Hixon continued silent for awhile and said nothing. He was evidently in deep thought, as though perplexed with something he was trying to make out, but could not understand.
“But I suppose a chap must not go and do what he likes after that?” said old Hixon at length, eagerly fixing his eyes on Peter.
“No. If he really loves Jesus, which he must do when he knows that Jesus suffered so much for his sake, and saved him from hell, he will try and be like Him and serve Him, and turn away from and hate his sins,” was Peter’s answer.
“For my part, I don’t feel as how I could ever be good, and give up swearing, and getting in a rage, or drunk, too, if the liquor came in my way. I could only cry out—loud enough, too, like the man you were reading about—‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner!’ and I don’t think God would hear such a wicked chap as I have been,” muttered the old man.
“The Bible says that Jesus Christ came into the world to save the worst of people as well as the best; ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ These are the words of Jesus Himself. God promises to hear all who come to Him. He says, ‘Knock, and it shall be opened unto you; seek, and ye shall find.’”
“I will try and ask Him for what He knows I want,” said the old man. “And, Peter, just do you pray for me, and if you see me growing sulky, come and speak to me those words you spoke just now, ‘Jesus loves you.’ I don’t think I could stand hearing that and go on fighting against Him as I have been so long doing—though it’s wonderful! very wonderful!”
Peter did not fail to do as Hixon asked him. He seldom had occasion to repeat the blessed announcement. The old man got into the habit of saying to himself whenever he found his anger rising, “Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me,” and his ill-feelings were subdued.
How blessed would be the result if all who read this, and many more, too, were to act like that rough old sailor.