The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-04

praying that lt may be short struggle in
the water, and that at the same instant we
may both arrive in gloryp Oh! I tell you
man prays straight to the mark wen he has
cyclone above him, an ocean beneath him,
and eternity so close to him that he can feel
its breath on his cheek.
The night was long. At last we saw the
dawn looking through the port holes Asin
the olden time, in the fourth watch Of the
night, Jesus came walking on tho sea, from
wave cliff to wave cliff; and when He puts
His foot upon a billow, though it may be
tossed up with might it goes down. He cried
to the winds, Hush! They knew His voice.
The waves knew His foot. They died away;
And in the shining track Of His feet ! read
these letters on scrolls of foam and fire:
''The earth shall be filled with the knowledge
the sea-" The ocean calmed. The
paJn or Ine steamer became more
and more mild; until, on the last morning
out, the sun threw round about us glory
pavement Of mosaic, reaching from horizon
to horizon, for all the splendors Of earth and
heaven to walk upon-a pavement bright
enough for the foot of a seraph-bright
enough for the wheels of the archangels
chariot. AS parent embraces child, and
kisses away its grief. so over that sea, that
nad oeen wr1Unmg IN agony IN the tempest,
the morning threw its arms of beauty and Of
benediction, and the lips Of earth and heaven
met.
As I came on deck-it was very early, and
we were nearing the shore-I saw few sails
against the sky. They seemed like the spirits
Of the night walking the billows I leaned
over the taffrail Of tue vessel and said: 'Thy
way, God, is in the sea, and Thy path in
the great waters"
1t grew lighter. The clouds were hung in
purple clusters along the sky; and, as if those
purple clusters were pressed into red wine
turned into crimson. Yonder, fire cleft
stood opposite to fire cleft; and here, cloud,
rent and tinged with light, seemed like q
palace, with flames bursting from the win
dows. The whole scene lighted up un-
til it seemed as if the angels Of
God were ascending and descending
upon stairs Of fire, and the wave-crests,
changed into jasper. and crystal, and anne
thyst, as they were flung toward the beach,
made me think Of the crowns Of heaven cast
before the throne Of the great Jehovah. I
leaned over the taffrail again, and said, with
more emotion than before: 'Thy way, o
God, is in the sea, and Thy path in the greet
waters?'
So, thought, will be the going off Of the
storm and night of the Christians life. The
darkness will fold its tents and away The
golden feet Of the rising morn will come
skipping upon the mountains. and all the
wrathful pillows of the worlds woe
break into the splendor Of eternal joy.
And so we come into the harbor. The
cyclone behind us. Our friends be-
fore us. God, who is always good,
all around us. And if the roll Of the crew
and the passengers had been called seven
hundred souls would have answered to their
names. sand so it came to pass that we all
escaped safe to land" And may God grant
that, when oil our Sabbaths on earth are
ended, we may findthat, through the rich
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, we all have
weathered the gale!
Into the harbor OF heaven now we glide,
Home at last
Softly we DRIFT on the bright silver tide,
Home ut Iastl
Glory to God All our dangers are DER;
We stand secure on the gloriaed shore.
Glory to God we will shout evermore.
Home at lastl
Home at lasti