THE POWER OF SIMPLE CONFIDENCE.
A young man distressed about his soul had confided his difficulties to a friend, who discerned very quickly that he was striving to obtain everlasting life by great efforts. He spoke of "sincere prayers" and "heartfelt desires" after salvation, but continually lamented that he did not "feel any different in spite of it all." His friend did not answer him at first, but presently interrupted him with the inquiry, "Did you ever learn to float?" "Yes, I did," was the surprised reply. "And did you find it easy to learn?" "Not at first," he answered. "What was the difficulty?" his friend pursued. "Well, the fact was I could not lie still; I could not believe or realize that the water would hold me up without any effort of my own, so I always began to struggle, so of course down I went at once." "Then I found out that I must give up all the struggle, and just rest on the strength of the water to bear me up. It was easy enough after that; I was able to lie back in the fullest confidence that I should never sink." "And is not God's word more worthy of your trust than the changeable sea? He does not bid you wait for feelings, he commands you just to rest in him, to believe his word, and accept his gift. His message of life reaches down to you in your place of ruin and death, and his word to you now is, 'The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'" Rom. 6:23.—Selected.