God's Opportunity

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 3, 1872

God's Opportunity.

ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS WILLIAMS, the founder of the Royal Naval Female School for the education of naval officer's daughters, was in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. His course brought them within sight of the Island of Ascension, at that time uninhabited, and never visited by any ship except for the purpose of collecting turtles, which abound on the coast. The island is barely seen on the horizon; but as Sir Thomas looked at it, he was seized with an unaccountable desire to steer toward it. He felt how strange such a wish would appear to his crew, and tried to disregard it; but in vain! the desire of the straightforward and excellent commander became more and more urgent; and seeing that they were fast leaving the island behind them, he told his lieutenant to prepare to “put about ship,” and steer for Ascension. His lieutenant ventured respectfully to represent to Sir Thomas that changing their course would greatly delay them; that just at that moment the men were going to their dinner; that, at least, some delay might be allowed. But these arguments seemed to increase the captain's anxiety, and he gave the word of command which is never resisted. He saw in the countenances of his officers an expression of wonder and even blame, as strong as is ever shown on an order from the captain; but he was obeyed, and the ship was steered toward the uninteresting little island.

All eyes and spy-glasses were immediately fixed upon it, and soon something was perceived on shore.

“It is white—it is a flag—it must be a signal!” were the cries which at intervals broke from the excited crew.

When they neared the shore a painful spectacle met their view. They found that sixteen men, wrecked on that coast many days before, and suffering the extremity of hunger, had set up a signal, though almost without hope of relief. The shipwrecked men were taken on board, and the voyage completed.

What a proof we have in this of the power of the divine Arm to save when all hope seems to have vanished! and what an encouragement it should be for us always to pray and not to faint!