p. 158 | He Mistook the Light

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 31, 1871

He Mistook the Light.

AND what was the consequence? Why, one of the largest steamships in the world, with a rich cargo, and a company of three hundred souls on board, was wrecked, in a dark and stormy night, on the most dangerous part of the coast of Ireland. The noble ship, which cost upward of £200,000, left her port that very afternoon in fine trim, and with every prospect of a safe and speedy voyage, and at nine o'clock she was thumping upon the rocks—the sea breaking over her with terrific violence, and threatening to send people, ship, and cargo to instant destruction.

Every reader of these lines is sailing on a more hazardous voyage than the Great Britain attempted, and has the command of a nobler vessel and a richer freight than hers; yes, richer than all the treasures of the world! Thousands of plans are laid to mislead and divert him from his course.

False lights are purposely held out to betray him, and tides and currents of almost resistless power set against him from every point of the compass. Will he steer clear of them all? Will he accomplish the voyage, and his fears and perils all be exchanged for the tranquillity and joy of a happy home?

It will depend on two things: 1. Whether he has the true chart, and takes good heed to it. 2. Whether he commits himself and the whole direction of the voyage to Him whose footsteps are on the sea, and who rides upon the wings of the wind.—Sel.