The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-06-07
THE KINGS FERRYBOAT.
Sermon Preached E. R. Carruth, OF
the First Baptist Church,
Welsh, La.

The river Jordan has seen some
wonderful sights. 1t was in Jordan
that John the Baptist baptized his
converts, people who came out from
the city in multitudes to hear the stern
preacher of repentance, coming large
" out of curiosity, but staying be-
cause he gripped their conscience with
hoops OF steel. 1t was there that
Jesus came to offer Himself for the
baptism Of John, aud when John saw
Him coming to be baptized of him be
was astonished and protested to Jesus
that it would be more appropriate for
him to be baptized by Christ. But
| Christ assured him that it was His
purpose to fulfill all the law, and
John consented to perform the holy
command with reverent hands. 1t was
as Christ was leaving the Jordan that
the heavens opened and the spirit de-
scended upon him ia the form Of a
dove: and a voice out of heaven said,
this IS my beloved Son in whom
! am we'll pleased.
There have, however, been few scenes
on tie Jordan more interesting than
that in which this ferry boat plays a
part David was on his way home
to Jerusalem to take up again the
reins of government after the death of
his son Absalom.. Everything pos
sible had been done to make the re-
turn of King David memorable and
impressive event All Judah came to
Gilgal to 90 and meet the King and
conduct him over the Jordan. Even
Shimei, who had been full of abuse of
David when he fed before the rebel
lion led by Absalom, came now to
make his confession of sin and be for
given. 1t was arranged that David
should cross the river in state, and a
ferry boat had been provided to carry
over the King and his households; and
so this ferry boat, the only one men
toned ia the Bible, is associated with
this interesting and happy return of
David to power and glory in Jerusa-
lem.
1t has occurred to me that this pic
ture might be very appropriate for us
to use in studying the preparations
which God makes to float his children
over the troubles and difficulties and
sorrows Of their earthly experience.
Every man. woman or child when in-
vited to become a christian. is invited
to become member of the household
of the King of kings. And when we
become members of Gods household,
he charges himself with our transport
tatiOn and protection through all the
Journey of our lives.
We might certainly, without strain
ing to find illustration, see suggested
here the Kings ferry boat which
carries Us across the Jordan of our
condemnation, and brings to the land
of forgiveness. We have certainly
abundant reason for this thought in
the case Of Shimei, who made his
peace with David that DAY. He had
been, in the time OF Ddvid's great
emergency, when he needed soldiers,
q base and wicked traitor He had
not only refused to serve David and
give him his loval support, but he had
done everything to show his contempt
for him. But now that AbsalOm was
dead, and David was coming back to
power, there was only one hone for
Shimei, and that was to fly to David
and surrender himself completely to
the Kings mercy. ANY other course
was simply suicide. When David
came back into full power he would
AXE short work of Shimei and his
little band if he sought to bring them
to justice, as he would necessarily
have to do. Now Shimei was NO fool
tho he had been mean, and he deter
mined to take the straight course that
gave him his one chance of salvation.
Shimei had no excuse to offer. So
there he was waiting at>the ferry land.
ing. There was no waiting to be
hunted down and have the halter
round his neck before he asked for
mercy. The very first man that
David looked upon at the ferry was
Shimei, and he fell on his face before
the King in humility and cried, "let
not nv lord impute iniquity unto me.
neither do thou rememember that
which thy servant did perversely the
day that my lord the King went out of
Jerusalem, that the King should take
1t to heart. For thy servant doth
| know thai | have Sinnnd -