Unbelief—Darkness of.
Dr. Taylor to Mr. Newton: “I have collated every word in the Hebrew Scriptures seventeen times and have not found the doctrine of the Atonement held by you.” “I am not surprised,” replied the other, “I once went to light my candle with the extinguisher still on it.”
Unbelief—Folly of.
With twenty ships Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel was on his way home. It was foggy and squally. One of the seamen told the officer of the watch that unless the ship’s course was altered, she would soon be on the rocks of Scilly. The Admiral sent for him and questioned him. Finding he held fast to his opinion, Sir Cloudesley was so angry that he had the man hanged at the yard-arm. His body still swung there when the flagship struck a rock and went to pieces, only one out of her Boo men surviving. Three other ships following struck another reef, and altogether 2,000 British seamen perished.
Unforgiveness unto Death.
“I am dying of consumption, Judge, and I know that my sentence can have but little effect on me,” and she coughed a hollow, vacant cough. The expression on the face of the judge remained unchanged, but his eyes dropped, and he did not raise them as the woman continued: “Three years ago I was admired of all the gay society around, I was my father’s pride, but a man came and professed affection for me. My father said he was bad, and contrary to his wishes I ran away and married him.
“Father said I should never come home again. My home—how I longed to be there, just to tell him all.” She coughed, and caught a flow of blood on a handkerchief which she held to her lips. “My husband became addicted to drink. He abused me. I wrote again asking my father to let me come, but the answer came, ‘I do not know you.’ My husband died. Homeless and wretched I went out into the world. My child died, and I wept over a pauper’s grave. I wrote again, but the answer was, ‘I know not those who disobey my commands.’ I turned from that letter hardened; I embraced sin; I rushed madly into vice. Now I am here.” A crimson tide flowed from her lips; they caught her as she fell, but she was gone. The Judge had not raised his eyes. He, too, was dead. The woman was his daughter.
Unity through Warmth of Love.
While the Forth Bridge was building it was found difficult to get the two spans of the structure to unite, and the opening ceremony was to take place the following day. All that hydraulic power could achieve had been tried in vain. During the night a marked rise in the temperature occurred, which so acted on the metal of the parts concerned, that all came into place, and the whole was united.
Up or Down.
A gentleman went to visit someone in a mental hospital. Standing in a balcony, high above the ground a strong man seized hold of him and said: “Jump down!” With great presence of mind the visitor replied: “Why, any fool can do that! Come with me, and I will show you a far better trick.” The big man followed him down to the garden “Now,” he said, “jump up there; that’s the thing for a mar to do.” The lunatic tried, in vain, of course. Any fool can go down to hell, but Christ enables you to do what no one can do by his own power, to go up to heaven.