Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-21
MISCELLANY.
From the american Messenger.
NOah's Carpenters.

s
Of ~. with its many turrets and
spires was sleeping under the shadow Of
those rocky, sentinels which have guard
ed the plain since The food. bThewaves
Of the ocean fell gently and soothingly
on the beach. The moon waded through
the feecy autumn clouds, now play ing
with the waters and lighting up the scene,
and then concealing her glory asst 10
make It's revelations n ore priced. 1t was
a night for pious ihoughtand CONVERSE
ton. ~ ,r.a a. = a. 4r. "a
Two persons were leaving the city
and, passing along the waier-edge to a
beautiful villa; where one was a resident
and the other guest. The taller, and
elder of the two was actively engaged in
a work of benevolence, in the blessings
of which the people of N and the
students ofr--- college mutually sha-
red. The work was "too heavy" for
him, and he had invited his young friend
an ,impenitent lad, of whom we will
speak as Henry, to aid him. Together
they had spent many weary day in
supplying the Christian laborers who
CO. operated wit, them, with the choicest
means of usefulness, as they. crowded
the depositary of. truth. Exhausted by
their tolls, they were now returning for
nights repose. Hitherto not a word
had been addressed to the obliging lad a.
bout his soul. The fitting occasion
seemed to have arrived. A quaint but
fitting manner was chosen.
"Henry," asked the elder of the youn-
ger, ado J on know what became of No
abs corpenfers?"', u 500 S rsrs
"Noah's carpenters!" exclaimed Hem
ry; 81 didn't know that Noah had any
carpenters" eaV as5 ,s.
"Certainly he must have had help in
building one of the largest and best pro.
porlioned ships ever put on the stocks.
There must have been many ship car
pen,ers at work for long time, 10 have
constructed such a vessel in such an age.
What became of them, think you, when
all the fountains of the great deep were
broken up, and the windows of heaven
were opened! -...,,. s. 20
What do you mean by such queer
question:" replied Henry. ,.5
mo matter just now. Please an
swer the inquiry. And you may also
tell me, if you will what you would have
done in that dreadful hour, when the
storm came down in It's fury, and No
abs prophecies were all fulfilled, and all
but the family Of the preacher of right
eoasncss were ready TO be engulfed in
those black waters!''
81 don't know" said Henry, in half
thoughtful hal-trilling manner; ''but !
think | should have got on the rudder."
.sThat is human nature exactly, Hem
~. 1t would climb up some other way
rather than enter the fold by the only
door. 1t would get on the rudder'' in
its pride and short-sightedness, rather
than 60 into the ark Of safety, Il would
SAGE itself by hanging on, atthe hazard
of being swept into the gulf of despair,
Of being saued by the provision Of inf
mite love. r
"Butl'lltell you plainly what | mean
Henry, by Noah's carpenters: You
have kindly and generously given me
your aid, day after day, in building an
ark in N by which many, trust,
viii be saved. | feel grateful for your
help. Butt greatly fear, that while 9th
ers are rejoicing in the fruits Of our la
bors, you will be swept away in the
storm Of wrath which will by and by
beat on the heads OF those who enter not
the ark of Christ Jesus. No human
device will avail for YOU. Getting on
the rudder'' will not answer; you must
be in Christ, or you are lost. Remem-
Der Noah's carpenters, and flee to the ark
without delay" .4 a
We reached the house, and parted
The winter came. The lad was placed
at boarding schoolin--. He visited
his home during The winter vacation, and
presented himself at the church for ad-
mission to its communion. He then,
stated that the conversation detailed a.
boye had never passed from his memo
ry. Ii led him TO serious reelection, aud
ultimately, we trust, 10 the ark Of safely !
He is now entering career of wide.
spread public usefulness. He. will new
er forget Noah's, carpenters.
Though Noah's carpenters were all
drowned, there are a great many of, the
same stock now aliye-lhose who con
tribute TO promote the general good o.
others, and aid in the up-building Of The
Redeemer's Kingdom, but personally me-
glect the great salvation. sie
Sab6ath-school children who gather
in the poor, or contribute their money to
send Libraries or tracts and books to the
West, or to aid the work of missions,
and yet remain encountered, are like
Noah's carpenters.
Teachers In Bible-c9asses and Sab
6ath-schools who point their pupils to
the Lamb Of God, bnt do mol lead the
way, are like guide boards to tell the
road, but are not travellers on il; or like
Noah's carpenters, who built an ark, and
were overwhelmed in the waters that
bore it alcft in safety.
-ChristIess parents who instruct their
children and servants, as euery parent
should, in the great doctrines of the Cos
pei yet fail to illustrate these doctrines
- L.. 4 4 ~