Endeavor to imagine a large ship in trim order, with captain and crew, passengers with children, ropes and cables, sails and rigging overhauled, food and fuel for a longer time than it is calculated the voyage will last. The morning of her departure arrives, and with it the good wishes of those interested in her. She unfurls her sails before the breeze, and moves gallantly o’er the crested waters, while those on board are filled with bright anticipations of the happy future. Evening draws on, and darkness soon covers the deep, the gentle breeze becomes a gale, the darkness thickens, and the angry waters leap and roar; so, with lamps hoisted, brightly burning, even more brilliant than her fellows, she seeks the shelter of the neighboring coast, and drops her anchor, to ride in “peace and safety” till the storm is past.
Soon, in this place of refuge, mirth and revelry, singing and dancing, gambling and awful profanity, take the place of fear on board that ship; no thoughts of death assail them, though the messenger is near. Night wears on, till the lights below are ordered out, and each one, except the watch, retires to rest. Without any warning, those peaceful slumbers are broken by an alarming cry from the watch, “Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!” to warn the dreadful enemy off; but the fearful thundering crash which follows tells the dismal-story that the cry was too late, too late, alas! to avert the dreadful calamity. Oh, the terror-stricken cries of the mothers, the heartrending shrieks of little ones, the consternation and horror on every face, for that vessel which had sailed so gallantly is now sinking into a watery grave! The pumps are set in motion quickly, all hands are striving with might and main to save the sinking ship, they endeavor to patch or fill the dreadful rent, but the waters of death are rushing in upon them, and overwhelming them with despair. All hope is over, they cannot save her, she is going down hopelessly to destruction. You have doubtless anticipated the name of the lamented vessel — the Northfleet — ere this, and I have no doubt you have sympathized with the brave captain’s wife and others in their loss.
I have been thinking the condition of this ship is just a picture of man in his natural state. He starts upon the voyage of life, it may be well freighted with health and strength, he makes provision for a long voyage, much longer even than he knows it will last; he has the best wishes of those interested in him, is cheered with hope, and, as far as this life is concerned, has bright prospects: but, in a little while, the adverse winds of sorrow and the waves of affliction make him think for a moment of a place of refuge and safety, yet, owe they are over, and he is well, he forgets the days of his trial and buries his sorrows in the amusements of the world, never thinking that swift dark messenger, Death, may come upon him in a moment, even while his lamps of health are burning more brilliantly than his fellows.
Some disease or calamity strikes him; every effort is made to save him, the doctor is called in, but he becomes an irrecoverable wreck.
Did you ever see the place where a wreck has occurred? They float a green; over the spot, with the word “wreck” upon it, to warn others. Over how many graves, alas I might this be written. Oh, then, be warned, for I may tell you this world is just like that sinking ship; things appear to be progressing — science, art, railways, electric telegraphs, and men, by their lives and actions, all seem to say peace and safety; but let me tell you once more this world, and all that remains in it, like the once-famous city of Tyre, with its merchandise and its riches, is doomed to sudden destruction (1 Thess. 5:33For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3); 2 Peter 3:1010But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)).
Some anxious ones may inquire if the above is really a true picture of man and the world, and ask, How are we to escape how are we to be saved? I think we have a beautiful illustration in the manner the sinking ones were rescued from the wreck. John Stanley, mate of the pilot cutter Princess, says “the master saw signals of distress, and he immediately gave orders to man the boat. I rowed to the wizen cross-trees of the wreck first, and asked how many were there. They replied, ‘Nine.’ I told them to get into the boat, one at a time. I told the others I would return for them as soon as possible. I did so, and asked, How many in the cross-trees?’ They replied, ‘Five.’ I told them to get into the boat, one at a time. I took them on board the cutter, and returned to the wreck a third time, and asked how many still remained. They replied, ‘Ten.’ I took them into the boat, and not seeing any more, I returned; and the cutter kept cruising about the wreck until daylight.”
Now, just look at what took place.
The master of the pilot cutter saw the perishing condition of those on board the wreck, and he sent a pilot boat to her; he saw they were sinking fast into the waters of death, and he, in compassion and pity, sent someone to save them. Those on board the wreck had been vainly endeavoring to save themselves by their own efforts, by pumping and trying to mend the broken vessel; but nothing they could do would save them; they were in a lost condition. That stern terrible reality Death was before them, and after that the judgment (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). (Most of the readers of this paper will own they are sinners, but how few are aware that they are LOST sinners; but, until they know they are LOST, they will not believe on Him who left His glory and came into this world “to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). Jesus says He will not cast out any that come to Him; but those who will not believe on Him must die in their sins. — John 6:37; 8:2437All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)). But presently, in the scene of misery and woe, they hear the measured strokes of well-plied oars. Oh, how their hearts must have leaped with the bare hope of deliverance! Why 1 Because they knew they were lost except some one came to save them, and as the pilot boat drew near to the side of the wreck, and the voice of their deliverer asked how many there were to be saved, I think there would be more music in that voice to them than all the music and melody in the world before; and why Because they knew they could not be saved without him. Now, mark what he tells them — to get into the boat, one at a time; each one for himself was to jump into the boat, just as they were.
He did not ask them tip pray and beseech him to save them, to feel they were in a fit state for him to save thein, or first to love him; their entreaties, their feelings, their prayers, their tears, and themselves also would all have gone to the bottom of the deep if they had not obeyed the command to jump into the pilot boat, just as they were. Everyone who jumped was saved, because they obeyed the one who came to save them. This is just a faint picture of God’s love to perishing sinners. He saw our lost and ruined condition. He saw we must sink, and sink forever into that place of never-ending misery. He saw that by our own efforts we could not save ourselves; therefore in compassion and pity He sent His only-begotten Son (the true Pilot) to seek and to save that which was lost. Once in the pilot boat would not their doubts and fears cease? Could words express their thankfulness to their kind deliverer because they were now saved? They had heard his word; they believed he was sent to save them; thus they passed from a scene of death and ruin into a place of safety. Jesus Christ says, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). “Blessed are they that put their trust in Him” (Psa. 2:1212Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)).
Oh, then, let me entreat you to ask yourselves, Am I on the wreck, or in the Pilot boat — that is, in Christ, “a new creature” — or in my sins? (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17); John 8:2424I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)). It must be one or the other. If in your sins, I beseech you ere this world sinks beneath the waters of eternal judgment to come to Jesus now, just as you are.
The little girl Maria Tapling, one of the saved ones, says while her father went to fetch the remainder of his family the boat was cut adrift; it was too late, and they all perished because they were not in the boat. Yes; so it will be when the Lord Jesus be revealed in flaming fire He will destroy those who obey not the gospel (2 Thes. 7:8). When Maria returned to her Sunday school the following Sunday, her schoolfellows wept for joy, the girls kissed her, the boys shook her by the hand, and they made her presents. Why was all this Because she had been in a lost condition and was now saved. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
T. M.
How sad was my condition
Till Jesus made me whole,
There is but one Physician,
Can cure a sinsick soul.
‘Twas He that sought and found me,
And snatch’d me from the grave,
To tell to all around me,
His wond’rous power to save.
A dying, risen Jesus,
Seen by the eye of faith,
At once from danger frees us,
And saves the soul from death.
Come then to this Physician,
His help He’ll freely give;
He makes no hard condition,
‘Tis only — look and live.