Chapter V: Part 5

Such halcyon days are sometimes vouchsafed to the young convert, just starting on life’s new voyage. Oh, how should he improve them while within his reach, by preparing for the coming change! But alas! the treachery of the heart sometimes perverts such favors into occasions of spiritual pride. Then may be seen displayed the colors of mere profession; the streamers of confidence flying; the top gallant sails of self-conceit hoisted; the haughty royals set, and the vessel of self-righteousness mounted loftily on the waves.

Alas! how many have been thus wrecked in a vain-glorious moment; and life has paid the forfeit of such insolence of heart, disdaining to proportion the sail to the ballast. Such an abuse of mercy could not escape the all-penetrating eye. The golden season suddenly expires, and is succeeded by a dead calm. The poor self-admirer lays his head in the lap of some bewitching Delilah, who lulls him to sleep with her siren songs.

Now all the Christian graces lie dormant; all precepts, ordinances and means are lost on a person so fascinated; while the rolling billows serve only to rock him into a deeper sleep. With no guide at the helm, such a ship gains nothing in her course. Could conscience only gain a hearing, all hands would quickly be roused to prepare for the coming storm; the leisure of the threatening calm would not be consumed in slothfulness.

Instead of inactivity and delay, when dangers threaten, the real, active believer is on the alert. While becalmed, he is examining his stores and cargo, patching his sails, and splicing his rigging. Spy glass in hand, he is searching for a clear coast. His journal is revised and his reckoning adjusted, his quadrant applied and his observations compared. Did we but judiciously employ the hour of tranquility, we should have little to fear from tempests.

But while all hands are negligently folded in security, and thoughtlessness fills the dreams of all, the change comes, contrary winds arise, obstacles spring up, difficulties beset the way, and all where least expected. Now we are forced by adversity to lower those sails, which, in the season of sunshine we hoisted, just to gain applause. Like Babylon, which, in its pride, vainly exalted itself, and was finally humbled. Dan. 5: 20. Ob. 1: 3.

But notwithstanding adverse winds may blow, the faithful mariner will not haul in all sail, and lash the helm, thus leaving his vessel to the sport of fate. On the contrary, he will lose no chance of taking advantage of every fair breeze, to do which he will trim his sails to the wind, laying his course as near as possible, even though he cannot lay it direct. With the Bible in his hand for his compass, he steers his way, going not to the conclaves of councils, nor to the decrees of earthly potentates for his creed or the rule of his duty.

Disdaining to be the slave of popularity, he will neither embrace opinions because of their fashionableness, nor trim his principles to suit the times, nor yet follow the multitude to do evil. By experience he is taught to trust no mere professions, but like the panting slave fleeing from the bondman’s chains and dungeon, he is suspicious of even a brother fugitive, who says he is travelling the same road, lest he should be betrayed. For freedom, like eternal life, is precious, and a true man will risk every power of body or mind to escape the snares of satan, and secure an everlasting rest at the right hand of God.

THE END.

Transcriber’s Notes

pg 32 Changed: But similar scenes occuring
to: But similar scenes occurring

pg 35 Changed: wanted each slave to temble with fear
to: wanted each slave to tremble with fear

pg 56 Changed: I replied in the affimative,
to: I replied in the affirmative,

pg 65 Changed: she could not bare to see done
to: she could not bear to see done

pg 88 Changed: companions road off at full speed
to: companions rode off at full speed

pg 117 Changed: by dark and portentuous clouds
to: by dark and portentous clouds

pg 129 Changed: After crusing in these seas
to: After cruising in these seas

pg 136 Changed: weaken the force of inate sin
to: weaken the force of innate sin

pg 138 Changed: the pump-rod the stagnant blige-water
to: the pump-rod the stagnant bilge-water

pg 139 Changed: may be found recorded in Ephsians
to: may be found recorded in Ephesians

pg 142 Changed: lost on a person so facinated
to: lost on a person so fascinated