The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-08-27

calmly nOieVenly IuOScS Cnc& vessel zlll
her onward progress. Peace and safety
seem her companions. So in the sea Of
life. Storms Of wild emotion strike the
soul, at times almost overwhelming it.
Then, again, life flows evenly Oh. Peace
and gladness and fitness Of content are
ours. God is showering mercies all
along our pathway, and, thank His
Holy Name; He has 50 arranged it that
much more OF sunshine than Shadow is
our portion.
In the text we have picture of that
life Which has God for it's support.
While sailing DER the sea. a storm
sweeps down upon the disciples, deter
mined to destroy the little slip and its
occupants, There was the struggle, us
it were, between life and death. The
sea, dashed to fury by the mighty storm.
losses the frail bark upon its troubled
surface, threatening to engulf it.; dark
clouds cover the sky; the elements
seem to conspire for the destruction of
the little band as they toll for their
lives. Amid all this gloom and dark
ness, the disciples see something ap-
preaching them OH the water. A new
terror siezes them, and they cry out for
fear. But while they are thus trem-
bling, while they were in deep trouble,
a friendly voice comes to their ears,
saying, Be Of good cheer. While half
doubling whether He is indeed the
Master, He comes into their ship. and
at once the wind ceases and they are at
rest. How like this is it i'll our lives.
When the storm of trouble PUSHES down
upon our unprotected head, and all
around seems dark and cheerless, and
we feel that all is lost. the words of our
Best Friend come ringing i'll sweet and
mellow notes to our hearts, BE of good
cheer; BE comforted. When the heart
is crushed with SORROW and bleeds at
every pore, then come these helpful
words: BE of good cheer; lave courage,
all will be well These words come
very near to those who are in bereave-
ment, whose SORROWS will not let them
rest. lie who didst calm the troubled
sea, and swept, by II word, the storm
out Of the heavens, comes and gives
comfort to those who are in deep atflic-
ton. In the bosom of Lis dove does lie
give them that peace Which tho world
cannot give.
We gather, then, from the text, this
thought: The assurance Of Christ
presence, the greatest comfort Of Chris
tians IN their deepest triots und sorrorS.
Christ is exalted above I'LL nature. His
! coming into the ship with Ills disciples
gave them rest from their toiliny aud
rowing against the storm AS they
passed out of the storm into the su
Shine and rest, so do all Christ's chill
dren pass from this stormy abode into
the peace. and rest Of The future life.
Hope is limited ut in the text. Be Of
good courage OF comfort, would lead
one to feel that there WAS all opportu-
nifty for such Il state OF feeling. It. is
that hope which sustains the Christian
Ill his every day life; which gives him
the assurance Of an abiding home with
the Saviour. IL the dark storms of
life, when the soul sinks deep down
into the wave of affection, hope shines
above the wave, Il beacon light to show
where stands the waiting Saviour. It
is that hope which Stands as an anchor
to the soul and holds it from being
driven from it's Maker 10y the severe
trials and sorroWs Of life; and especially
in cases like the present, DO these words
of the text come with soothing power
They tell the soul that it is not alone
upon this great voyage Of life-they
speak Of One who is ever near, even
though the soul knows it nut-they
speak as il there were joys that await
the Christian mariner on the farther
shore. When the storms descend upon
us and in their fury and darkness arc
raging, and we are fearful and afraid,
how do the words, BE comforted BE
Of good courage as they rise above the
storm and come sWeetly sounding over
will 1,.,,r f,, Ia, r
that there is one whom the winds and
able to bring to any heart, however sore
gives comfort and peace.
How. often we forget how near God
is to us, until lie comes and takes from,
our arms the loveliest and brigilte st
Then how the heart quivers and th<
storm RACES. But in tile midst of it all
Jesus COMES and whispers words Of
courage and comfort, and causes great
calm to come over the spirit. Whel
Christ comes into the boat the storm
ceases, the sky is clear, the sun Shine:
and all is peace and love.
In the second place, the Christian'
assurance is strengthened because th'
help Of Christ always comes Wle,
, needed. We cannot look into the hear
and see it's needs; we cam Ut know how
deep and heavy the grief is we canno
fathom the SORROW that presses dow
the soul on every side, in Il time Ink
the present. but lie who gave o..
hearts affection and love, who created
us that we might love others, and CAV
us the strong feelings of our natures
knows when to come and offer His help
lie sees the effect OF the storm; II
knows how the depths Of the soul ar
stirred when the loved one is torn from
it's embrace. lie also knows wh&s
words will bring the heart out Of it
pain. lie comes ut the right moment
lie comes when the storm is at it
highth and we feel that VIC cannot halt
out longer, and whispers words Of low
and comfort in our ear. Though W
do not know why we feel the power 0
the tempest, and why we, of all others
ut times have TO suffer and feel heart
sore and lonely, yet there is hope still
On tflatqnemorable night when Chris
sent His disciples alone upon the se;,
;. lie went up into 4 mountain to pray
lie there SAW the storm descend upO1
them and their struggles with win,
and wave. lie saw how vain wer
their efforts to make any headwa
against the wind, and when they wer
we'll nigh exhausted with their toiline
He comes and gives them help. So
is i'll life. Christ sees every heart as
enters the cloud of affection. His ey
) notices every Sigh, He hears eEel.
sound Of pain, sees every tear as it roll
silently down the cheek. He listens t
every pulsation of sorrow as it force
its WAY through the heart. and who