"I, dear father? No indeed; because I know nothing
about managing a ship. I should soon get her fast upon some rock
or sandbank, and wreck her through my ignorance."
"That is very likely; and I just want you to see that you
are something like a ship preparing for sea. You are getting ready
for the voyage of life; stores of knowledge and talent are, or
should be, laid in every day; but if you do not get the right
Captain on board, you will make neither a safe nor a happy voyage,
but will get fast among the dangerous attractions of an evil,
foolish world."
"Ah, father," said Harry, "I know what you mean.
We must get the Lord Jesus Christ to be our commander, must we
not?"
"Yes, my dear boy; if you would be safe and happy on the
stormy sea of life, you must sail under the orders of the Captain
of our salvation. Then you must look to the chart to see which
way you should go; for the Captain has written out His plan for
our learning."
"Yes, that is our Bible, which tells us what God desires
us to do, and what we are not to do."
"And, Harry, what should you say is the most important thing
to be attended to in the Bible?"
Harry thought for a few moments, and then answered: "I think,
father, it must be to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we
may be saved; because I remember you say nothing goes right until
we have done that."
"Right, Harry; to believe that He loves you, and gave Himself
for you, that brings you under command, and puts you in a position
to love and obey His orders."
"But now there is the compass, father; what will you make
of that?"
"Of what use is it on board the vessel?"
"Why, does it not always point to the north, and show whether
she is going right or wrong?"
"And does not something within you, Harry, warn you when
you do wrong, and make you feel very uncomfortable? That is the
conscience. You have seen the chart, you know your orders, and
you cannot go far wrong without knowing it. Conscience points
right, and leaves you without excuse."
"Then there was an armory on board, I think I know what
you will say about that, father."
"Then you will say it for me, Harry. What do you think about
the armory?"
"It reminds me of what Paul says in the Epistle to the Ephesians
about 'the whole armor of God'"
"So it does; but the arms are hung up on board the ship,
and we hope that we may never again need that they be worn. The
armor Paul speaks of must be put on and worn always, for our enemy
is always near, watching to gain an advantage: and therefore the
girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield
of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
must never be taken off, and hung up to look at; for if this be
so, 'the fiery darts of the wicked one' will soon make us repent
our folly.-- I hope you have not forgotten the rudder?"
"Oh no; the steersman manages that, does he not?"
"Yes; or the pilot, who knows the coast, and comes on board
when the vessel has to make some dangerous passage. This may remind
us of the care and guidance of our Heavenly Father in directing
us through the dangers and difficulties which happen to His children
in this world. Where He steers we need not fear to go. Let us
only be sure that His hand, and not our self-will, is at the helm,
and all is right."
"But the anchor, father; what have you to say of that?"
"That is the emblem of the Christian's sure hope in Christ.
'What hope we have,' says the Apostle, 'both sure and steadfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil.'"-
"But what is going on over there? Look, look at that ship
in the distance!"
"Ah, they are spreading her sails. How beautiful she looks!"
"Yes, that is called unfurling them. I suppose the captain
is gone on board, and has given orders to sail. But, Harry, what
is the use of spreading out so many yards of canvass to such a
height?"
"Why, father, is it not that the wind may push against it,
and drive her along?"
"Yes, you are half a sailor alright, I see. And so, when
the Lord Jesus Christ takes command of a sinner's heart, the gentle
breathing of the Holy Spirit, that comes unseen, like the wind
that 'bloweth where it listeth,' softly urges him forward in the
heavenward course; and so captain, steersman, chart, and compass,
all work together by His holy influence, to guide the vessel safely
to the haven where she would be."
"Thank you, father; you have made it all fit very nicely,
and we shall not forget our visit to the man-of-war, I am sure."
"One thing more. Do not forget your colors, Harry. Did you
see how every flag today fluttered out, as if glad to display
allegiance to the United States?"
"Yes, I did, father; and I felt happy at being an American.
I could have waved a flag with all my heart."
"You did your best with your hat and voice, Harry, I confess.
But it is not so easy to carry the badge of a follower of Jesus
Christ boldly and faithfully through the world, in stormy days
as well as sunny gala days like this; but it may be done by the
grace of God. You may have read some of our naval heroes, who
have nailed their colors to the mast in the face of the enemy's
guns, in token that they would never surrender, but meant to conquer
or die. Such should be the resolve of the followers of Jesus.
He passed through danger, and sorrow, and death, and triumphed
in all for them, that they may glory in His service and follow
in His steps. You enjoyed seeing the President today, because
you love him, and his laws, and all that belong to him. It gave
me pleasure to see that you were happy; but remember, a day is
coming when the King of kings will be revealed in His glory, and
'every eye shall see Him.' He shall come in His own glory, and
the glory of the holy angels; and with the solemnity of that scene
nothing can be compared. Then if you have loved Him, and His laws,
and all that belong to Him, you will not merely see His glorious
procession passing by, but will join the loyal party, live in
the light of His countenance, and reign with Him for ever and
ever. Ask for His Holy Spirit, my dear boy, to fill your heart
as the wind fills those white sails, and to speed you on the voyage
of life, under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the promised
land, the kingdom that is prepared for them that love Him. May
you safely reach the home of the righteous."
