Captain O., commanding a sloop of war, was working up for Barbados, when the hurricane came on. He had been upon the deck during some of the finest weather ever witnessed in that climate, and had just been admiring the beauty of the evening. The atmosphere of the horizon was perfectly clear, not a cloud obscuring the sky; nor was there the least probability of a change, as far as could be judged from any appearance observable in the heavens or on the ocean.
Going below to his cabin, the Captain threw himself upon a sofa. A minute or two afterward, chancing to cast his eyes upon a barometer suspended near, he observed that the mercury was falling. It was a moment when he would not have thought of consulting the instrument for any purpose; and so strange did he think the circumstance, that he rubbed his eyes, imagining he was deceived. Still the mercury fell. He rose from the sofa, and, approaching the instrument, discovered that the quicksilver was falling quite fast. He went on deck; but the weather was as lovely as before. He descended again, and tapped the instrument; still the descent was certain, and continued. A fall so rapid and remarkable, of which he had never seen nor heard the like, convinced him that something unexpected was about to happen.
He called the first lieutenant and master, and stated what he had seen. These officers alleged that there could be no storm likely, the sea and sky were then so clear and beautiful. The Captain was not of their opinion; and, as the ordinary falling of the barometer indicated a storm, he resolved to prepare for one, with a speed and energy proportioned to the singular rapidity of the indication. He ordered everything instantly to be made snug, the topmasts to be struck, and all to be got down and secured upon deck. The officers and ship's company were surprised, and still incredulous. One man said to another: "The Captain is determined to sweat us.”
By an activity urged on by the union of command and entreaty, all was lowered and secured. The officers of the ship, except the Captain, were still of their previous opinion, and well they might be. So far, none of the appearances then existed that usually precede storms and hurricanes in that latitude.
The evening had closed in by the time operations on board the ship were nearly completed. Captain O. relaxed nothing in the way of preparation to the last, and saw it finished to his satisfaction.
An hour or two had gone by, during which his mind had become composed with the reflection that he had prepared for the worst, when he had proof of the value of the instrumental warning. A storm did come on, and reached its fury almost at once, so that a rag of sail could not be kept up. The wind blew with a fury so great that the sea could not rise into waves, but became one vast plain of foam, on which the ship lay driving furiously along.
Fortunately there was ample sea-room, and the good ship rode it out in safety., Do you know, my reader, of that storm of judgment so soon to break upon this poor world? The Word of God is our sure, unerring barometer, and plainly indicates its approach. Everything around may appear calm and peaceful; but directly we open its pages of truth, we learn how surely the wrath of God will fall.
Had Captain O. refused to act upon the warning given, he and his crew would probably have perished amid the waves; but forewarned, he was forearmed, and his vessel and her freight were safe.
If you refuse to hear the voice of Him who speaks to you—if you neglect the great salvation so freely provided by God our Savior, you will find no refuge in that coming day. Remember the solemn words of our Lord Jesus: "As it was in the days of Noe, so shalt it be also in the days of the Son of man." Luke 17:2626And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (Luke 17:26).
How was it then? They did eat, they drank, they married wives, and were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. So the world goes on now, and so it will go on, until sudden and swift judgment overtakes it.
Believe the warning given, and flee-flee to that Savior whose arms of love are still open, returning sinners to receive. Then blessing, present and eternal, will be yours. No condemnation can reach you then; for you will have a new place, even in Christ now, and a portion in glory with Christ by-and-by.