Keeping Life’s Ship Sound
By S. S. Times
A SAILOR seldom fears a storm so long as he treads sound planks and has steady command over the steering apparatus. Given these two things, the storm may speed him on his way rather than endanger him; and if, on the other hand, he has to battle slowly through and against the storm, each resisted shock, each mounted wave, gives him a new confidence and joy in his vessel. It is vain to wish that in our life-voyage we may not have to encounter the storm. Times of peril and stress will come, times when every foot of progress must be battled for inch by inch; but all our present duty with regard to these storms to come, is to keep the planks of our life-ship sound, and to maintain a firm control over the steering apparatus. Every false principle adopted into our life means an unsound plank in our ship; every time when the controlling will gives up the place of command to evil passion or to evil purpose, means lost power over the steering apparatus. It is God’s part to rule the storm, and to say what tempests we shall meet; it is ours to guard the soundness of our planks, and to keep a firm hand and a watchful eye at the helm.—S. S. Times.