safe to land. One passenger did the same, and lived to tell the tale.
But what became of the gentleman, with his wife and children? He was a strong, brave man, and surely could have saved himself as the sailors did; and life is very dear to all of us. But there are some things dearer than life, and he loved his wife and children. He could not save himself, and leave them to perish! A very strong man could only just hold on to the rope by himself, and it was impossible to take his wife and little ones through that foaming sea. Besides, his wife was very weak, and the baby only a few days old. So he perished with them!
Did he perish? His body, with that of his wife and children, was buried in the deep, deep sea, but their spirits went to be with Christ, whom on earth even little Joseph had known and loved. The one passenger who was saved, said he last saw them standing on the wreck, calm and peaceful amidst the confusion, commending themselves, I feel sure, to Him who rules the waves, and who counts the hairs of our heads.
I often think of that sad scene; and you will not wonder, when I tell you, that that gentleman was my own brother. And it reminds me of another tale, quite as true, and far more wonderful. You will perhaps guess what I mean, when I repeat these words, "Love is stronger than death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." And again, those beautiful words, "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it." You know He was the Son of God, as well as the Son of Mary; and all the time He lived down here, He did always the things that pleased God. Would He not have been welcome in heaven at any moment, if He had pleased to leave this bad world, and go up to the bosom of His Father? And when Judas betrayed Him, and the chief priests and Pilate got Him into their hands, to nail Him to the tree, could He not have asked for more than twelve legions of angels, to put all His enemies to flight? Oh, yes; He had the power! but in His heart there was something He loved better than life. Like my poor brother, who would not swim to shore alone, leaving his wife and little ones to perish, so Christ knew that to save His own life, he must go to heaven alone. That, once entered in, the door would be forever shut against every poor sinner left down here—that if any were to be saved, it must be through His death—and that by dying He could, through death, bring any who believe on Him safe to His own blessed home.
So He willingly died. It was a cruel and a shameful death; and more than that, He had to bear the wrath of God for our sins, to save us from the judgment we deserved. But He bore it all, because of the great love He had for His own—yes, for men, women, little children who look up to Him now—and all because He did not want to go to heaven alone.
Oh, I hope when I go up to see His face—along with those dear ones, whose bodies were buried beneath the waves—I hope that YOU will be there to sing with me that song—
"Unto Him who loved us, and Washed us
from our sins in His own blood,
to Him be glory, forever and ever.”
When we saw the sad tidings in the newspaper, we wrote to a friend in Sydney, asking him to find out the one passenger who was saved; and he told us this sad tale. He also went to the sea shore, where the ship was wrecked, and rowed off in a boat to the rocks and low-lands, where she struck; and there, washed up by the waves, he found two little shoes, which he buried in the sand.
One word more. My brother could only die with those He so dearly loved. But Jesus, in dying for His own, could bring them out of death, giving them eternal life; and none an pluck them out of His hand. For He says, "Because I live, ye shall live also.”
O Jesus! to tell of Thy love,
Our souls shall for ever delight;
And join with the blessed above,
In praises by day and by night.
Wherever we follow Thee, Lord,
Admiring, adoring we see,
That love which was stronger than death
Flow out without limit, and free.
Descending from glory on high
With men Thy delight was to dwell,
Contented, our Surety to die,
By dying to save us from hell:
Enduring the grief and the shame,
And bearing our sin on the cross,
Oh, who would not boast of this love,
And count the world's glory but loss!
“Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." (John 13:1.)