THE HEAVENLY MARINER by Adolphus Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1868

THE HEAVENLY MARINER.

By Adolphus Smith

Heavenly mariner, on life's tempestuous sea, thy voyage is nearly ended. But beware, as thou approachest the haven, that thou lose not thy reckoning and fall into the breakers, and thy frail bark be dashed to pieces against the hidden rock. Look well to thy compass and thy chart, and keep thy quadrant ever beside thee. Already the beacon light from God's own glory is borne to thee on the wings of hope, over the heaving billows. Methinks I can see, ever and anon, the outline of thy craft on the crest of a wave, drawn against the starry heavens, to be in turn lost to view in the trough of the sea. The spirit of these waters over which thou art sailing is an enemy to that King of glory, toward whose bright land thy prow is turned. Think it not strange, therefore, that he should trouble thy peace, and that adverse, tempestuous winds, and a chopping sea, should endanger thy life—endanger thy life, I say, by tempting thee to deplore thy present distress, thinking not of the glory that is to follow these afflictions, if patiently endured to the end. Think it not strange that he should endeavor to draw thy attention from thy chart and compass, steal thy heart from thy loving Pilot, and drift thy vessel to everlasting destruction. Perhaps thy heart sinks within thee as night gathers over the dark waters, and the hissing lightning, and the booming thunder, and the pelting storm upon thy devoted head, seem for a time to render futile thy utmost endeavors for salvation from a watery grave. And truly they were futile were it not for One who is mighty to save. To him therefore stretch forth thy hand of faith, and in the language of a sinking Peter, exclaim, “Save, Lord, I perish.”

Art thou envious, because of the apparent safety of many who navigate these seas? Consult thy quadrant, and thy chart; thou wilt discover that they are not sailing in thy latitude, though, professedly, for the same haven; and thou art exhorted to “Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.” “For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Ps. xxxvii, 1, 9.

The haven whence thou art sailing is well fortified, and none but the righteous may enter there. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Dear mariner, keep thou the commandments of thy King. Set the fourth of these as a bright light in thy bows, and trust to thy Pilot, and thou art safe, notwithstanding the raging of the elements.

While the careless are resting upon their oars (for the evil spirit of the sea will temper the wind and the wave, to lull his own to carnal security and ease), ply well thy task, and make all speed for the harbor; for thy barometer certainly indicates the approach of a storm that shall sweep these seas, and in a moment engulf all that are now floating upon its surface in carnal security. Seize thy trumpet! Sound the alarm! It may be that some of them will heed the warning, and flee from the wrath to come.

With the eye of faith, I follow thy steady, onward course, amidst constantly-increasing dangers, for thy enemy is fearful of losing his prize, and will therefore leave no art untried, to cause thee to make shipwreck of thy faith, until thou reach the much-desired haven, when, suddenly, the glory of the celestial city will enchant thy ravished sight, and the rich melody of heavenly music will call forth responsive strains from thyself and fellow voyagers.

“Glory to God! all our dangers are o'er; We stand secure on the glorified shore; Glory to God, we will shout evermore, We're home at last, home at last.”

Dear mariner, thy voyage is ended. Thy trials are all past. Enter now upon thy rest. Jesus welcomes thee. Angels come to meet thee. Thou art clad in shining apparel, and, with the 144,000, art ushered into the presence of God. There thou art greeted by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the ancient worthies who, like thyself, have navigated the dangerous sea of mortal life. To Job, especially, the seas had been tempestuous in the extreme. The heart of Moses bounds with superlative delight, as with his own feet he treads the verdant hills and dales of the heavenly Canaan; forgetting, in the fullness of his present joy, the sorrow of heart he felt when in answer to his earnest petition to be allowed to enter the earthly Canaan, the Lord said, “Speak to me of this matter no further.” Adam receives again the treasures he so unwarily lost. The age of Methuselah is no longer measured by revolving years; but everlasting life is his and thine. There is Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God. The harp of David is tuned to the melody of Heaven; and Solomon beholds a temple whose architect is God. But to Jesus all eyes are turned. To him all tongues confess, “Thou art worthy to receive glory, and honor, and might; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” Christian, will you not still, in the face of every danger, “Seek for glory, honor, immortality,” that when Jesus comes, whether you sleep or wake, you may receive eternal life? Glory to God, for such a blessed hope!

Sinner, would you share in the glory that is to be revealed? Forsake your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by turning unto the Lord.

ADOLPHUS SMITH.

Ottawa Co., Mich.