JACK ROBINS, THE SAILOR

Mr. Taylor always enjoyed his ten-minute walk home from work. He often saw the same people, also walking home after a long day at work. Sometimes he saw strange faces. Today he noticed an English sailor hobbling over the pavement as well as he could with his wooden leg and his crutch. The sailor kept looking at Mr. Taylor as though he wanted to speak with him. When he came near, he pulled off his hat and shook Mr. Taylor’s hand, with tears streaming down his face. Mr. Taylor was a little confused by this unusual behavior. Finally, the sailor asked, “Don’t you remember me, sir?”

Mr. Taylor thought the man looked familiar, but he could not remember his name. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember.”

“Jack Robins, sir,” the sailor introduced himself.

Suddenly Mr. Taylor remembered. Jack Robins had been in his Sunday School class about twenty years ago. He had certainly changed! He had lost one of his legs, and an eye. His face was badly scarred. “What! Jack, is it really you?”

“Yes, it is the same Jack Robins. I’ve thought about you and your kind warnings many times since then. I will never forget my Sunday School teacher.”

“I’m very glad to see you, Jack,” said Mr. Taylor. Tm on my way home now. Why don’t you come and have supper with my wife and me? I’d love to hear your story.”

Jack agreed, and as soon as supper was finished, the three of them sat around the fire, and Jack began his interesting story.

“How long is it now that you’ve been gone?” asked Mrs. Taylor.

“Last month it was nineteen years ago, ma’am,” answered the sailor. “I remember the day very well. You visited me the evening before I left for sea, Mr. Taylor. You warned me about the temptations I would face, and you prayed for me, too. You prayed that I would be kept from temptations, and that I would be led to think seriously about the instructions I had received in Sunday School, even though I would be far away from home and church. I was a reckless young man, and you asked God to show me the danger I was in. Then you committed me to the care of the Almighty God and prayed for my salvation.

“You gave me a pocket Bible, and told me to read it every day. I still have that Bible. Here it is.” He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Taylor opened it and recognized his own handwriting in the front: “John Taylor presents this Bible to Jack Robins, hoping that he will read it prayerfully when he is far from home, and that he will treasure its truths in his heart and live in obedience to it.”

“Now I begin to remember,” said Mr. Taylor. “You were in my class for a few years in a row, weren’t you?”

“Yes, sir, but what I learned from you was not enforced at home, so that any impressions I did have quickly wore off. When I was about fifteen I quit school because I didn’t like the strict rules they had. I wanted freedom. I roamed the streets with a few other boys, and when they decided to go to sea I said I’d go with them.

“It wasn’t hard to find a place on a ship. Once aboard, though, I found temptations all around me. There was no Sunday School teacher to warn me, and I never read my Bible. I joined the other sailors in their rough lifestyle, and soon I was as bad as they were.

“I had imagined that being a sailor would be lots of fun, but it was hard work. Be-sides, the captain had strict rules and we didn’t dare to disobey him. Even though I seemed hardened, my conscience both-ered me sometimes. I knew I would have no excuse in the great Judgment Day, for I had been to Sunday School for five years, and I had a Bible. Sometimes a verse from the Bible that I had memorized before came back to me and accused me. I remember one text that really bothered me for awhile. It was the first Sunday on the ship, and I was playing cards with the others. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t dare to be different. I couldn’t concentrate on the game because this text kept pounding in my head: ‘The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ But instead of listening to God’s Word, I ignored it and refused to repent. I cursed and swore louder than the others, and often I was drunk.

“After seven years I went home for a visit. During these seven years I had had many narrow escapes from death, but God had been pleased to spare my life. When I came home, I found that my father had died about six months before, and my mother was very sick, with no money to pay the doctor. I was glad I could help her. I took care of her and made sure she got the medicines she needed to get well again.

“I wanted very badly to see you before I went back to sea but I knew you would not be happy with my sinful life, so I didn’t go. But two weeks before I had to leave, I met William Adams who had been in my Sunday School class. He told you that I was in town, and you came to see me the very next day. The very sight of you was like a dagger in my heart. You tried to talk seriously with me, but I purposely changed the subject every time. Then you prayed with me, but I did not want to listen to that either. I remember you had tears in your eyes as you handed me some tracts and good books. You told me to read them carefully and to think about eternity. Do you remember that, Mr. Taylor?”

“Yes, Jack, I remember it. The next Sunday I told the children about the danger of ignoring the Word of God, and of having wicked friends. I used you as an example. I told them that you were a nice boy when you were very young, and that you enjoyed coming to Sunday School, but that you had become a very wicked man who would not listen to the words of the Lord anymore. The children were very impressed by this example. At the end of the lesson we prayed together for ‘poor Jack Robins, the wicked sailor.’ I asked God to keep the children from following his bad example, and to give also Jack Robins a new heart. If I am not mistaken, I think the Lord has answered that prayer.”

“I will always be thankful for you and your prayers, Mr. Taylor. Sometimes it is a long time before God answers the prayers of His people, but He never forgets them. His time is always the best time.

