TEMPESTUOUS WEATHER 195 



On the 23d we encountered a heavy gale of 

 wind, with a short and angry sea, insomuch 

 that the ship was covered with waves, and all 

 on board were reeling to and fro, and staggering 

 like a drunken man. Towards evening it blew 

 a hurricane ; the heavens were black with 

 tempest, and all around us appeared awfully 

 dangerous. Self-examination is at all times 

 profitable and incumbent on the Christian, but 

 when dangers press around him in a tumultuous 

 scene of waters, it is peculiarly consolatory for 

 him to find upon examination, that the sheet 

 anchor of his hope is well grounded ; and that 

 he has laboured in the cause of his divine Lord 

 with a conscious integrity, though with a con 

 scious imperfection of character. Tt was well 

 said by the wife of a Missionary, in her last 

 moments, when it was observed to her that she 

 was dying a sacrifice in the cause of missions, " / 

 would rather (said she) die a penitent sinner at 

 the cross of Christ." Every day, in the smooth 

 unruffled calm of life, or on the tempestuous 

 ocean of its existence, would I feel the senti- 

 ment so expressive of the Christian's security 

 and simple reliance upon the omnipotent arm 

 of the Saviour, as uttered by St. Peter, when 

 ready to sink amidst the threatening waves* 

 " Lord save us, we perish." 



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