ONE morning I was on the deck of my barge, which was anchored in the Thames beside another of about the same size. Nobody was about at the time on either of the boats. It was rather early, and all were either getting breakfast in the cabins or making arrangements for the ensuing day below the deck. I was standing at the side, and looking into the water between the two boats, when the boat gave a sudden twist, and I lost my balance, falling headlong into the water.
This is very dangerous, for the water sucks you underneath the boat, and there is no chance for your life if you cannot swim, and, as I could not swim, I was soon fast sinking. I had just given myself up as lost, thinking there was no one on deck of either of the boats to see me, when suddenly my hair received a sudden jerk, and presently I found myself upon the deck of the boat that lay alongside of mine. I turned round to see who was my deliverer, and what was my astonishment to see — not a rosy, good-natured bargeman, but an African. He had seen me in the water, and had caught hold of my hair, and had drawn me safely on deck of his boat. I had never seen that black man before, nor have I seen him since to thank him for saving my life. God had provided for me so that I should not perish that day.
Thus was I saved the first time, and I owned that God had been merciful to me in directing the African as my deliverer, and I have often longed to see the man and express my thanks and love to him.
This deliverance set me thinking, and not long after I met with one of God’s servants, and through him was brought to Christ, and saved forever. The Saviour of my soul did not just stretch out His hand and set me on my boat — no, He died for me, that I might not sink down into hell, and He has also prepared me a home when I leave this earth. This Saviour is the Lord Jesus. He came down from heaven, His beautiful home, and died on Calvary for perishing sinners; He came to put all our sins away that we might by Him be saved forever. If He had not done this we should have gone into hell to spend eternity. He came not only to the rich, but to save those who are poor, for all are lost. There are but two ways — the narrow, which leads to heaven and happiness, and the broad, which leads to hell and misery. Which is it to be?