Year: 1861

Peter was an old sailor. A vessel in


which he once shipped was struck by light


ming and one of his shipmatos was killed. 1t


sobered Peter. 1t made him think, he said


Of the judgment day. He went to his lock


er and took out his Bible. 1 want to find


the Pilot that can weather me through tina t


Storm said Peter; it's scary business, ship


mates, to find us on a Ice. shore there, with


the rocks of our sins right long side, and


hell yawning not far off,


Peter took to his Bible He did not make


much headway until he came into port. and


went straight to Bethel or a sailors church
which he did as soon as he was off duty.


want to find the good Pilot said Peter
to the minister after s,rvices.


The great Captain Of your salvation, Je-
sus Christi said the minister Il he's here
He's nigh to every poor sinner that calls up
on him.


I'm one Of EN-, said Peter, the tears
streaming down his suuburnt cheeks, and |
want to ship in his service. am pretty
near watcrlogged in my sins; | ha'n't any
chart compass or anchor, and I'm drifting
to perdltion. | want the Pilot that went to
the fishing smack on Galiee, and said to the
skipper when he was we'll nigh sinking, { 1t is
|; be not afrsid. How shall I get at
him?'


Down on your knees, Peter, and pray
tell him just how you feel, and just what you
want, and don't give up or put off till you
find him; for He says himself, Ask and ye
shall receive, seek and yc shall find


Peter and the minister knet down to pray
in the Bethel, for the people had gone, and
and Peter cried nightly unto the Lord
Save me, Lord, or perish, was the burden
of his prayer.


And the next time the shipn'atcs saw Pc
ter he really seemed new man. Some
people say ou cannot get religion in a mlu-
ute but the fact is it does not take God
long to pardon your sins, if you only are
honestly setting out 10 get them pardoned--
1t does not take long for q man to tack about
when he once sees he is on the tack Of ruin.


Right about from a bad road to goo
one may be done as fast as steps can carry
you ; but it can't be done without the first
step, and that is really the decisive, the most
important step Of ALL Turn, sinner, turn.
6 Ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall
search for me with all your heart And
God will forgive poor sinner, and receive
him to favor, and make him one of his peo.
pic, just as soon as he does this. So that
getting religion, as some people call it, or
being saved from the dreadful consequences
of your sins by tho blood of Jesus Christ,
who died t the just for the unjust, may be,
and really is a very short work it is SIM
pie act on your part-a childlike giving up
of yourself to God. This is what the pen.
tent thief on the cross did +; and he had time
to do no more. Building up religious
character indeed takes time; it is the growth
of months and years.


Well, from that time Peter Was a new
man. People saw that he was indeed the
DID weather-bcatcn tar he was before, but a
changed spirit was in the man. Instead of
The swearing, drinking, reckless, spending old
Peter, he was clean mouthed SOBER humble,
anxious to have everybody else ship in the
same servisce he had.


D5n't put it off,, he used to say. Bible
n hand, he is talking to an old sailor. Il
must take time to think of it, says hc To
hink of what? cried old Peter whether
'ou are sinner You know you are
Whether you'll be lost if you die as you arc?
ou know you will. Whether the Lord Je-
us can save you You know he can. Break
rs are ahead. Your anchors won't hold you.
)on't put it off,


1 am not so bad as you think [ am not
0 bad as Others says another.


But you are bad enough cries old Peter.
The best sinner on earth is too BIRD for heav-
n One sin ruined Adam. You are drift
g 10 pcrdition. This calm is dreadful
our keel will soon ground on the rocks
Would that you would cry cut now, God be
ercful to me sinner \ storm is brew
g. Hail the great Pilo'. Don't put it off.
Old Peter loved the young people. Bless
cd that you are young he used to say.
They that seek me early shall find me- The
eat Captain of our salvation loves the
'ung. Ship in his serviSe, boys. Remem.
n now thy Creator in thc days OF thy youth
hile the evil days come not. Then your
oder never'll snap; you'll never drag your
lchors; the devils craft will never run into
VI. Ship in His service, boys and don't
1t it otf.'-,Child's Paper.
The EARTHQUAKE AT MENDOZA. The last ac-