“When I returned to the ship, I felt ashamed of my behavior towards you. I thought I should read the tracts you had given me. I was such a wicked person, Mr. Taylor, that often I used to make jokes about the serious things I read, just so that we could have a good laugh. But even while I was laughing, my conscience accused me. I was not happy, but instead of turning to the Lord, I blamed you for teaching me from the Bible. If I had never heard your warnings, my conscience wouldn’t bother me, and I could enjoy myself, I thought.

“There was a new sailor on ship. His name was Isaac North. He made things even worse for me, because he carried on with the warnings where you left off. He refused to join us in our ungodly games and jokes. We made fun of him and nicknamed him ‘Preacher North’ because he was always reading his Bible. Our captain used to say that he wished we were all religious if that meant we would be as diligent and willing to work as Isaac North was.

“Once Isaac was in my cabin to ask me about a task I had just finished, when he saw my Bible. He opened it and read what you had written in the front. He asked all about you and what you taught me in Sunday School. Then he noticed the books and tracts, and he asked if he could read them. He took one at a time, and every time he returned it, he warned me to pay attention to what I had learned. Once he said to me, ‘Jack, if a religious boy becomes a wicked man, he is ten thousand times more guilty than a boy who has never heard about the Lord Jesus, for “unto whom much is given, of him shall be much required.”‘

“I liked Isaac, but I would never admit it to anyone. I often wished I dared to be like him. He was always cheerful even though we teased him a lot. I listened to Isaac when we were alone, but if another sailor was around, I made fun of his warnings.

“I am ashamed to say that the Lord had to use stronger measures to break my rebellion. We were fighting one of the enemy’s ships, when Henry Brown was hit. He was the most wicked of all of us. His shoulder was badly wounded and one of his legs was torn off. We won that battle. I went to see Henry afterwards, and I knew immediately that his life was in danger. The look of despair on his face was terrible. When he saw me he said, ‘Jack, listen to me. I am lost forever! My sins bother me more than my pain. I have nowhere to go. I have no hope! I am lost forever!’ I felt awful. I couldn’t comfort him because I knew I was no better than he was. I ran and got Isaac North. Henry had treated Isaac cruelly, but Isaac was glad to be able to talk to Henry. He tried to tell him about the Lord Jesus who also saved the thief on the cross, but Henry kept moaning, ‘There is no mercy for me. There is only darkness for me.’ Isaac tried to pray with him, but Henry stopped him. ‘I have cursed and blasphemed God all my life. He will not hear me now. It’s too late. I already feel the anger of the Lord.’ Soon after this he slipped into a coma. I was sitting at his bedside when he died a few hours later. I was deeply impressed. ‘It could have been me,’ I thought. ‘If I had died instead of Henry, how terrible my end would have been. I would now be in hell with no hope of mercy.’ When I got back to my room and picked up my jacket from the bed, I noticed that it had been shot through in two places. My hat had a bullet hole in it too. That really made me think. God had spared me when death had come so close. I began to think about my sinful life. I had been so rebellious against the Lord who had been patient for so many years. I felt no one had ever committed so many sins as I had, and I thought there could be no mercy for me either. I didn’t play games or drink with the others anymore. I thought it was all so disgusting. Isaac noticed that I was more quiet and he tried to talk with me as often as he could. I told him exactly how I was feeling. He read Isaiah 55 with me, and then he prayed aloud for me. I believe the Lord has blessed these conversations to my heart. The Lord enabled me to flee with all my sins and guilt to Him, trusting in His finished work on the cross. I experienced that the Lord cast all my sins into the depth of the sea. Then I loved to read the Bible and the books you had given me. I’ve learned a lot from them.

“About a month after this we fought against a French ship and just before we captured it I got these scars on my face and lost one of my eyes; I got shot in the face. They didn’t think I’d live, but God spared me once again.

“I’ve fought in eleven battles, and I’ve been shipwrecked twice, but God has been pleased to spare me until now.

“Two years ago, while we were fighting in Trafalgar, Isaac was wounded. He died a few days later, but he died trusting in his Savior to the end.

“About eighteen months ago I lost my leg by a cannon shot. Happily, we were close to England and they were able to get me to the hospital in time. My leg was amputated, but everything went well and I feel as healthy as I ever did.”

Tears of joy flowed freely that evening as Jack told his story, humbly acknowledging God’s goodness in his life. Before Jack left, Mr. Taylor thanked God for bringing back a wandering sheep into His fold.

LORD’S SUPPER

Two boys sat next to one another in church while the Lord’s Supper was being administered. Basically both were uncon-verted, but there was quite a difference between them. Let’s just name them Hank and John. Hank is very religious and conscientious. He hears the minister’s invitation, leaves his place in the pew and joins those at the table. But John is not so yielding. He really does not want anything to do with religion. He remains in the pew hard and cold, taking nothing of it to himself. Does John do less wrong in remaining so indifferent toward the service as compared to Hank who goes forward in his unconverted state? No, both are sin in God’s sight, the despite as well as the misuse. What would be far better then? To be exercised under the visible administration of the Holy Sacrament thinking, “Oh, God, I witness the sacrament and see Thy people partaking. It is here with the sign of baptism upon my forehead but not actually washed of my sins. I merely have a superficial membership in the church. Oh, that I might have part in it spiritually, too.”

