THE SEA AND THE WAVES ROARING;
men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21 : 25, 26. By the “sea and the waves roaring” reference is no doubt made to the great ocean disturbances and tidal waves which during the last few years have caused such loss of life and property, and so much comment and widespread alarm. As says Harper’s Magazine: “That most horrible phenomena, the tidal wave, how many struggling mortals has it swept back into the deep! What countless ships has it crushed against the shores! What mighty cities has it plundered of life and wealth, strewing their streets with ocean sand, and peopling their palaces with sea monsters!” The accounts given of some of these tidal waves are graphic and thrilling, but more startling and terrible must they have appeared to those who witnessed or felt their fury. A357writer in the journal named above thus describes his experience:— “I saw the whole surface of the sea rise as if a mountain side, actually standing up. Another shock with a fearful roar now took place. I called to my companions to run for their lives on to the pampa. Too late; with a horrible crush the sea was on us, and at one sweep dashed what was Iquique onto the pampa. I lost my companions, and in an instant was fighting with the dark waters. The mighty waves surged and roared and leaped. The cries of human beings and animals were frightful.” The British Vice Consul gives the following account of a similar scene he witnessed at Arica:— “Gracious God, what a sight! I saw all the vessels in the bay carried out irresistibly to sea; anchors and chains were as pack thread. In a few minutes the great outward current stopped, stemmed by a mighty rising wave, I should judge about fifty feet high, which came in with an awful rush, carrying everything before it, in its terrible majesty, bringing the shipping with it, sometimes turning in circles, as if striving to elude their fate.” The New York Herald, in speaking of the tidal disturbances at St. Thomas, says the waves were fully fifty feet high, and moved at the rate of one thousand miles an hour, with a roar that was exceedingly frightful. The Scripture says that the “sea and the waves roaring” shall constitute a sign of the end. It will be noticed in the quotations given above that almost the exact words of Scripture are employed in the descriptions given of the tidal disturbances. Unconsciously and doubtless unknowingly these writers duplicated in their account the words of the prophetic prediction. This duplication of terms may be a mere coincidence, but the startling events described must be looked upon as presaging speedy changes in the history of the world, as predicted by the prophecy. The poet Cowper thus speaks of these indications and their portent:— “The world appears
To toll the death bell of its own decease;
And by the voice of all its elements,
To preach the general doom. When were winds
Let slip with such a warrant to destroy?
When did the waves so haughtily o'erleap
Their ancient barrier, deluging the dry?
Fires from beneath and meteors from above,
Portentous, unexampled, unexplained,
Have kindled beacons in the skies. The old
And crazy earth has had her shaking fits
More frequent, and foregone her usual rest;
And nature seems with dim and sickly eye
To wait the close of all.” As thoughtful men regard these increasing phenomena and signs—war, famine, disease, and fearful unrest in the social and political worlds, and unaccountable spectacles in the world of nature—they are led to ask the question, What may we next expect? As says the Scripture, their “hearts [are] failing them for fear and for looking after those things that are coming upon the earth.” We are living in portentous times. The very air pulsates with danger. The very foundations of our social, political, and natural worlds seem shaking. This earth presents an unsafe place for refuge from the coming storm of wrath. There is no refuge, no security outside of the great Creator. Christ’s coming will quell the rage of battle, and above old ocean’s roar will be heard once more that same voice that stilled Galilee’s wild tempest, saying, “Peace, be still.” Yes, peace will that glad day bring to the righteous, but anguish and distress to the wicked and impenitent. The picture is both bright and darkly foreboding. Reader, is Christ your Saviour to-day? Has he spoken peace to your soul? Do you rest in his love, and rejoice in the prospect of soon greeting him in glory? If you do, then the ravages of disease, the din of battle, or the roar of old ocean’s turbulent waters, need not alarm you. If you are hid in Christ, he will preserve his own. The earth may be removed, and the mountains carried into the midst of the sea, but you will stand, upheld by his mighty hand and shielded in the bosom of his love. But if you know him not, fearful to you will be the day of his visitation. While mercy pleads, follow her gentle drawings. Soon shall her voice be hushed; and, if unprepared, the cry will go up from your sin-burdened heart, “Too late, too late.” Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. To-day mercy’s gate is open; enter while opportunity is afforded.