"A man stands on the edge of the vessel. He grasps a heavy bag. The boat comes nearer again.
"You'll never jump with that,' cries one standing near him.
"'I cannot leave it behind, it is everything I possess,' answers the man.
"The boat is borne close on another wave.
"'Jump!' shouts the captain once more, and four of the perishing ones obey. But the man who holds the bag of gold hesitates one moment, then, as the life-boat is carried back on the relentless wave, with a shriek, he springs forward. The boat is too far off! The bag which he still grasps in his hand becomes entangled, and drags him down and down, and still holding it, he sinks, never to rise again.
"The life-boat bears her freight of saved men and women safely to land; and you can imagine the rejoicing when they arrive there."
* * * * * *
"Long before this, children, you will have made your own application of my subject; so I will not be long.
"Jesus is our Life-boat. We are on a sinking ship! The waves of our sins are washing over us! Do any of you doubt it? Have you ever felt a sin? Have you ever done a thing that you would not like your mamma to see? I know that each of you at this moment is confessing to yourself with a prick at your heart, 'I should not like her to have seen that!' Well, then, if so, the waves of your sins will sink you.
"Oh, children, we all need the Life-boat! Here it is: