HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

It is related that some years ago, while a frigate was cruising in the Mediterranean, her commander was ordered to ascertain whether there existed, within certain lines of latitude and longitude, a shoal or reef, which had been reported as being there. The captain addressed himself to the task with all the rough earnestness of a British seaman; at the same time entertaining a strong persuasion that nothing of the kind described would be found in the position pointed out. The undertaking was accordingly conducted in a superficial manner, and was speedily terminated by the captain declaring that the report which had occasioned the search was a perfect mistake, and originated in delusion or falsehood. But an officer on board- -a man who had accustomed himself to accurate calculations and observationwas of another mind, and felt convinced that, with more careful and prolonged examination, a different result might probably be obtained. None of his arguments, however, availed with the commander, who sharply rebuked him as wanting experience, and being a mere theorist. The officer, however, carefully treasured up his observations and reckonings; and having left the frigate, persuaded the Admiralty to send him on a second expedition, with a small vessel under his own command, in quest of the reported rock, or whatever else it might prove to be. His voyage was successful; and he returned with the

clearly ascertained information, that in a certain spot in the Mediterranean there lay a dangerous sunken rock. This fact, for safety in the navigation of that sea, was of course forthwith carefully marked down in the maps. For this service he was rewarded with promotion. The commander of the frigate hearing of this some time afterwards was highly incensed, and declared that the report was a fraud to get promotion; adding, "If ever I have the keel of this ship under me in those waters again, and do not carry her clean over where the chart marks a rock, call me a liar, and no seaman to boot."

Two years afterwards he was bound for Naples, having some public functionaries as passengers on board his vessel. One autumn afternoon, as the ship took a north-easterly direction, threatening, dark strips of eloud began to stream over the sky, and a gale sprang up, which made the sails and cordage creak as though they would burst, while the heaving waves tossed and tried the timber of the well-compacted keel. Night came on, and the captain paced the decks rather anxiously, and consulted with the master of the ship, whose practical skill and experience rendered him a valuable counsellor. By the light of a lantern they examined a chart, when the master, pointing to the spot whereabouts they were, exclaimed, "Look here, sir!" There was the recently discovered point of danger, marked down under the name of the "Twills Rocks." The commander was reminded of former circumstances, and, incensed beyond description at the remembrance, burst out into a passionate speech, abusing the officer who had reported the discovery, and repeating his own determination to sail right over the spot, and so demonstrate that the whole thing was a bugbear; at the same time stamping his foot, to give emphasis to his words.

On the ship speeded her way over the rolling billows, and down went the commander into the cabin to join his illustrious passengers, and to tell the story of the sunken rock; thinking to make them merry at the expense of the false lieutenant. "In five minutes," said he, taking out his watch, with a laugh, "we shall have crossed this terrible spot." But the intelligence by no means awakened sympathetic merriment in the company. They were terror-stricken, while he spoke gaily. There was a pause, and then a slight grating touch of something that scratched the bottom of the noble ship-then a noise of alarm from the hatchway-then a shock-then a crash, and a quivering of the hull; and then the bursting of timbers, and the in-gushing of water;-the frigate had struck, and was presently a wreck; the masts reeling over into the ocean, and the breakers threatening to swallow up all that remained of the ill-fated vessel. With desperate energy every thing possible was done to save

HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

3

embarked, and were ultimately preserved; except a few drunken sailors in the hold, and the commander, who would not survive his mad temerity. The last seen of the unhappy man was his white figure, bareheaded and in his shirt, looking out from the dark hull of the frigate, "the foam bursting round her bows and stern."

HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE. He had possessed the means of ascertaining the truth; he had listened to the arguments, and heard the reports of others; there was evidence enough to satisfy an unprejudiced man, but he would not believe. And is not that captain's history a parable of what is commonly occurring among mankind? Persons will not hearken to those who are wiser than themselves; but, with some fixed idea of their own, which, though perfectly unfounded, nothing can move, they rush on to their own destruction. They are deluded by some falsehood they have created or adopted for themselves, while they pronounce the truth told them by others to be false and delusive. A man is warned against a certain course of conduct, which it is plain will ruin him; he is assured that a sunken rock lies before him, but he will not believe; and on he goes, till, in some dark hour, he makes shipwreck.