THE SAFE COMPASS

A country youth, about to leave his church and friends to go to a large city for work, was accompanied to his point of departure by a close friend, who kindly said to him: “You are going to launch your craft on a dangerous ocean.”

“Yes, I know,” said the boy; and, taking a Bible out of his pocket, and holding it up, he added, “but you see I have got a safe compass to steer by.”

The guide of young Timothy is still the best guide of youth (2 Tim. 1).

THE ARITHMETIC OF HEAVEN

A man once said to Daniel Webster, “How can you reconcile the doctrine of the Trinity with reason?”

The statesman of intellect replied, “Do you expect to understand the arithmetic of heaven?”

“Through faith we understand” (Heb. 11:3).

IN TIME OF STRIFE

In time of strife the Lord shall in His haven,
Provide a place, where I can safely hide,
From wicked men who for my soul might raven.
There He will show His mercy day and night.
Then in the secret of His holy tent,
He’ll bring my sorrows to a glorious end.
He’ll set me high upon a wideseen mount
To show His splendid ways to all around.

A HOPE NOT PUT TO SHAME

The following excerpt, extracted from the Works of Geo. Swinnock, was found among the papers of Mr. John Sweetman after his death. It was probably written near the end of his life because the handwriting is very shaky, which did not take place until near his end:

“Lord, Thou hast an absolute dominion over me, both living and dying. It is Thy word, ‘None of Thine liveth to himself, or dieth to himself; but whether they live, they live unto the Lord, and whether they die, they die unto the Lord; and whether they live or die, they are the Lord’s.’ Oh help me to glorify Thee, both by my life and by my death! Let Thy Spirit be strong within me, when my flesh is weak. When the keepers of the house shall tremble, shew Thyself the Keeper and Strength of my heart. When the grinders shall cease, because they are few or weak, give me to feed on the manna of Thy promises, and that bread which came down from heaven. When the daughters of music shall be brought low, let me hear by faith, the song of Moses and the Lamb, sung by the celestial choir. When they that look out at the windows are darkened, let the eyes of my soul be opened, to behold with thy dying martyr Stephen, Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. Let my hope and desire look out at the windows, and say ‘Why is His chariot (sent to fetch me to Himself) so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of His chariot?’ Make haste, my beloved, be Thou like the hart and roe upon the mountains of spices.”

KEEPING WITHIN SIGHT OF LAND

The following is an excerpt from a letter from Augustus Toplady to Ambrose Serie with whom he had a difference of opinion about some minor speculative point in religion:

“After all, it may perhaps be best for us, as humble Christians, not to launch too far into the immense ocean of too curious speculation. God’s word is the believer’s chart; God’s Spirit is the believer’s pilot. Where the former ceases to describe our path, and the latter to shape our course, it will most conduce to the simplicity and joy of faith, to limit our enquiries, to leave with God the secret things which belong to Him, to keep within sight of land, and wait for all necessary eclaircissements (clarifications) until our disimprisoned souls shall ascend on angel’s wings to the presence of Him whose are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

THOUGHTS ON PSALM 137 AND LAMENTATIONS 1:1–3:24

How doth the solitary city sit,
Which once made God, the LORD, her chief delight?
Her enemies afflict; her lovers quit.
She weepeth sore alone in deepest night.
No Saviour, Shepherd, Comfort, blessed guide,
No peace; her pleasant pearl is sold for nought.
And mocking, Babel’s carnal children chide,
“Your God’s forsaken, cast you off, forgot.”
The LORD hath humbled her for grievous sin.
Her way He closed; her teeth and bones He broke.
No help she found in flesh. But deep within
A hope remained, though He no longer spoke,
“Still not consumed, the LORD will be my portion;
My walls they rased, but not my one Foundation.”

—D. Moore

Teacher at Timothy Christian School

THE SEEING EYE

A tea-planter in Ceylon wished to leave his employees for a day, but he knew that as soon as the natives employed on the plantation heard that he was gone they would not do a stroke of work. After wondering what he should do, he went up to the men and thus addressed them: “Although I myself will be absent, yet I shall leave one of my eyes to see that you do your work.” Much to the surprise and bewilderment of the natives, he took out his glass eye and placed it on the stump of a tree, then started on his journey. For some time the men worked industriously, but at last one of them, seizing the tin can in which he carried his food, approached the tree and gently placed it over the eye. This done, they all lay down and slept sweetly till sunset.

Many think that they are secure from divine observation, but in all places and under all circumstances it is true: “His eye seeth every precious thing” (Job 28:10). My friend, you cannot “cover” the eye of God. He is never “blinded” to you, even when you are blind to Him.

THE WEAVER

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I, the underside.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

—Grant Colfax Tullar

JUST AS I AM

Just as I am—though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come.

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