The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-23

The attentive reader OF. the New Tes-
lament except in the wonderful deliy-
erances of the Lord and Saviour can
find nothing noteworthy. so marvellous
in profundity and breadth OF statement
as st. Pauls letters. Johns Gospel is
OF course among the richest treasures
OF the Book, bat it Is the sayings OF
Jesus recorded therein that constitute
its tremendous wealth. We purpose
briefly to deal with a few words
of the great Apostle and a most WON
drous scene recorded in the Book OF
32nd verse inclusive. 1t is too full for
our space except for lightest touch. 1t
is a grand lesson showing us that it
is Gods promises that bind US to His
commasds-a very significant PROPOSE
tion. In the first verse indicated Paul
said to all on board, 270 souls, 'tSirs. we
should have hearkened unto me-" There
V the trouble with man in his dealings
! With ~Jehovah-he does not hearken-
does not heed and obey until too late
oil d"1u1 IClCCllOu. II CAu
= cometh then it is mad plain that
mans folly brings his own condemna-
ton. God will be obeyed. Ali is con-
ditioned upon needing and serving
| God, walking obediently according to
| His commands which are not grievous.
On shipboard nearly three hundred
! lives were at the mercy Of the waves.
Paul had given due notice, due warm
ing, but he was not regarded, and now
an immediate death stares every one Of
them in the face. The great sea was
tempestuous and their lives were in
, very great jeopardy. If they had obey
ed Paul the vessel would have been
secure~in harbor for all winter. But
alas! it was now greatly tempest lost
alas! it WASH owgreat ly tempest tost
come and all would find burial in "the
deep sea in~carnadine." This carries a
lesson and a warning to every reader
of the Scriptural record or of these
comments. It will be indeed a most
sad, solemn, bitter experience in eter-
nifty to think how God was despised,
His words unheeded, his promises n
warnings, his entreaties and commands
were spurned as the empty words of a
mere man. Those who treat the Bible
as a fable, as so much emptiness, sig
nifying nothing, will have the endless
beyond in which to discove their
fatal mistake now become forever ir-
remediable. Then memory will bring
back to them much they have forgot
ten. The awful past will appear to re.
Duke them and the truth Of God will
be amply INDICATED and be pressed
upon them again and again that it
might have been quite otherwise, but
now, alas! it is forever too late. They
will then realize how dreadful the mis-
take, how fatal their conduct, how stu
pid their folly, how powerful is the
word of Jehovah, King of kings and
Lord of lords. The fulfillment Of truth
in their eternal loss and condemnation
will come upon them with fearful re-
Duke and pain. Repinings will then be
too late. Pleas for mercy will then
come back to them empty. All their
| gain will prove to them an everlasting
loss. "Sirs, We should have hearkened
unto me-" Now the time of probation
is ended. The destiny Of the soul ia
fixed; the doors of mercy are closed,
the Saviour is IN the throne of judg-
ment. Then Gods wonderful pleadings
and entreaties and invitations and
warnings will come up with tremen-
dous force and with awful penalties.
Listen to God; Because I have called.
and We refused; I have stretched out
my hand, and no man regarded; but
we ave set at naught all my counsel.
and would lone of my proof: I also
will laugh at your calamity, I will
mock when you fear cometh; when
your e cometh as d%esolation, and
your destruction cometh as a whirl-
wind" Most memorable, most awful,
most solemn, most tremendous wOrds!
Treasure them. "Sirs, We should have
hearkened unto me-" We must reserve
the consideration of other portions of
the lesson for another time.