Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-21

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 rs they discmbarkcd.
He did not say. I'VE shall only he de
tanned few days and then hurrah
for the pleasures of life in the city"
Oh. no; that was not I'auls way. lie
told the truth. He said: Men. we
shall be saved: but. like Job. we shall
only escape as 10y the skin of our
teeth. We must become waierlogged.
We must beach our craft and il will
be beaten and CRASHED into kindings.
We must lose all our cargo and per
sonal baggage. We shall he rescued
alive. but that is ALL" Then. when the
sailors saw the literal fuliilmcnt 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 Advcrsity.
believe that in urging meif To come
to Christ we make mistake when we
do not frankly state the har,lships and
difficulties of the Christian life. There
are. as every experienced Christian
knows. sacrifices that must be made.
privations that must he endured. strug-
giles that must be fought. II Is better
that we acknowledge the fact. as
Christ did when men came To him Of
fering themselves as his disciples II
we fail To tell them that they must ex-
pect trial and perhaps adversely In fol-
lowing 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 bat
tie 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 il often
hard and toilsome. Paul demanded OF
those passengers and sailors of the
Alexandrian corn ship the same sacri-
fees for their physical salvation which
fernando Cortes demanded of his fol-
lowers for the conquest of Mexico.
During one of his marches the Span
ish soldiers became disaffected. Cortes
assembled his men in line. Men. some
of You are grumblng." he said sub
stantially. "Some of you want TO know
yt-ha at..l.. \ In -. IN
this time. This is my answer" Then.
drawing 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 a
life Of ease In fair SPAIN Then.
pointing to the great west. he said /:
"Yonder are sickness and privatiOn
and hunger and cold and death But
yOnder is the beautiful capital of the
MOnteZumas. Which shall he yours {!
Choose We this day rs We will. Choose
We as brave Castilians'
Christ today. like Paul. like Herman
do Cortes. promises his followers not
peace. but struggle and privation: not
ease and comfort. but storm and suf-
fering AMI trials and misery But in
the end. like Paul. Christ assures you
OF salvation. Aye. more than Paul of
fered To the shipwrecked sailors and
passengers of the Alcxandrian corn
ship. Christ offers to you spiritual re-
demption for time and for eternity.
Men and women. are You ready To face
suffering and sacrifice in the name OF
Jesus Christ: Are yon willing to be
lieve him and trust in him. even in
crises when your life seems Il hopeless
shipwreck:
'COurREe. Christian Brother
But why should not the passengers
and crew of the AlcXandrian corn ship
be of good cheer: Did not the prophetic
words of Paul literally come true:
When the mighty ship struck the beach
what happened? Paul turned 10 the
brawny armed men about him and said.
Leap into the surf and swim for your
lives" And these stout limbcd men
flung themselves into the scething wa
tiers and swan on until ut last their
feet touched the shore and they made
ready to rescue their struggling friends.
Some of the women. being in all prob
ability strapped TO spars. were lifted
by the heaving pillows and swept upon
the rocks. where they We're rescued.
Some of the men may have come
ashore clinging TO boards and broken
gunwales. At times IL seemed as
though they must he washed off. but
somehow they are nj last all landed.
So in the end Of time ana in the be-
be safely brought TO the heavenly
shores. through stress and storm and
peril. il may he. but still safe. Yes. We