The Grit-advocate., 1900-06-15

! going to be change OF weather. AnC
even the passengers can hear tn,
roaming Of the storm as it comes or
with great stride and all the terror.
Of hurricane and darkness. The large
boat trembles like deer at bay amons
the clangor Of the hounds; grea
! patches of foam are flung into the air;
the sails Of the vessel loosen and ir
the strong wind crack like pistols; tn,
smaller boats. like petrels, poise or
the cliffs OF the waves and ther
plunge. Overheard go cargo, tacklint
and masts. and the drenched disciples
rush into the back part of the boa
and lay hold OF Christ and say untc
him, Master. carest thou not that ",
perish?"
That great parsonage lifts his heat
from the pillow Of the fisherman's
coat, walks to the front of the vesse
and looks out into the storm. AL
around him are the smaller boats ,driv
en- In the tempest. and through ii
comes the cry Of drowning men. BY
the flash of the lightning I see the
calm brow of Christ as the spray drop.
ped from his beard. He has one WORD
for the sky and another for the waves
Looking upward, he cries, "Peace!'
Looking downward, he says" "Be still!'
The waves fall fiat on their faces. the
foam melts. the extinguished stars re-
light their torches. The tempest falls
dead, and Christ stands with his foot
on the neck of the storm. And while
the sailors are baling out the boats
and while they are trying to untangle
the cordage the disciples stand in
Amusement, now looking into the calm
sea, then into the calm sky, then into
the calm Savior's countenance, and
they cry out, What manner of man is
this, that even the winds and the sea
obey him?"
The subject, in the first place, inn
presses me with the fact that it is very
important to have Christ in the ship;
for all these boats would have gone to
the bottom of Gennesaret if Christ had
not been present. Oh. what lessen
for. you and for me to learn! What
ever voyage we undertake, into what
ever enterprise we start. let us have
Christ in the ship. All you can do
with utmost tension of body, mind
and soul you are bound to do; but,
oh, have Christ in every enterprissl
Seeking Gods Help.
There are men who ask Gods help
at the beginning of great enterprises.
He has been with them in the past;
no trouble can overthrow them: the
storms might come down from the top
Of Mount Hermon and lash Genne-
saret into foam and into agony, but
it could not hurt them. But here is
another man who starts out in worldly
enterprise. and he depends upon the
uncertainties of this life. He has no
God to help him. After awhile the
storm comes, tosses of the masts Of
the ship; he puts out his life and
the long boat; the sheriff and the auc-
tioneer try to help him off; they can't
help him off; he must go down: no
Christ in the ship. Your life will be
made up of sunshine and shadows
There may be in it arctic blasts or
tropical tornadoes; I know not what is
before you. but I know II you have
Christ with you all shall be we'll. You
may seem to get along without the
religion of Christ while everything
goes smoothly, but after awhile, when
sorrow hovers over the soul, when the
waves OF trial dash clear over the
hurricane deck and the decks are
crowded with piratical disasters-oh,
what would Won do then without