AMONGST the Christians who assembled at the place where I attended, I noticed a sailor wearing the blue uniform of our British navy, and showing by his distinctive sleeve badge that he was a petty officer on board a man-of-war ship. Although still a young man, he told me he had been fourteen years in the navy, and had served in the Abyssinian expedition. He had been on board the Vanguard at his post, as head of the signal department, when the catastrophe occurred which sunk her; and there, as well as in other circumstances of his life, the protecting hand of a loving God was over him, for had not the men (340 in number) been promptly got off, they must inevitably have perished in the sinking ship, which foundered twenty minutes after they had left her.
“In writing of my conversion, I earnestly pray it may prove a word of encouragement to some soul needing it. I must first refer to my father: he was, and is, thank the Lord, a Christian man, and he never ceased morning and evening to bear us in prayer before the Lord, and I believe God has answered his prayers. It fully ‘proves’ how true His word is, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved; and thy house.’ (Acts 16:31.) Yes, all are included in ‘the house.’ I have three other brothers, who love the Lord. Christian fathers and mothers, cease not to pray for your sons and daughters, for the promise is to you, and your house.
“And now it grieves me when I look back at my dark dark days. I joined the Royal Navy in 186— being then fourteen years old; and soon found out what a profane place a man-of-war ship is. I was sent to China the following year, where I joined, I think, the most profane ship in the service; I soon found my way amidst the swearers as one of them, and I have been often startled myself at the expressions which proceeded frequently from my mouth. Still, I would at times feel convicted. Could it be possible that my father’s prayers were being answered, and the Lord was causing me to feel? No, impossible, I said. When I receive a letter from him, he would conclude with a prayer, which often made me feel ashamed; still I loved the world, and that was all I wanted. But the Lord’s time came at last.
“I can only look back and wonder why He allowed such a cumberer as I to remain here; why He did not cut me off and number me with the wicked, I deserved nothing else; but then His word would have been unfulfilled, ‘Thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.’ Well, I say the Lord’s time came.
“Our ship was homeward bound in ’69, and when leaving. Hong Kong, an officer of the 75th regiment, Major M— came to take passage for Singapore. He was a faithful follower of the Lord, and sought, on every opportunity, to testify for his Master. I, for one, was struck with his earnestness. One evening he spoke very beautifully about the pearl of great price, and of the blessed Saviour’s love to poor sinners; I felt I was one—and one that never could be one with Him as I was; I was broken down—and realizing how the blessed Lord came to seek and to save the lost, I was able, through the Spirit, to trust and believe. Him. But I did not have peace at once. I believe if I had died then I should have gone to heaven, but doubts and ‘fears would often come up when I reflected on’ the difficulties of my path down here. I tried to patch up the old man, but I found it would not stand patching; the more I knew myself, the more I was abashed at myself, for I found it was still the same old man (flesh); but thanks be to His blessed Name, He graciously cleared away the mist. I was first like the blind man, who ‘saw men as trees walking,’ but when I saw Him, what joy to know that Christ is male to me righteousness.
True it is, that self is as corrupt as when the man was driven out of the garden, never more to come into the presence of God, in the old state. But Christ stood in the sinner’s place, and now in Him the believer is gloriously complete, without a stain or anything against him. I know that Christ has forever settled the question of sin between me and God. What wondrous rove! What grace! Oh, that we may more fully realize the fullness of that grace.; I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. R. M., Yeoman of Signals.”
Dear reader, I would merely remind you, in conclusion, that though our lives and surroundings here on earth may be humble, and deemed of little importance by our fellow men, yet the Judge of all the earth, speaking through His inspired penman, has told us, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” (Rom. 14:7.) K. B. K.