The Yale expositor., 1897-09-03

lin estone, flashing from the hills, and
bounding into the sea. On the shore
were castles, armed towers. Roman
baths, everything atticc i've and beau
tiful; all styles of vegetation in short
er srace than in almost any other space
In all the world, from the palm tree
OF the forest to the trees OF a rigorous
climate.
1t seemed as IL the Lord had launch
ed one wave of beauty on all the scene.
and it hung and swung from rock and
hill and Oleander. Roman gentlemen
in pleasure boats sailing the lake, and
countrymen in fish-smacAs coming
down to drop their nets, pass each
other with nod ard shout and laughter
or swinging idly at their moorings. oh,
what a wonderful. what a beautiful
lake!
II seems as II we shall have a quiet
night. Not a leaf winked in the air;
not ripr.e disturbed the face OF Gen
nesaret; but there seems to be a little
excitement up the beach. and We hast
en- to see what it is, and we find it an
emEarkatiop
From the western shore a flotilla
pushing out; not a squadron. or dead
ly armament, nor clipper with valuable
merchandise, nor pirate vessels ready
to destroy everyth ng they could seize:
but flotlla, bearing messengers OF
life, and light, and peace. Christ is in
the front OF the boat. His disciples
are in a smaller boat. Jesus, weary
with much speaking to large multi
tudes. is put into somnolence by the
rocking of the waves. II there was
any motion at all, the ship was easily
righted: IL the wind passed from one
side, from the starboard to the lar
board. or from the larboard to the star
board. the boat would rock, ard by the
gentleness Of the motion putting the
Master asleep. And they eXtempor-
iZed a pillow made out OF q f1sherman's
coat. think no sooner is Christ pros
trate. and his head touching the pill
low, than he is sound asleep. The
breezes OF the lake run their fingers
through the locks of the worn sleeper.
and the boat rises and falls like a
sleeping child on the bosom of a sleep
ing mother.
The subject in the first place i'm
presses me with the fact that il is very
important to have Christ in the ship;
for all those boats would have gone
TO the bottom OF Gennesaret II Christ
had not been present. Oh. what a les
son for you and for me to learn! What
ever voyage We undertake, into what
ever enterprise we start. let us always
have Christ in the ship. Many Of you
in these days of revived commerce are
starting out In new financial enter
prses: l bid you good cheer. Do all
you can do. Do it on as high a plane
as possible. You have no right to be
a stoker N the ship If you can be
an admiral of the navy. You have no
right to be colonel of a regiment II
you can command a brigade; you have
no right to be engineer of a boat on
river-banks, or near the coast, IL you
can take the ocean steamer from New
York to Liverpool. All you can do with
utmost tension OF body, mind and soul
you are bound to do; but oh! have
Christ in every enterprise. Christ in
every voyage. Christ in every ship.
There are men who ask God TO help
them at the start of great enterprises
He has been with them in the past
no trouble can overthrow them; the
storms might come down from the tor
OF Mt. Hermon, and lash Gennesaret
into foam and into agony, but IL could
not hurt them. But here is another
man who starts out in worldly enter
prise, and he depends upon the uncer-
tainties OF this life. He has no God tc
help him. After awhile the storm
comes, and losses off the masts
OF the ship; he puts out his life
boat: the sheriff and the auctioneeI
try to help him on they can't hell
| him off; he must go down: no Christ
in the ship. Here are young men JUS
starting out In life. Your life wiz bt
made up of sunshine and shadow. There
may be in 1t arctic blasts or trop ca
tornadoes know not what is before
you, but know If you have Christ with
you all shall be well.
You may seem to get along withou
the religion of Christ while everything
goes smoothly. but after awhile. wher
sorrow hovers over the soul, when thu
waves of trial dash clear over the hur
r.cane deck. and the bowsprit is shiv
cred, and the halliards are swept into
the sea, and the gangway is crowded
with piratical disasters-oh, wha
would you then do without Christ II
the ship? Young man. take God To-
your portion, God for your guide, Coz
for your help; then all is we'll; all Il
well for time. all shall be well forever
Blessed is that man who puts in tn,
Lord his trust. He shall never be con
founded.
But my subject also impresses m,
with the fact that when people star
to follow Christ they must not expec
smooth sailing. These disciples go
into the small boats, and / have NJ
doubt they said. what a beautiful da!
this Isl What o smooth seal Wha
a bright sky this Is! How delightful