CHAPTER IV.
It was a bright and cheerful party that gathered about the _Dolphin's_breakfast table the next morning. Greetings were exchanged, a blessingasked upon the food, and Captain Raymond began helping his guests.
"I notice we are still lying quietly in Portland harbor," remarked Dr.Percival. "Do we remain here another day, captain?"
"That must be as the majority decide," was the pleasant-tonedrejoinder. "Please, friends, express your wishes freely."
No one spoke for a moment--each waiting for the others. Then Violetsaid, in her lively pleasant way, "Cousin Ronald, you are the eldest,and should feel entitled to speak first."
"Thanks, cousin," he returned, "but I really have no choice; amperfectly willing to go or stay, as may best please the majority of myfriends here."
"Do you think of returning directly to Bar Harbor, captain?" asked Mrs.Travilla.
"If that is what you would all prefer, mother. But how would you alllike to take a short sea voyage--sailing eastwardly from here, at somedistance from the coast, and perhaps going on up the coast of NewBrunswick?"
Every one, from Mr. Lilburn down to little Ned, seemed charmed withthe idea, and as the weather was all that could be desired, it wasdecided that they would start as soon as the anchor could be liftedand sufficient steam gotten up. They carried out their plan, and had adelightful voyage lasting several days.
It was on Saturday that they left Portland; the Sabbath found them farfrom land, and, as at former times, services were conducted on boardthe yacht with the singing of hymns, the offering up of prayers, thereading of the Scriptures, and of a sermon by Captain Raymond.
After that they formed themselves into a Bible class, and Mr. Lilburnwas persuaded to take the lead, choosing the subject while the otherssat about him, Bibles in hand. Opening his, the dear old gentlemanbegan:
"Let us take for our theme Jesus Christ our Lord, and what it is soto know him that we shall have eternal life. Here in the seventeenthchapter of John's gospel in his--the Master's--wonderful prayer weread, 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the onlytrue God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' Paul tells us inhis letter to the Philippians, 'I count all things but loss for theexcellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.' His acquaintancewas not with the Christ of Galilee, whom he had not known, but with theascended Christ; he who said to the Apostle John on Patmos, 'I am hethat liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive again forever more.'In the tenth verse of the first chapter of his gospel John tells us,'He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knewhim not.' In first John third chapter and last clause of the firstverse, 'Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.'A self-seeking, worldly-minded man does not know Christ, and cannotunderstand him who is aiming day by day to live above the world and getthe Christ view of life. Captain, can you tell us why it is that theworldly-minded do not know Jesus?"
"Because," replied the captain, "the cares and pleasures of this worldare crowding Him out of their hearts, as he himself tells us in theparable of the sower. But some of those who loved him failed for a timeto recognize him when he was close to them. In the last chapter of hisgospel John tells us, 'But when the morning was now come, Jesus stoodon the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.' Mary alsohad failed at first to recognize him when he spoke to her as she stoodweeping beside his sepulchre. And how long he talked with those two onthe way to Emmaus, and they did not recognize him until he sat down toeat with them, took bread, and blessed and brake it, and then vanishedout of their sight! Ah, Jesus is often near us and we know him not."
"And he is our Master," said Mrs. Travilla, in her low, sweet tones."In John thirteen, thirteenth, talking with his disciples Jesus says,'Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am.' And Paultells the Ephesians that their Master is in heaven. 'And ye masters dothe same things unto them, forbearing, threatening, knowing that yourMaster also is in heaven.'"
"There are five Greek words translated Master," continued the captain;"one meaning overseer, another teacher, still another signifyingabsolute ownership; another, leader--one who goes before us; stillanother, one exercising supreme authority or power. Oh, that to-dayeach one of us may know Christ as our supreme Lord and Master who alonehas absolute ownership of our lives and all our powers."
"Let us look for other texts bearing upon this subject," said Mr.Lilburn. "Have not you one for us, Harold?"
"Yes," replied Harold, "here in first John, second chapter, is given atest of our knowledge of Christ. 'Hereby do we know that we know him ifwe keep his commandments. He that saith I know him and keepeth not hiscommandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.'"
"And here in John's gospel," said Mrs. Lilburn, "where Jesus is talkingwith his disciples, that same night in which he was betrayed, he says:'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I haveloved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men knowthat ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.'"
"And again," said Evelyn, "in the fifteenth chapter and twelfth verse,'This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life forhis friends.'"
"What wonderful love--oh, what wonderful love was His!" exclaimed Mrs.Travilla, in low moved tones. "And how sweet are those words: 'I haveloved thee with an everlasting love.' 'For a small moment have Iforsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.'"
"Let us sing to His praise," suggested Mr. Lilburn, and Violet, seatingherself at the instrument, struck a few chords, then started the hymn:
"Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing, My dear Redeemer's praise,"
the others joining in with a will--evidently singing with spirit andunderstanding, for the sweet words were familiar to all.
