Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-05-20

standing upon the rocking. heaying
deck of vessel whose hull was grad.
ually filling with water and telling the
passengers and the crew to eat and
look after their bodies. as God would
surely save them on the morrow.
Care OF the Body.
Ii is surprising how little some peo-
pie care for the body i'm times of sick
ness. heard my mother say some
years ago: Il was just down to see
Elder Nichols. He was morbid and
depressed | said to him. What have
you eaten today. Mr. NichollsT OH
he answered. L have taken nothing but
a little tea and "a cracker. | cannot
eat Ny 1 said. this will not dol
You must eat or you will never get
strong! So | went aud cooked him an
egg and made him some good toast
and procured for him n little fruit. and
before / left be was as bright and
cheerful as man could be. Ii does
seem to me that half OF our lack of
faith in God comes from physical de.
pietion and not from spiritual weak.
ness" Yes, my mother was right.
The same law that applied TO Elder
Nichols of the Brooklyn tabernacle
applied to the passengers and crew of
the Mediterranean corn ship. When
they saw Paufs faith they believed
When they bad eaten and cared for the
body they began to be OF good cheer
My brother, when you do Gods work.
do not think ii beneath your spiritual
dignity to obey Gods physical laws
Paul praying, a mighty example for us
TO look after the spiritual bodies: Paul
eating food, mighty example for Us
TO care for our physical bodies.
Why were the crew and passengers
OF the Alexandrian corn ship of good
cheer? Foul had not deceived them
az 10 the manner of their coming
rescue. He had bluntly yet clearly told
them what would happen, and. as
events were turning out just as he had
described. they were not IN the least
astonished when the ship came within
sight OF land and they knew that she
was doomed. Though the vessel might
be lost. they felt that their own lives
were to be saved.
just read very carefully. II you will.
the account OF this prophecy. Paul
Gid not stand forth In the midst of
them and say: "Oh. men. the tornado
will cease, and the pillows Of the sea
shall lie down, and the sun will again
break forth from behind the clouds.
and, In gala day attire, we shall sail
Into the harbor of our destination"
He did not prophesy a pleasant voyage
with all friends gathered on the shore
to greet them as they disemba rked.
lie did not say. I'VE shall only be de-
tanned a few days and then hurrah
FOR the pleasures OF life in the cityr'
Oh. no; that was not Paul's 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 become waterlogged.
We must beach our craft and II will
De beaten and CRASHED into kindlings.
we must lose all our cargo and per-
sonal baggage. We shall be rescued
alive. but that Is ALL" Then. when the
sailors saw the literal fulfillment OF
he prophecy OF Paul, their faith I'm
heir leader and In their leaders God
not only continued, but increased day
ly day.
Trial and Advcrsfty.
! believe that i'm urging men to come
20 Christ we make a mistake when we
10 not frankly state the hardships and
difficulties OF the Christian life. There
ire. 6s every experienced Christian
Knows. sacrifices that must be made.
)rivations that must be endured, struy.
sles that must be fought. 1t is better
hat we acknowledge the fact. as
Christ did when men came to him OF.
'ering themselves as his disciples. III
We fail to tell them that they must ex.
'ect trial and perhaps adversely In fol.
owing Christ they Will consider that
hey have been deceived and Will be
disappointed and discouraged when
hey encounter trouble. AS Paul told
hese men that they would have TO bat.
lie with the waves and be I'm danger OF
ieath on that rocky coast before they
eached safety, so we should tell men
nat the way to heavenly joys IL often
lard and toilsome. Paul demanded OF
nose passengers and sailors of the
Alexandrian corn ship the same sacri-
ices for their physical salvation which
fernando Cortes demanded OF his fol-
overs for the conquest OF Mexico.
During one OF his marches the Snnn-
sh soldiers became disaffected. Cortes
ssembled his men In line. Men, some
Il you are grumbiing." be said sub
tantially. Some or you want to know
What rewards ! have 10 offer Won nj
MS time. This Is my answer" Then.
lrawing line upon the ground with
ne edge or his sword. he pointed with
lis steel toward the great east and
aid. ION that side OF this line are ease
nd comfort, home and friends ana n
lie or ease in fair SPAIN" Then.
'ointing to the great west, he said
fonder are sickness and priyation
no munger and cold and death. But
onder is the beautiful capital of the
iontezunas. Which shall be yoursp
moose We this day as We will. Choose
e as brave Castilians."
Christ today. like Paul. like Herman
o Cortes, promises HIS followers not
eace. but struggle and privation; not
ase ana comfort. but storm and suf-
ering and trials and misery. But I'm
ne end, like Paul. Christ assures Won
salvation. Aye. more than Paul Of
cred to the shipwrecked sailors and
assengers OF the Alexandrian corn
nip. Christ offers to you spiritual re-
emption for time and for eternity.
len and women. are you ready to face
nnering and sacrifice In the name OF |
esus Christ? Are you willing to be.
eve him and trust In him. even In
rises when your life seems hopeless
hipwreck?
Courage, Christian Brother.
But why should not the passengers
nj crew OF the AlexandrIan corn shin
or good cheer? Did not the prophetic
'ords of Paul literally come true?
When the mighty ship struck the beach
NAT happened? Paul turned to the
rawny armed men about him and said |
Leap into the surf and swim for your
ves." And these stout Iimbed men
ung themselves into the seething wa.
,rs and SWAN on until at last their
set touched the shore and they made
'ady to rescue their struggling friends
ONE or the women, being in all prob.
70 ~ |