The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-13
A SERMON
Preached by Rev. W. g. Gapers in Grace
Episcopal Church, a Anderson, S. O.,
September Q, 1899.


son Of a great wind that blew. So
when they had rowed about fve-and-
twenty or thirty furlongs, they see
Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing
nigh unto the ship. But he said unto
them, tits I: be not afraid. - John
vi: 1920.
The Sea of Galilee, or, as it is often
called, the Lake Of Genessaret, was,
during the prosperity Of the Holy
Land, veritable Lake Michigan.
Her blue waters, restless and impa-
tient, seemed to delight in being toss
ed and rolled, and even lashed, into
foam and spray blythe sudden, violent
winds, that would literally dart down
from the surrounding heights upon
her sportive waves. Yet all the while
this beautiful sea was alive with every
manner of craft, bearing the trade
from the far East to the Custom
House in Capernaum.
And never was sea surrounded by
q more beautiful country. "The
smiling landscape Of Lower Galilee IN
svites the easy labor Of the agricultu-
ralist. Even the highlands Of Upper
Galilee were not like those Of Judea,
sombre, lonely, enthusiasm-kindling,
but glorionsly grand, free, fresh, brac-
Ing. It was here that Asshur
had dipped his foot in oils In
the centres Of industry in this fertile
land, all then known trades were busi-
" carried on: the husbandman pur-
sued his happy toll on genial soil,
while BY the sea, with its unrivalled
beauty, lis rich villages and lovely re-
treats, the fisherman piled his healthy
.Iarocation.
Suchya sea as the central setting Of
such scenery is enough to inspire en-
thusiastic admiration. But the beau
sty of the sea and the loveliness Of the
surrounding hill and dale and noun
tain peak, are the minor attractions
Of this lovely stretch Of water. The
precious jewels Of this sea have'caught
the gaze Of the world, and have
brought the beholders with lovipgrey-
erence upon their knees. It is the
lustre oil these jewels that is the
crowning charm, and these jewels are
the footprints Of Jesus along the Gal
ilean shores. The central, brilliant
jewel is His footprint in the middle Of
the sea aiming to teach us lesson
Of faith-assnring us that amid the
storms Of life our Saviour is ever with
us.
# No spot in all the world is so per-
fectly surrounded blythe loving and
miraculous works Of God as this Sea
.of Galiles. On the north coast, He
fed the FIVE thousand. On the east,
He quieted the spirit Of the maniac,
and restored his mind. On the south,
he fed the four thousand. On the
West, HE healed the sick, restored
sight to the blind, and made the lame
leap as . hart FOR JOY. In the sea
itself, He taught the thronging multi
tude, making the boat His pulpit,
while the very waves felt His presence
and obeyed His voice.
Nowsit is upon this hallowed sea that
We behold the disciples, separated
from their Master, wrestling with one
Of those frequent Wind-storms Of Gal
lice. Darkness had overtaken them;
their journey was but half ended; four
more miles Of toll against wind and
wave were before them. No doubt
they longsd for the presence Of Jesus,
no doubt they thought upon His d.
vine powers, and missed His sweet
companiopship. Itis only natural to
suppose that such thoughts were in
their minds, and that His name was
upon their lips. Little did they
dream thas in the darkness and storm
His actual presence was with them.
His outline, when first seen moving
along the troubled waters, startled
their senses; then each one persuaded
the other Of the reality Of the appari
tion; fear then seized them that q
spirit was their visitor; the supernat-
ural held them spell-bound. In the
crises Of the storm, the stroke Of the
oar lost it's vigor, the steersman slack
ened his grip upon the helm, the wind
and wa1es began to exercise mas
terry over the little craft, when Jesus,
in this hour Of peril, called forth, 1T
is I; be not afraid
Oh, the JOY Of that moment, to re-
cognize their Saviour and Friend,
S when life seemed lost! Oh, the 10y