ON the English side of the Bristol Channel, a circumstance once occurred which produced an indelible impression on the minds of those who witnessed it, and is another instance of the power of the gospel to sustain a soul in the hour of danger and death.
Two shipwrecked seamen — one a believer, the other an unconverted man — were endeavoring to reach the shore in a boat. The storm was raging furiously, and after being some time tossed and buffeted by the waves, their boat upset, and both were seen struggling amidst the foaming billows. They were not far from shore, and a friendly hand had sent out to them a rocket line. The man who was a believer seized it, and at once made his way to his comrade, who knew not the love of God and the gift of Jesus, and passing the line to him, he said, “Take this, and try to save your life, for you are not prepared to die. I am saved through Jesus, and death has no sting for me: take this rope and get on shore, and seek to live that you will not be afraid to die.” They then parted, and the drowning man who had so nobly sacrificed his life for his fellow, was heard to sing: ―
“Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer―”
As he uttered the word nearer, a wave passed over him, and he was seen no more. This, truly, is “life in death,” beautiful beyond expression; the quiet calm in the midst of the storm, the self-surrender of a soul that had all its joy and treasure in Christ at God’s right Hand. The secret of it all was, he knew Jesus as his Saviour. “I am saved through Jesus,” said he, “and death has no sting for me.” He knew Jesus had loved his soul, and the heart of that same loving Saviour was now his refuge and his home. What a resting-place! What a downy pillow amidst the storms of life! What a place of shelter and rest for poor blood-washed sinners! No angel, no seraph, knows such a resting-place as this. The highest archangel there, is but a servant, but the blood-washed sinner is a child, an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:15-1715For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:15‑17).)
Christ, having passed through death and judgment, has gone up on high, and is seated at the right Hand of God, and now, by the Holy Ghost, has shed abroad God’s love in the hearts of His believing people, and Christ’s place is theirs; for “as He is, so are we in this world.” How our hearts love to say, “We love Him because He first loved us.” — (Extracted.)