Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-04-06

walk astern to where half OF the steel
mast stands upright. l have often
wondered as watched the waves
dash over the wreck how that ship
came ashore. A dark night--a fear
full storm-a tempestuous wind--a
drifting dangerous shoals--a
sandy prison. What does that vessel
need? An anchor. All, but she has
an anchor great and ponderous. 1t
has long since gone to the bottom of
the sea, but still the vessel drifts
closer and closer to destruction. What
Is wrong? The anchor won't hold
no place for it to fasten its flukes--
It drags--it won't hold--the ship Is
doomed. She was wrecked because
the anchor would not hold. Two things
are necessary to save vessel In the
storm when drifting at the mercy Of
wind and wave-an anchor with an
anchorage.
This is Paul's graphic picture Of the
souls need. When the storms. of life
are raging, and the tempest wild
sweeps across the sea, we need some
thing to hold and something to hold
to. These are needed and these are
provided. z ~
First, the anchor. (Which hope we
have as an anchor" Our hope Is our
anchor What is hope? The COM
binati0n of desire ana expectation.
1t Is that which reaches but and lays
hold Like an anchor it must have
size and strength. The largehess4 of
our hope determines the measure Of
Its holding power. But hope Ii not
enough 1.-The world IL ungodly men
has hope. Every walk of life Is filled
with 1t. Hope of health brlghtens
the room of the sick. Hope Of wealth
lightens the toll Of the poor. Hope
Of fame rewards the sacrifices Of the
explorer Hope of noble living COM
pensates the drudgery Of the faith
full mother, giving her life for her
children in the monotonous struggle.
But hope of itself Is not enough. 1t
needs an anchorage. Something to
grip. The ship is held by the anchor
cast into the unseen depth where 1t
lays hold upon the rock that cannot
be moved. No matter how strong and
unbreakable the anchor, 1t must hold
to save.
Second, the anchorage Is Christ.
"That which entereth the VEIL" my
hope Is built on nothing less than
Jesus blood and righteousness" He
alone must be the object of hope
The whole content of Christianity can
be expressed in two simple sentences.
"Christ for me-" that Is conversion.
"Me for Christ" that Is consecra-
ton.
We boast not a philosophy, science.
or system. We are united to a Per-
son, united In an organic union, eter-
nally inseparable by His death and
resurrection. "He was delivered for
our offenses, and raised for our justi-
fication." He Is a living Christ. He
imparts His life to all who believe
They are His-He protects and pro-
vides. He intercedes. He will come
and receive us to Himself. What can
separate us from the love of God?
Anchored to the Rock that cannot
move, grounded firm and deep In the
Savior's love.
Tho the angry surges roll
On my tempest-driven soul.
am peaceful for l know
Wildly tho the winds may blow,
I've an anchor safe and sure,
And in Christ snail endured!
Mighty tides about me sweep.
Perils Turk within the deep,
Angry clouds oershade the sky.
And the tempest rises high;
Still stand the tempest's shock,
For my anchor grips the Rock!
Troubles almost whelm the soul.
Griefs like pillows DER me ROLL
Tempters seek to lure astray,
Storms obscure the light of day,
But in Christ can be bold
I've an anchor that shall hold!