The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-23

and blessed.
Then what do we want 7 A swimmer
strong swimmer. q swift swimmer!
And. blessed be God. in my text we have
him announced. He shall spread forth
his hands In the midst of them, as he
that swimmeth stretched forth his hands
to SWIM" You have noticed that when
a swimmer goes to rescue any one he
puts of his heavy apparel. He must not
have any such impeachment about him il
he Is going to do this great deed And
when Christ stepped forth to save us he
shook off the sandals of heaven, and his
feet were free. and then he stepped down
into the wave OF our transgressi0ns, and
1t came up over his wounded feet, and it
came above the spear stab In his side
aye, 1t dashed to the lacerated temple,
the high water mark of his anguish.
Then, rising above the food, "he stretch
ed forth his hands in the midst of them,
as be that swimmeth spreadeth forth his
hands to SWIM"
All Faculties In Play.
If you have ever watched swimmer,
you notice that his whole body is brought
Into play. The arms are fexed. the
hands drive the water back, the knees are
active, the head Is thrown back to escape
strangulation, the whole body is in pro-
pulsion. And when Christ sprang into
the deep to save us he threw his entire
nature into it--all his godhead, his omnis-
cience, his goodness, his love. his omnip-
otence, head, heart, eyes, hands, feet. We
were far out on the sea and SO deep down
In the waves and SO far out from the shore
that nothing short Of an entire God could
save US. Christ leaped out for our res
cue, saying, 10, l come to do thy will"
and all the surges Of human and satanic
hate beat against him, and those who
watched him from the gates of heaven
feared he would 60 down under the wave
and instead of saving others would him
self perish, but, putting his breast to the
foam and shaking the surf from his locks,
he came on and on until he is now within
the reach of every one here, eye omnis-
Client, heart infinite, arm omnipotent,
mighty to save, even unto the uttermost.
Oh, it was not half God that tram
pied down believing Gennesaret; 1t was
not quarter Of God that mastered the
demons Of Gadara; it was not two-thirds
of God that lifted up Lazarus into the
arms of his overjoyed sisters; it was not
a fragment of God who offered pardon
and peace to all the race. No. This
mighty swimmer threw his grandeur, his
glory, his might, his wisdom, his omnipo-
tence and his eternity into this one act.
1t took both hands of God to save us
both feet. How do prove it? On the
cross were not both hands nailed? On
the cross were not both feet spiked? His
entire nature involved in our redemption!
II you have lived much by the water,
you notice also that IL any one is going
out to the rescue of the drowning he
must be Independent, self reliant, able to
go alone. There may be time when he
must spring out to save one, and he can
not get lfeboat, and If he goes out and
has not strength enough to bear himself
up and bear another up he will sink, and
pillows you will have two to drag out.
When Christ sprang out into the sea to
deliver us, he had no life buoy. His.
Father did not help him. Alone in the
wine press, alone in the pang, alone in
the darkness, alone on the mountain,
alone in the sea! Oh, If he saves lis, he
shall have all the credit, for there was
none to help" No oar, no wing, no lad
ler When Nathaniel Lyon fell in the
battle charge in front of his troops, he
mad whole army to cheer him. When
Marshal Ney sprang into the contest
and plunged in the spurs till the horses
tanks spurted blood, all France applaud
ID him. But Jesus alone! "Of the peo-
pie there was none to help" "All for
look him and fed" Oh, 1t was not
iotilla that sailed down and saved lis.
It was not cluster of gondolas that
.ame over the wave. 1t was one person,
and Alone. spreading out
ais hands among us as swimmer
,preadeth forth his hands to swim"
Christ the Rescuer.
Behold, then, the spectacle Of drown.
ny soul and Christ the swimmer! l be-
ieye 1t was in 1S48 when there were six
English soldiers Of the Fifth fusileers
Who were hanging to a capsized boat--a
BOAT that had been upset by squall |
hree miles from shore. 1t was In the |
light, but one man swan nightly for |
he beach, guided by the dark mountains
hat lifted their top through the night.
lie came to the beach. He found
horeman that consented to go with him
md save the other men, and they put
nut. 1t was some time before they could
ind the place where the men We're, but
fter awhile they heard their cry, Help,
lelp" and they bore down to them, and
hey saved them and brought them to
hore. Oh, that this moment our cry
night be lifted long, loud and shrill till
Jhrist, the swimmer, shall come and take
IS lest we drop thousand fathoms un-
Ter!
If You have been much by the water,
on know very well that when one is in
eril help must come very quickly, or it
will be Of no use. One minute may de-
idc everything Immediate help the man
wants or no help at all. Now, that is just
he kind of relief we want. The case is
rgent, imminent, instantaneous. See
hat soul sinking. Son of God, lay hold
I him. Be quick. be quick! Oh, wish
OH all understood how urgent this gospel
! There was a man in the navy at sea
ho had been severely whipped for bad
ehavior, and he was maddened by it and
aped into the sea, and no sooner had he
aped into the sea than, quick as light
Ing, an albatross swooped upon him.
he drowning man, brought to his senses,
'iZed hold of the ubatross and held on.
he iluttering Of the bird kept him on the
ave until relief could come. Would now
lat the dove Of Gods cOnvicting, con-
,rting and saving spirit might flash from
lc throne upon your soul and that you,
king hold Of its potent wing, might live
I'd live forever.