The short service over, they scattered in groups here and there,chatting quietly with each other.
For a few moments Mrs. Travilla and her cousin and old-time intimatefriend, Annis--now Mrs. Lilburn--were together a little apart from theothers, talking low and confidentially. They talked of the past, thepresent, and the future, as regarded life in both this world and thenext.
"How sweet is that Bible lesson which we have just had," said Annis,at length. "How I love those words of Jesus--'Ye call me Master andLord; and ye say well; for so I am.'"
"Yes," returned Elsie; "they are very dear to me. Oh, how sweet to knowthat he is ever with us--always close at hand, full of love, infinitein power and willingness to bless; to help in every trouble, to give'the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spiritof heaviness.' Oh, how true are the words: 'The joy of the Lord is yourstrength.' If we only have that we can bear all troubles and trials.It makes one happy in the present, and takes away all dread of thefuture; so sweet and sustaining is it to know that He who has all powerin heaven and on earth is your friend, loving you with an everlasting,infinite love; caring for you at all times and in all places."
"Yes, yes," said Annis softly. "'Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout,O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter ofJerusalem' ... 'The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; hewill save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in hislove, he will joy over thee with singing.' Are they not sweet words,Elsie?"
"Indeed they are! These others too--'God commendeth his love toward us,in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'"
There was a moment of silence; then Annis said, "You seem to me a veryhappy Christian, Elsie. Is it not because the joy of the Lord is indeedyour strength?"
"Oh, Annis, who could be otherwise than happy in the consciousness ofthat love; and in the thought of how soon one will be with the Master,and like Him; and with all the dear ones gone before, never, never tobe separated from them again?"
"Yes, dear cousin, and how blest are we in the knowledge that our dearones gone before were His, and are with Him now, and will be ready togreet us with grea
t joy when we too shall reach that blessed shore."
"'The joy of the Lord is your strength,'" again quoted Mrs. Travilla,in her low, sweet tones. "Don't you think, Annis, that the Covenantersand Puritans,--good, devoted Christians as most of them were,--inopposing the lightness, worldly-mindedness, and frivolity of theirfoes, went too far to the other extreme, leaving out from theirteachings the joy of the Lord? Do you not remember that the Jews weretold by Nehemiah, Ezra, and the others, 'This day is holy unto the Lordyour God; mourn not nor weep. Go your way, eat the fat and drink thesweet; and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: forthis day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of theLord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And allthe people went their way, to eat, and to drink, and to send portions,and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words thatwere declared unto them.'"
"Yes," said Annis, "it seems to be human nature to go to extremes,and I think much harm is often done in that way. For instance, theCovenanters and Puritans of old times were so disgusted with theerrors and selfish indulgences of the Papists--their turning theSabbath into a holiday, which might rightly be spent in merrymaking andsport--that they themselves robbed it of all enjoyment, and made it adull, gloomy time to their young people, with little or no hint in itof the strengthening joy of the Lord."
"I think you are right," returned Mrs. Travilla, in a musing tone."The Sabbath is not a day for frivolity, but it is one for joy andgladness--the joy of the Lord strengthening us for duty, trial, andtemptation. What but that sustained the martyrs when called upon tolay down their lives for the sake of Him who died to redeem them? Andoh, how that gracious, precious promise, 'As thy days, so shall thystrength be,' relieves one of the dread of what the future may havein store for us; what bereavements, losses, sufferings, mental orphysical! How often and sweetly He bids us fear not. 'O Israel, Fearnot: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou artmine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; andthrough the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkestthrough the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flameskindle upon thee. For I am the Lord, thy God, the Holy One of Israel,thy Saviour.'"
"Yes," said Annis, "oh, how often, how tenderly he bids us fear not. Itis like a mother hushing her frightened child. 'Say to them that are ofa fearful heart, fear not.... Fear thou not, for I am with thee.... ForI the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying to thee, fear not,I will help thee. Fear not, I have redeemed thee, thou art mine....Fear not, O Jacob my servant, and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.'"
"'Whom I have chosen,'" repeated Elsie. "How those words bring to mindwhat Jesus our dear Master said to his disciples in that last talk withthem in the room where they had eaten the passover--'Ye have not chosenme, but I have chosen you.' Oh, what love and condescension to chooseus sinful creatures for his own!"
"'And ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit,'" saidAnnis, going on with the quotation, "'and that your fruit shouldremain; that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he willgive it you.' I remember," she went on musingly, "that when I was alittle girl I used to think I should like to be a Christian, and wouldbe if only I knew how. The way seems very easy now--just to listen tothe dear Saviour's gracious invitation, 'Come unto me all ye that laborand are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' accept it, and givemyself to him."
"Yes," said Elsie, "his promise joined to that--'and ye shall find restunto your souls'--is sure; it never fails."