Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-26
mo MORE SEA"
4 SHORT SERMON. BY
REV. WILLIAM ii. BANCROFT.
And there was no more sea. -Rcv. .I:i.

And there was no more sea.-Rcv. Il: /.
Never shall forget my first sight of
the ocean. Ii made upon my mind an
impression that shall carry with me to
the grave. What sublimity in those
fire tipped waves flashing their light
ming in air and breaking in thunder on
the beach. What grandeur in those emer-
aid depths flecked with sunbeams, and
stretching far ont, until lost TO view. in
the distance,-the courtship of the sea
and sky ending in bridal at the bouuda
nv line of the horizon. How glorious
the blue heavens that overarched that
glistcning surface. those heavens here
and there shaded with clouds Of white,
aud those clouds changing every mo-
ment, as if some aerial artist were up
there giving exhibitions of his skill. Re-
calling the vision of that summers day,
with its poetry of surf written IN lyric
verse upon the sand, with its poetry of
pillows written in blank verse across the
waters, and with its poetry of sky writ.
ten in epic verse above, must say that,
To me, the ocean is one of the master
pieces of God.
In Johns inspired description of the
new earth that is tn be. however, that
new earth tn rise out of the ashes of the
old. we are met by the statement, And
there was no more sea-" What can be
the meaning of that strange declaration:
One would think that in world that is
to be transcendently magnificent one
sea, at least. would be necessary from
an aesthetic point of view. Even if
there shall he no need of oceans as high.
ways Of commerce. il is startling to read
of their absence, that absence leaving
out of the everlasting world of the re.
deemed what makes this present world
richly beautiful.
But not knowing the real reason for
the withdrawal of the sea from the new
earth. we may use Johns words in a
typical sense.
i. / would remark. that the text is
cmblematic of Interchangeable peace Go
stand down on the oceans beach, and
behold how variable is the sea. OFF yon-
der, where before, only few moments
ago. the sunbeams danced in sport, like
children out for holiday. there is gath
ering mist. as if some giant maid were
wrapping about her form hiding veil
Then, while you still gaze, that film of
sprayed water lifts, like a curtain raised
by fingers invisible, and i'm the ofiing
there is a panorama of flashing sails,
those sails stiff with wind and over those
passing vessels the blue sky bends, as
If breathing upon them a benediction,
wishing them safe and prosperous
voyage. Look, too. at the fieecy vapors
that hang laZily above! They are as
tickle as coquette with dozen hearts
AT her command Even while You view
them they change-now floating. and as
they move, altering their shape. Here
they widen: there they lcngthen: and
presently they narrow, finally melting
away. like snow heaps under the warm
breath of the sun, aud leaving the
oceans sky all blue. But look now.
Over ON the horizon is speck of dark
ness. II grows into deep shadow. Sud
denly along the edge of that accumula-
ted gloom there is glare of light, and
in a little while you hear a growl of
thunder over the waves 4 storm il on
the way. Do You feel its breath: The
winds begin TO sweep the floor of the
sea, and the white dust of foam rises.
The tempest breaks. and you are glad
10 run for shelter from its electric fury
Thus. day after day. and night after
night, does the sea have Its moods, as if
II were "a sentient being, and the lover
of Nature never tires of watching il,
even as one never grows weary OF OBJ
serving a mobile face. that face alter
nately illumed and shaded beneath the
thoughts and emotions that walk, wiz
ard-like. through the brain.
The sea, therefore, | take il, is 70 fit
ting symbol of the unrest and disq1iet-
ude that agitate your life and mine.
Human existence is an everchanging
ocean. But in the new world of Gods
redeemed there shall he stability and
permanencc of peace. mo more sea-"
IL may have been that this very
thought came into the mind of the old
grayhaired Apostle. sitting in exile on
Patmos, and watching the ebb and flow
of the tides around his island home and
noting the changeableness Of the depths
that surged at his feet. When there
rose before his entranced vision the re-
splendent glories of the Apocalypse, and
he beheld the new earth. clothed in
tranquility, he exclaimed, And there
was no more sea-"
III. Again. remark, the text may be
considered as emblematic of freedom
from trial. The sea is the playground
of storms. What rude sport the hurri-
canes have when they stir the waters
with their running feet. How they race
around the vessels onward bound, and
swiftly leap over decks or climb up the
ratlines, Many gallant ship, with all
on board. has found "a grave in those
turbulent depths-lost in mid ocea n and
never heard waiting for the sound
Of the last trump. Nav those who shall
rise at that call pass mp to the right
hand Of the Judge, Woe. if their resur-
rcction should be the everlasting wreck
of the soul,
In Johns day the sea had numerous
tcrrors. Such tcrrors are yet upon it,
even in these times of lighthouses upon
the rocks, those bcacons circling the
coasts of earth at night with fire. Man
has made long strides towards conquer
ing the sea since John wrote on Patmos,
but he Is not its master. With all his
huge vessels of iron and steel: with all his
towers, capped with radiance, fer guild
ing the mariner outward or homcward;
with all his scientific appliances for res
cuing impcrilled life. the sea has not vet
surrendered to him its sceptre As the
place. therefore. of fierce winds and
treachcrous waves. the sea is an appro-
pirate symbol of the disappointments