A story is told of a man who once asked an Eastern king if he could tell him how to avoid temptation. The king advised the man to take a vessel brimful of oil and carry it through the streets of the city without spilling a drop. “If one drop is spilt, your head shall be cut off.” Two executioners were ordered with drawn swords to walk behind the man, and carry out his orders. There happened to be a fair going on in the town, and the streets were crowded with people. However, the man was very careful, and he returned to the King without having spilled one drop of oil. Then the king asked: “Did you see anyone whilst you were walking through the streets?” “No, I was thinking only of the oil, I noticed nothing else.” “Then,” said the king, “you may know how to avoid temptation. Fix your mind firmly on God as you fixed it on that vessel of oil.”
Thank God, this hope in Christ “is sure and steadfast.” You may be struck “all aback,” or, as Theodore Cuyler said, “may be stripped of many a topsail which ambition has hoisted or many a spar of prosperity; you may be obliged to throw out much of your lading into the sea; but if Jesus Christ is in your soul, you cannot suffer wreck.” The anchor “sure and steadfast” will hold you, under every circumstance, in every storm, and in every trial.
A GRECIAN FABLE.
There is a fable told by Homer of a Grecian boy who was pursued by a giant, whose breath was fire and in whose hand was a huge club. Two invisible beings assisted the pursued lad. One took his hand and lifted him forward, the other, casting an invisible cord over him, flew before him until his speed was doubled and the palace gates gave shelter. This is a beautiful representation of God’s gentle rule over us. O, my boy, when the enemy of your soul seeks to enslave or allure you into a trap, some invisible power will aid you to avoid and escape him. When all appears dark and gloomy, looking up, one sees a beautiful sky and hears the lark break forth in song. When discouraged and bowed down with grief he needs but listen to hear the Saviour whispering, “Hope on, hope continually, hope thou in God for ‘the Lord will be the hope of His people.’” And looking up he then can say:
“O Hope of every contrite heart!
O Joy of all the meek!
To those who ask, how kind Thou art!
How good, to those who seek!”