THE

RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE.

No. VII.

APRIL, 1834.

THE LIFE-BOAT.

A PARABLE.

BY REV. ALEXANDER W. McCLURE.

WE read of our Saviour, that when thronged by the people on the shore of Gennesaret, he entered into a ship of Simon's 'and prayed him to thrust out a little from the land; and he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.' His usual mode of teaching was by parables, or illustrations of religious doctrines and duties drawn from common events. The circumstance of his proclaiming the truth of heaven from a fishing vessel suggests an allegory of the same kind. Perhaps this will fall into the hands of some who will say with the Psalmist, I will incline mine ear to a parable,'- who would not be interested in the same subject, presented in another form.

In the beginning, there was a Being, most wise, powerful, righteous and benevolent. It must needs be, that he should exert these traits of character; otherwise he might as well be without them. None but himself could know that he possessed them, nor could any advantage arise from them; therefore he resolved that they should produce happiness for others, and glory for himself.

Having abundant materials, he built many great ships. These were well manned, and richly freighted: and their

voyages very successful. It was delightful to see with what wisdom the Builder disposed of them, with what power he secured them, with what goodness he provided every thing that could be desired for them, and with what inflexibility he encouraged virtue and punished vice. He was careful that strict discipline should be maintained in all his vessels, large or small; well knowing that without good order and obedience all hope of peace and safety is forlorn. He was also careful that the men in his employ who were faithful in their stations, whether high or low, forward or aft, should never regret it; so that they were much attached to his service.

Among others, he built one most noble ship, of elegant proportions, well put together, and in excellent trim for service. She was launched into the ocean of existence amidst the applauses of all the spectators. (1.) The Builder resolved to put her on trial for a time, as also her hands who were newly shipped. So she was sent off on a probationary cruise, and that immediately, as she left the stocks with all her provisions on board, and with her standing and running rigging ready for

use.

The Builder placed chart and compass on board, to be an unerring directory in laying her courses. The chart was his plain and reasonable command. (2.) the compass was placed in the bosom of every seaman; a magnet, whose opposite poles indicated the opposite paths of obedience and disobedience to that command. (3.) The navigators were most earnestly enjoined to avoid a certain rock: (4.) if they run their vessel on this horrid ledge, all is lost forever; if they keep clear of it, they will reach their port in safety, their probation will be finished, and their reward made sure.

The mariners cheerfully accepted the will of the Owner as their law, which was better for them than any other chart; and appeared willing to follow the guidance of the true, yet trembling index which each wore in his bosom, and which constantly pointed out what courses they should pursue, and what they should avoid.

The voyage commenced delightfully. The sails, whose whiteness might compare with that 'fine linen which is the

(1.) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38: 7.

(2.) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Rom. 7: 12.

(3.) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, and their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. 2: 15.

(4.) But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Gen. 2: 17.

righteousness of saints,' swelled with soft and odorous gales. The dullness of calms and the fury of storms were alike unknown in those pacific seas.

But the gallant ship had not proceeded far, when an old Pirate marked her for his prey. (1.) This personage was the inveterate foe of the Builder, under whose orders he had once sailed and against whom, he, with his crew, (2.) had mutinied. It would have been very easy for his former master to apprehend him, and put him in prison, or otherwise keep him from doing harm; but he had his reasons for letting his enemy go at large awhile. Whatever these reasons were, they were doubtless good; for he was incomparably wise, and did not tell his private affairs to every one. (3.)

The old Pirate did not fail to hang out false colors, and hold out false lights. His victims allowed themselves to be decoyed; and they swerved from their proper course, till he had got them to heave too, and parley with him. (4.)

Pirate. Ship a-hoy! Where are you bound?

Ship. We are out on an experimental cruise, to make trial of our new vessel and seamanship. We are allowed by our Owner and Builder to go just where we like, except to yonder rock; which, as he says, would be certain destruction to us.

Pirate. Aha! Is that the story? Out upon it! Know that he is imposing on your simplicity for it is from that interdicted rock that he obtains all his wealth and resources, and he wishes to keep the secret to himself. Come on, then; make a landing there, as I did; you will soon be as well off as he. In this style they permitted themselves to be tempted and seduced from their fidelity, and in an evil hour they steered for the forbidden spot. (5.) O madness and ruin! In a moment the ship was amidst roaring breakers and boiling surges; she struck with a tremendous crash, and went quite to pieces. The wild waves were strewn with wrecks and drowning men.

