The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-22

and the sun will again break forth from behind the clouds, and. in gala day attire, we shall sail into the harbor of our, desti- nation" He did not prophecy pleasant voyage with all friends gathered on the shore to greet them as they disembar<ed. He did not say, We shall only be de- taned a few days and then hnrrah for the pleasures of life in the cityl" Oh. no; that was not Pauls way. He told the truth. He said: "Men. we shall be saved; but, like Job, we shall only escape as by the skin of our teeth. We must be- come waterlogged. We must beach our craft and 1t will be beaten and gnashed into kindlings. We must lose all our cargo and personal baggage. We shall be rescued alive. but that Is all" Then. when the sailors saw the literal fulfill ment of the prophecy of Paul. their faith in their leader and in their leaders God not only continued, but increased day by day
 Trial and Adversity.
 l believe that in urging men to come to Christ We make a mistake when we do not frankly state the hardships and diff | faculties of the Christian life There are, 1 as every experienced Christian knows, | sacrifices that must be made, priYations l that must be endured, struggles that must be fought. It is better that we ac- knowledge the fact. as Christ did when | | his disciples. If we fail to tell them that they must expect trial and perhaps diversity in following Christ they will consider that they have been deceived and will be disappointed and discouraged when they encounter trouble. As Paul | told these men that they would have to | battle with the waves and be In danger of death on that rocky coast before they | reached safety, so we should tell men | that the way to heavenly joys Is often l hard and tosome. Paul demanded of those passengers and sailors of the Alex andrian corn ship the same sacrifices for | their physical salvation which Hernando Cortes demanded of his followers for the conquest of Mexico. During one of his marches the Spanish soldiers became dis affected. Cortes assembled his men in line. Men. some of you are grumbling," he said substantially. Some of you want to know what rewards I have to offer you at this time This Is my an- swer." Then. drawing a line upon the ground with the edge of his sword, he pointed with his steel toward the great east and said, "On that side of this line are ease and comfort, home and friends and life of ease in fair Spain" Then pointing to the great west, he said: "Yon- der are sickness and privation and hun ger and cold and death. But wonder is the beautiful capital of the Montezumas
 
 day as ye will. Choose ye as brave Cas- ! tilians."
 l Christ today. like Paul. like Fernando | Cortes, promises his followers not peace | but struggle and privation; not ease and | comfort, but storm and suffering and trials and misery But in the end. like l Paul. Christ assures you of salvation l Aye. more than Paul offered to the | shpwrecked sailors and passengers of the Alexandrian corn ship Christ offers | to you spiritual redemption for time and | for eternity. Men and women. are you ready to face suffering and sacrifice in the name of Jesus Christ? Are you will ing to believe him and trust in him, even in crises when your life seems | hopeless shipwreck?
 1 Courage, Christian Brother" 1 But why should not the passengers and | crew of the Alexandrian corn ship he of good cheer? Did not the prophetic words of Paul literally come true2 When the mighty ship struck the beach what 1 happened? Paul turned to the brawny armed men about him and said. Leap | into the surf and swim for your lives 1 And these stout limbed men flung them selves into the seething waters and swan ] on until at last their feet touched the