The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-25

StOOu DOluly OIL on the other tack.
"He knows what he is about" said
the captain to the man at his side.
He is an old salt, sailor every
yarn of him." was the language of
the seamen one to another; and the
trembling passengers began to hope.
The ship now neared two sunken
rocks, the places of which were
marked by the angry breaking and
boiling of the sea, which seemed to
be driving her directly on them.
Full and by" was uttered in
tones of authority by the pilot, who
stood with folded arms at the bow,
the water drenching him complete
ly as it broke over her bulwarks.
She passed safely between the
rocks; the order was given to put
her on the other tack, and again
she stood toward the fearful break
ers. Nearer and nearer she came,
and still no orders from the, pilot,
who stood like statue, calm and
unmoved amidst the raging ele-
ments. The vessel labored hard, as
the broken waves roared around her,
and she seemed Just on the verge
of striking, when about ship" in
a voice like thunder, rose above the
fury of the tempest Again she
stood upon the starboard tack, and
soon entered the habor and cast an
Choir in safety. One hour later
she could not have been rescued,
for by the time she reached her
anchorage no vessel could have car
ried a rag of sail in the open bay.
The ship must have been wrecked,
and the crew and passengers must
have persisted.
When the order was given "to
back the foretopsail and let go the
anchor" a scene ensued which baf-
fes all description. The captain
sprung from the wheel and caught
the pilot in his arms. The sailors
and passengers crowded around;
some hung upon his neck, others
embraced his knees, and tears
streamed down the faces of the sea-
men, who had weathered many a
storm and braved untold dangers,
but none greater than this. All
were pressing forward, if only to
grasp the hand of their deliverer in
token of gratitude.
From the narrative it Will be seen
that when the pilot first offered
his services, Their were rejected.
Why? Chiefly, no doubt, because
the man in charge did not fully be-
lieve the danger. He thought he
could do without help. He was
confident IN himself. and so it is
with the ungodly. The lives they
lead prove that they do not realize
tb.ir danger, and hence they do not
feel their need of Christ, do not re-
pent and turn to Him, do not trust
Him. They think they can do with
out Christ,
Perhaps you have felt, "I have
gone too far; there is no mercy for
me-" ALL but you must trust the
pilot; you must believe that "the
Son of man hath power to forgive
SINS Though they "be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow"
You believe that God has power
to cast into hell" you believe that
Christ "has power to forgive sins -
you could trust Him for all this.
Yet you are not saved you have not
a good hope you dare not pro-
fess yourself a Christian. Why
not? Your calling, perhaps, hin
ders you; your companions are a
snare to you; your own heart is in
league with the enemy; you are
cited and bound with the chain of
your SINS" You feel wretched, and
mourn over your apparently hope
lesi condition. Yet there is rem
edy for your case, full and adequate.
Trust the Pilot, and yOn shall find
help and deliverence. Go to Christ.
He is able to save you "even to the
uttermOst;" able to save you from
the power of sin, the world, and
Satan able to break every bond
that binds you. Trust Him fully.
You have been trying hard, per-
haps, to save yourself; to cease
from sin in your own strength to
make yourself fit to receive Jesus.
This will never do. You must, as
it were, give the ship up to Him !;
you must say
"a guilty, weak and helpless worm,
On Thy kind arms / fall
BE Ih0U my Strength and Righteousness,
My Jesus and my ALL"
Don't Be Too Positive.
Bows don't no foo certaiD Pc