(1.) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen. 3: 1.

(2.) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation. Jude 6. (3.). O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! Rom. 11: 33.

(4.) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes will be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen. 3: 1-5.

(5.) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Gen. 3: 6.

Now they had not got so far on their voyage but that all this took place in sight of the shores they had started from.

There is a natural fitness of things,' according to which it is most suitable that suffering should follow close upon transgression. The Builder was a righteous person: it seemed that such shocking ingratitude and faithlessness ought not to go unpunished: if these people escaped, there was no telling to what extent revolt and disobedience might prevail among his vessels. So every body expected he would say, 'Let them perish.'

But no! Overflowing with mercy and compassion, he exclaimed, Save them! Man the Life-boat.' All shrank from the perilous undertaking. No one felt possessed of the courage, strength and compassion, that the toilsome and painful task required. At length, the Builder's only son volunteered. 'I have,' said he,' every requisite for this work. I fall back from no sacrifice to save them. Only let my sufferings in their behalf preserve them from destruction, and secure them a pardon and favorable reception when I bring them back to shore, and it is all I ask. For this will I cheerfully endure worse than death.'

According to these terms, he was to have for salvage all that he could recover from the wreck; to which there were no underwriters to object, as the vessel had not been insured. The Father withheld not his beloved son;' but blessed him with the promise of life, peace and glory to all who might be redeemed from perdition by his efforts.

And now the Life-boat is launched, amidst the cheers of the anxious spectators who thronged the shore. (1.)

The Builder's son goes on board, having dismissed all his devoted attendants, having laid aside the majestic robes he wore in his Father's house, and put on the coarse and servile garb of those whose deliverance was the object of his errand of grace. (2.) He must be fitted out for his work.

His vessel was of peculiar built and construction; the only one of the kind. (3.) It was framed of imperishable materials, so as to last so long as the world stands. (4.) As for dimensions, it was sufficiently large to receive all the mutineers, in case

(1.) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men. Luke 2: 13-14.

(2.) Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Phil. 2: 6-7.

(3.) Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven among men whereby they may be saved. Acts 4: 12.

(4.) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Isai. 45: 22,

they should all take refuge in it. (1.) There was no such thing as capsizing or sinking it, neither winds nor waves having power to prevail against it. Whoever fairly gets on board is out of danger: no one can pluck him out; (2.) nor will he be neglected so as to fall overboard again. (3.) Look when you will, there is the watchful Captain on deck, day and night. (4.)

A red-cross banner is always waving at the mast-head. She is provisioned with bread brought down from the Builder's mansion, and water which could slake the thirst never quenched before. (5.) She is supplied with every comfort to refresh the weary and revive the faint. She is registered by the name of the Glad Tidings.

The Old Pirate watched the preparations made for the deliverance of the victims of his malice with great displeasure. He tried to tempt the Captain of their salvation to swerve from his noble aim: but his lures were vain; (6.) the Glad Tidings held her course. He then resolved to blind and prejudice the minds of the guilty sufferers, and induce them to reject the profered aid. (7.)

The Life-boat bounds from wave to wave, and soon pushes into the midst of the throng, still floating among the wrecks. Ropes are thrown to them in all directions, and they are invited to seize the opportunity and be saved. The Commander proclaims aloud,I am come to seek and to save that which is lost:'-'Whosoever cometh unto me shall in no wise be cast out;'-'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are exhausted, and I will give you rest;' -'If any man enter into this ark of deliverance, he shall be safe.'

Such are the free and gracious offers he sounds in the ears of those miserable revolters. Surely they are willing captives, and glad that their piratical betrayer should be despoiled of them, and his malice defeated. Willing captives:-for though it is impossible that they should be saved unless drawn on board by a power superior to their own; (8.) yet neither can they be drawn, unless with their own consent; they must be made wil

(1.) Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7: 25.

(2.) And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. John 10: 28.

(3.) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1: 6.

(4.) I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Amén. Matt. 28. 20. (5.) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6: 35.

(6.) See the temptation of our Lord. Matt. 4: 1-11.

(7.) In whom the God of this world, hath blended the mind of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. 2 Cor. 4: 4.

(8.) No man can come unto me except the father, which hath sent me, draw him. John 6: 44.