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THE RESCUED BOATMAN

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 19, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 13.

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THE RESCUED BOATMAN.

A few years since, while visiting among the boatmen on the Erie canal, a captain related an interesting incident in his own experience. “Some years ago,” said he, “while in port at New York, a little boy came on the boat where I was then employed as a hand, with Bibles, inquiring for the captain. He was pointed out to the little fellow, who most respectfully said, ‘Captain, won’t you have a Bible?’ The hard-hearted man, with stern look and surly voice, replied, ‘No; I don’t want any of your Bibles,’ and abruptly turned away. The little head went down, and upon the boyish face I saw a tear, and that tear—it went to my heart, infidel though I was. Instantly I said, ‘Little boy, I’ll take a Bible.’ The youthful missionary’s face brightened with smiles as he handed me the volume, to which I was then a stranger.”
“Finding myself in the possession of such a book, I resolved to see what it was. So whenever I had time I would go amidships and read. I commenced at the beginning, and soon became so interested that I would take time to read. Upon finishing the Old Testament, I was bewildered. I saw and felt the justice of the divine law and the guilt of man; but what was to be done? I was not long left in doubt, however. The New Testament—oh, that furnished the key! That solved the mystery! In the blessed Jesus I saw the symbols, the types, the prophecies, all unfolded, fulfilled, realized. I was able to exclaim with the joyful psalmist, ‘Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.’ I found peace in believing. And now, though still engaged in this rough business of boating, I find a verification of the promise in my Bible, ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’”
“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”