Acts 4:23-37 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.… The following incident was told in my hearing in one of the villages of Canada to illustrate the truth, which so many ignore at the present day, that there must be a change of heart if we are ever permitted to enjoy "the rest that remaineth for the ,people of God." "Some years ago there was to be a prize-fight at a certain place in England, and a party of men chartered a steamboat to take them to the place at the time appointed. Another steamer was engaged to take a party of Christians to different kind of fight — a fight against wrong-doing, that every soldier of Christ is called to engage in under the 'Captain of his salvation.' The place of the last-named conflict was a Methodist camp-ground. Just as the last bell rang on each steamer (both were chartered to leave at the same hour — half-past two p.m.) two men were seen running towards the steamers as they were moving out from the wharf, and both sprang into what each one thought to be his own company. But, oh! what a mistake! the Methodist saw that he was among prize-fighters, and the prize-fighter found that he was among Christians. Do you suppose those men were contented and happy in their different company? Is a fish happy out of water? 'No, not happy, but miserable,' you say. So each of those men were miserable because they were out of their element. The Methodist came to the captain, and said, 'Captain, I have got into the wrong steamer, and I am not going to stay here; it is like hell to be among these men who are cursing and swearing; take the steamer back and let me get out. I intended to go to a camp-meeting; yonder is the steamer I ought to be in.' But his trying to get himself righted after he saw he was wrong was fruitless. Well, what about the other man? 'Oh,' you say, 'he was all right and happy among those good Methodist people.' But you are mistaken, for he was in a worse dilemma than the Christian man. He went to the captain and asked him to take the steamer back, as he said he must go to the prize-fight. But the captain said, 'No: our orders are to keep on our course as long as there is nothing wrong with the steamer, and we must obey.' Then the man offered the captain money if he would turn back, but the captain was as determined to go on his voyage. By this time the Methodists thought they would ' show their faith by their works,' by talking to the prize-fighter about his soul; but the prize-fighter could not endure it, so he went to the captain again and begged of him to bring the steamer a little nearer to the shore and he would jump into the water and swim to land." (John Currie.) Parallel Verses KJV: And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. |
    |