THE SINKING SHIP | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1880

THE SINKING SHIP.

The ship Britannia, which struck on the rocks off the coast of Brazil, had on board a large consignment of Spanish money. In hope of saving some of it, a number of barrels were brought on deck; but the vessel was sinking so fast that the

only hope for life was in taking at once to the boat about to put off, when a midshipman ran back to see if any one was still on board. To his surprise there sat a man on deck with a hatchet in his hand, with which he had broken open several of the casks, the contents of which he was now heaping about him.

"What are you doing?" shouted the boy. "Escape for your life. Don't you know the ship is fast going to pieces?"

"The ship may," said the man, "I have lived a poor man all my life, and I am determined to die rich."

We count such a sailor a madman, but he has too many imitators. Many a man seems determined to die rich at all hazards. Least of all risks do they count losing their soul in the struggle. And yet the only riches we can hug to our bosom with joy in our dying hour are the riches of grace through faith in our only Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us make these riches ours before the dark day comes. It will come to all. —Exchange.