The parable well suits the case of men who disbelieve what is reported on Divine authority respecting another world, and their relation to it. The Bible is a chart, laid down by God himself for the guidance of men over the ocean of life. About its Divine origin, and its perfect truth, there can be no reasonable hesitation whatever. The evidences of Christianity appeal to the understanding and the heart, with a force which nothing but determined obstinacy can resist, or sheer sophistry evade. Miracles, prophecies, the character of Jesus Christ, the history of Christianity, the pure morality of the Bible, its original truths, their adaptation to our necessities-all these, and other considerations, offer an accumulation of proof unparalleled in connexion with anything else which asks belief; yet many will not believe. The Bible exhibits God's pure and righteous character, and the moral nature and accountability of man, his depravity, actual sinfulness, and aggravated guilt; the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ into this world for the redemption of sinners, his holy life, and his sacrifice on the cross; the descent of the Spirit for the renewal of human hearts, and the edification, comfort, and peace of the spiritual church; the necessity of faith in the Divine Mediator as the means of our acceptance with God, and of the new birth of the soul, and its growth in spiritual life and holiness as a preparation for heaven; yet many will not believe. It warns men that the rejection of these truths must lead to inevitable ruin. It shows that a life of sensuality, a life of avarice, a life of worldly ambition, a

life of selfishness, a life of alienation from God, a life of impenitence, and carelessness, and frivolity, will assuredly conduct to destruction; yet many will not believe. It warns us that the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness of man; that the Lord Jesus shall be revealed in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; that he who believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. It thus lays down the existence of a rock, on which men pursuing a certain course must dash; but many will not believe.

The rock is sunken and unseen. Some profess to have investigated the subject, and found it all delusion. But He who knows all things, who is the faithful and true Witness, who cannot lie, declares to us that there it is. Men may ridicule the idea, and boast of their superiority to vulgar prejudices; but there it is. It is true you cannot see it, it lies at present out of sight; but there it is. Believing or not believing makes no difference with regard to the actual existence of a thing; and therefore, however men may think and feel about the future punishment of impenitence and unbelief, the fact remains-there it is.

It must have been an awful moment when the commander of the frigate discovered his mistake; when the vessel actually struck on the sunken rock, and the wild waves came dashing over it; when he stood there on the shattered timbers, looking out in the dark night upon the watery grave opening at his feet. One can imagine, though hardly with sufficient vividness and power, what must have been his bitter self-mortification, reproach, despair, and agony, as he thought of the folly which had produced this irreparable mischief. In the few moments spent upon the wreck in that wild, raging sea, there must have been intense anguish. A far more awful moment will it be when a self-deluded soul awakes in eternity to the consciousness of its own infatuated unbelief; when the truth, longdenied, opposed, ridiculed, and reviled, comes before the eye, and overwhelms the heart, as a stern reality. Can any one adequately imagine what must be the feeling upon the discovery, when the mischief is beyond repair, of a life spent in a reckless rejection of the Divine testimony respecting ETERNAL RUIN?

Let the reader ponder well this account of the sunken rock, and observe how the grossest credulity is connected with the rejection of what is reported on sufficient evidence; nor let him fail to recognise in the fact just related, the shadow of an awful spiritual reality, to be verified in his future experience, unless by an early and earnest reception of the gospel he should prevent it, and henceforth steer his vessel by that heaven-sent chart-THE BIBLES

REFUGES OF LIES.

IN eastern countries, during the long drought of summer, there are some people so foolish as to build huts for themselves on the dry beds of the mountain torrents. They lie down in them at night, and occupy them day after day. They may have heard that over this dry sand, has rolled, ere now, the foaming flood; but with that beautiful unclouded sky over their heads for months together, all fears are hushed, and they live in their newly constructed habitations in supposed security. But are they safe? Ah, no! for suddenly, while they are sleeping calmly, and without thought of danger, the clouds have gathered in the mountains, and the floods descend. They are overtaken by sudden destruction; and they find, when too late, that they have been deceiving themselves to their ruin.

Now, this is an emblem of the false security and the certain destruction of all who think they are safe for eternity in any other way than that ONE WAY which God himself has appointed. Of all such ways the Scriptures declare, "The hail shall sweep away THE REFUGE OF LIES, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place," Isa. xxviii. 17.

Thus, reader, you are trusting in a REFUGE OF LIES, if you think that all men who are sincere in their religious opinions, no matter what these opinions may be, will, on account of their