66 CHAPTER XVII. THE ANCHOR. Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and He proves my best, my surest stay; An anchor is a very important and useful instrument, for without it a ship would never be safe. She would be carried away with the tides, and driven on shore by the winds. Anchors are particularly necessary in tempestu ous weather; and it is at such times that the "sheet-anchor," the largest and strongest, is let go. The inspired writers, in noticing some of the peculiar circumstances of man, illustrate their arguments by a variety of figures borrowed from the sea, or things belonging to it. Thus Paul speaks of some who made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Jude says the wicked are like the raging waves, foaming out their own shame; and James declares, that the body is as much affected by the slight motions of the tongue, as a ship by the gentle movements of the helm or rudder. In the words I have quoted for this chapter, the apostle selects the anchor as a fit emblem to show how firmly hope is cast upon Christ, as the great and and blessed refuge of souls. The passage gives rise to some very cheering reflections. It implies, 1st. That Christ is the best anchoring ground for a poor sinner. On him he is invited to cast himself without fear. The invitations to do this are gracious and encouraging: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”* will come, let him come." + cometh unto me I will in no "He that "He that wise cast out." Poor sinners be not afraid: though you may be almost overwhelmed with the violent tempests of sin; though you may nearly be driven to despair, and though you may think that you are so vile as to be unworthy notice, cast forth the sheet-anchor of hope on the dear Redeemer; for he † Rev. xxii. 17. *Matt. xi. 28. came to save the chief of sinners, and will save to the utmost all who go unto him by faith. Nothing more is necessary than that you be sensible that you need the blessed anchorage he has provided. If this be your experience, and this your conduct, Jesus will gladly receive you, and will enable you to ride out all the gales of this life, and at last escape the dreadful storm of divine wrath, which will utterly destroy all the adversaries of the Lord. 2ndly. Christ is not merely the best, but the only anchoring ground for a poor sinner. "I," says Jesus," am 66 the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour." "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, Jesus Christ."* He was especially appointed by God to save sinners. * 1 Cor. iii. 11. "Him hath God exalted to be a prince and a saviour to give repentance, and a remission of sins." "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." If we reject him, we are lost; if we despise him, we are damned. We may try to secure our frail vessels in other anchoring places, such as our imperfect righteousness, and supposed obedience to the law of God; but they will give way in the hour of death, and ruin us beyond the grave; for "none but Jesus can do sinners good." If it had been possible for any one to have reached heaven without Christ, God would not have sent him into our world to bleed and die. We are all miserable sinners, and can never render ourselves acceptable to God by any |