Acts 21:5-6 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children… After long dreaming of foreign lands, I am about to leave you to satisfy that desire. You have come to see me off; but before I go I would like to see you all embark for heaven. I. THE CHURCH IS THE DRY DOCK WHERE SOULS ARE TO BE FITTED OUT FOR HEAVEN. 1. In making a vessel for this voyage, the first need is sound timber. For the want of it, vessels when caught in a storm have been crushed like a wafer. The truths of God's Word are sound timbers. Away with your lighter materials. 2. You must have Love for a helm, to guide and turn the craft. Neither Pride, nor Ambition, nor Avarice will do for a rudder. 3. There must also be a prow, arranged to cut and override the billow. That is Christian perseverance. For lack of this, many have put back and never started again. It is the broadside wave that so often sweeps the deck and fills the hatches; but that which strikes in front is harmless. Meet troubles courageously and you surmount them. Let all your fears stay aft. The right must conquer. 4. Have a good, strong anchor — hope; but do not use it wrongfully. Do not always stay in the same latitude. 5. You must have sails — faith. Hoist that, and the winds of heaven will drive you ahead. Sails made out of any other canvas will be slit to tatters by the first northeaster. 6. You must have the running rigging — prayer. Unless you understand this tackling you are not spiritual seamen. By pulling on this, you hoist the sails of faith and turn them every whither. 7. One more arrangement, and you will be ready for the sea. You must have a compass — which is the Bible. Look at it every day, and always sail by it, as its needle points towards the Star of Bethlehem. II. RULES FOR THE VOYAGE. 1. Do not allow your appetites and passions to come up on the promenade deck. Never allow them anything better than a steerage passage. Let watchfulness walk the deck as an armed sentinel, and shoot down with great promptness anything like a mutiny of riotous appetites. 2. Be sure to look out of the forecastle for icebergs. There are cold Christians floating about in the Church. The frigid zone professors will sink you. 3. Keep a log book during all the voyage — an account of how many furlongs you make a day. Bound, as we are, toward eternity, ought we not often to try the work of self-examination? 4. Keep your colours up! You know the ships of England, Russia, France, etc., by the ensigns they carry. Let it ever be known who you are, and for what port you are bound. Let "Christian" be written on the very front, with the figure of a cross, a crown, and a dove; and from the masthead let float the streamers of Emmanuel. Then the pirate vessels of temptation will pass you unharmed as they say, "There goes a Christian bound for the port of heaven. We will not disturb her, for she has too many guns aboard." Conclusion: Before you gain port you will smell the land breezes of heaven; and Christ, the Pilot, will meet you as you come into the Narrows of Death, and hasten to you and say, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." (T. De Witt Talmage, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. |
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