The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-12-27
christ STILLETH THE
TEMPEST "PEACE, Be
Still" MARK
", SO.

avs W.
IA sermon by Christian lavman Of Of
Westminster, to Take WIN US
through the New Year,
rho following reflections on this
+ N we're written by lay member
of one of the Protestant Churches OF
Westminster. AS a colncloence OIL
oon+iment the author states that lay
aean of another Westminster Protest
M church, who was shown these re-
@ncricns, handed him the little poem
;th which they are concluded, and
v mtTl was written by that layman in
,nnn - wears before this sermon on
i LSo snhiect was conceived. There was
lL Iollusion between the author of
~ sermon and the author OF the
poem.
~Peace. BE STILL" Mark IV, 80.
These who are familiar with
Now Testament Scripture will not
rood 70 be told when, where, by whom
I'D under what circumstances these
~-nrds we're spoken. In imagination
NAV will see a little lake or inland
zoo not more than fifteen miles long
and nine miles i'm width at its widest
nart Over this sea a little craft,
ppa11nd bv courtesy a ship, was cross
mo- Al a point where the distance
from shore to shore is not more than
four or five miles. Whether the YES
sci was being propelled by sails or by
oars. | know not, but that craft ofits
character was on one occasion, oar
driven we have clear testimony, because
the yovagers in it were "toiling in row.
ing Hence it may be fair to infer that
IN the previous occasion now under con-
cidaration, oars were also used. The
number of voyagers then was thirteen
and one of them lay in profound slum-
her on a pillow in the hinder part of
the ship. A great storm had come
down from Mount Hermon and burst
mon the sea with tremendous fury.
Storms on this little sheet Of water
we're not then infrequent, nor are they,
il il said, infrequent now, but | be-
lieve the storm to which alluslon Is
now being made was the most violent
that ever fell upon Gallilee; that, in
all probability, it was the work Of the
Prince of the Power of the Air, the
arch-enemy of the human race, and
was raised by him for the purpose of
destroying the slumberer and thus eX-
posing humanity to the unopposed
effect of his Satanic hatred and NAL
ice. Whether that be so, or not, how
ever, the picture given of its fury by
the Eyangelists Matthew, Mark and
Luke leaves no reason to doubt that
its intensity was So great that few,
if any, of the ships that dotted the
waters on which the Saviour of man
kind and mis- disciples were voyaging
could have survived it. This thought
leads ne TO the supposition that their
little vessel was the centre OF the
storm and that it's whole force was
concentrated upon the frail bark In
which the fate of humanity was cen
tered, and that other portions of the
sea were less agitated and voyagers
upon it apparently less endangered
But the alarmed disciples of Jesus
were really in no danger; their APP
prehensions were groundless. Satan
if his was the agency that aroused the
Storm had reckoned without knoWl-
edge. He was impotent when deal
ing with the Son of God.
1t is not necessary, however, to at
tribute the storm to the influence OF
Satanic malevolence to be assured
that the lives of those aboard the lit
tie craft were not imperiled by its
terrific force, though the ship was
tossed upon the raging waves like an
eggshell was full of water and ap-
parently in a sinking condition. This
will appear from the question asked
the disciples by Jesus after the ap-
parent peril was, oyer-"Why are We
so fearful? how is it that We have no
faith If they had known before
as they did after the storm ceased,
that wind and wave were subject to
His control, they would probably have
been less fearful. That they were
amazed at the power he displayed is
evident from their conversation with
each other, which followed the sup
preston of the hurricane. What
manner of man is this" was the ques-
ton on each tongue, that even the
they were afraid. For Jesus had re-
buked the wind and said to the sea,
Peace, be STILL And, as one of the
Evangelists records it, there was a
great calm" The wind had ceased
in moment and, what seemed more
remarkable, the waves had subsidized
and sank at once to rest and the sur
lace of the sea had become as placid
as If 1t had never been stirred by a
storm.
cannot think that the disciples
We're utterly without faith in the
miraculous power Of the Master. In
deed, 1t is only in the Gospel accord
Ing to St. Mark that it is said he &C
cused them of having had no faith.
IN Matthew's account of the tempest
re is quoted as having asked them
why are We fearful, o we of little
1alth:" and Luke records, that he ask
ed them, Where is your faith?''
mat Jesus meant this question,
with its intimation of their unbelief
DIS a mild rebuke of his disciples
nave no doubt. They had been with
nlmN from the beginning Of his minis
try and had witnessed his perform
ance OF miracles not less remarkable
taan the shilling of the tempest, one
OF them having been the calling back
70 lie of the dead son of the widow
OF Main. There is in the question a
clear lntimation that with Him in the
vessel they should have been assured
u their absolute safety from all
danger.
1t is interesting to note the evidence
VI tae affection Of the disciples for
tne Master and their care for his
comfort exhibited on this occasion
IN HIS human nature He was exceed
tnsly wearied by the many acts OF
nlercy He had performed before set
llng out to cross the sea tn the nnlln-