GOD alone who searches the hearts, knows whether these words apply to the subject of the incident I am about to narrate, or whether the warning given, apparently unheeded at the time, returned as the voice of God to the soul of him who heard it, ere it was too late. The day will declare.
But a few short months ago a servant of God who was passenger on board a fine vessel homeward bound, felt much pressed with the thought of the many precious undying souls on that floating world, so much so, that setting aside the fear that naturally rose in the heart at the thought of laying such a request before a godless man, he, looking to God for strength, summoned up courage to accost the captain and ask of him the needed permission to speak of Christ to the crew.
The request was met with scorn, and the question, "What do you want to tell them?" “Of Christ's way of saving sinners," was the reply. “Oh! nonsense; tell them rather to do their duty, that will be of more use." In vain did this servant of God plead that the knowledge of Christ as their Saviour must lead to a more faithful fulfillment of their duty; that to serve man best, we must serve God first. The request was denied.
Unable to press this further, and occupied now with the need of this one soul, living without God, without Christ, without hope in the world, he sought to awaken in the captain some sense of his need, some confession of his lost condition, but all in vain. God was "an unknown God," His word a fable, and his own conscience seared "as with a hot iron.” Failing to draw forth any response, at length the one who would so fain have awakened some sense of danger and fear of God, went on to say: " But are you not afraid to die,—within a few minutes we might all be in a watery grave; what then?”
“Why, I would die like a man.”
Ah! dear reader, only God knows whether these words, soon forgotten, it may be, in the bustle and hurry of life, arose again in his soul, when three months after, on the next voyage home, near that same spot where they were uttered, those very waters were engulphing him in death. Summoned from his sleep by the awful shock of a collision, to find that it had done its deadly work, he had less than one short half-hour to save the lives of his passengers. And his own? Ere he had time to leave the vessel she sank with him on board. Surely God foresaw this moment when in grace He sent that warning voice.
And among you, my readers, is there one to whom God in His grace has often spoken,—in whose ear His words of tender warning have been heard? Have you lent your ear? or have you sought to drown that voice in the pleasures or the business of this world? Oh! if so, remember this warning given; let it be to you as God's words: " Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth "(Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:1, 21We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:1‑2)).
" Believe in 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))." For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). J. M.