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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 1, 1867.

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 16

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A PRESENT SAVIOUR.

Not many months ago, a vessel left one of our Eastern ports, bound for South America. Her trip opened prosperously. But one of the sudden storms peculiar to some portions of our coast occurring midway in her course, darkness surrounded and ruin threatened the voyagers. They lost their bearing, and were driven they knew not whither. As if to make more fearful their distress, their supply of water failed.
At length, in the darkness, and when their suffering seemed almost unbearable, a craft of some sort passed them and they gave signals of distress. From the passing vessel came back the answer:
“What is the matter?”
“We are suffering for want of water.”
“What do you say?” was the surprised question.
“We are suffering, dying, for want of water.”
“Dying for want of water! Why don’t you dip it up? Guess you’ve lost your bearing! Fresh water is all around you; dip it up.”
They had entered the Amazon, and, during their days of distress, the life-freighted water had lain in measureless abundance all around them.
Are not our eyes often “thus holden,” till we no longer discern our blessings? Is it not something so with you, blinded and sorrowing Christian? In the midst of life’s stormy sea you are “tossed by the waves,” struggling against contrary currents, and mourning that your Saviour is absent. The “hiding of his countenance,” you count your greatest loss. Doubting Christian, “our eternal Sun ever shineth.” Our Jesus is always near; and nearest often when you deem him most distant. Our faith is weak, and we hang a veil of doubt before our faces. Thus equipped, we grope our way through life. Is it strange that we discover not our Saviour?—S. S. Times.