news to impart。 One beloved by you has acplished her warfare； has
received an answer to her prayers； and everlasting joy rests upon her
head。 My dear wife； the source of my best earthly fort for twenty
years； departed on Tuesday。〃Venn's Letter to Stillingfleet；
announcing the death of his wife。
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XII。
THE RULER OF THE WAVES
〃And there arose a great storm of wind； and the waves beat into the
ship； so that it was now full。
〃And He was in the hinder part of the ship； asleep on a pi How： and
they awake Him； and say unto Him； Master； carest Thou not that we
perish？
〃And He arose； and rebuked the wind； and said unto the sea； Peace； be
still。 And the wind ceased； and there was a great calm。
〃And He said unto them； Why are ye so fearful。 How is it that ye have
no faith？〃Mark iv。 37…40。
IT would be well if professing Christians in modern days studied the
four Gospels more than they do。 No doubt all Scripture is profitable。
It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of
another。 But I think it should be good for some who are very familiar
with the Epistles； if they knew a little more about Matthew； Mark；
Luke； and John。
Now why do I say this？ I say it because I want professing Christians to
know more about Christ。 It is well to be acquainted with all the
doctrines and principles of Christianity。 It is better to be acquainted
with Christ Himself。 It is well to be familiar with faith； and grace；
and justification； and sanctification。 They are all matters 〃pertaining
to the King。〃 But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself；
to see the King's own face； and to behold His beauty。 This is one
secret of eminent holiness。 He that would be conformed to Christ's
image； and bee a Christ…like man； must be constantly studying Christ
Himself。
Now the Gospels were written to make us acquainted with Christ。 The
Holy Ghost has told us the story of His life and deathHis sayings and
His doings； four times over。 Four different； inspired hands have drawn
the picture of the Saviour。 His ways； His manners； His feelings； His
wisdom； His grace； His patience； His love； His power； are graciously
unfolded to us by four different witnesses。 Ought not the sheep to be
familiar with the Shepherd？ Ought not the patient to be familiar with
the Physician？ Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom？
Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Saviour？ Beyond doubt it
ought to be so。 The Gospels were written to make men familiar with
Christ； and therefore I wish men to study the Gospels。
On whom must we build our souls if we would be accepted with God？ We
must build on the rock； Christ。 From whom must we draw that grace of
the Spirit which we daily need in order to be fruitful？ We must draw
from the vine； Christ。 To whom must we look for sympathy when earthly
friends fail us or die？ We must look to our elder brother； Christ。 By
whom must our prayers be presented； if they are to be heard on high？
They must be presented by our advocate； Christ。 With whom do we hope to
spend the thousand years of glory； and the after eternity？ With the
King of kings； Christ。 Surely we cannot know this Christ too well！
Surely there is not a word； nor a deed； nor a day； nor a step； nor a
thought in the record of His life； which ought not to be precious to
us。 We should labour to be familiar with every line that is written
about Jesus。
e now； and let us study a page in our Master's history。 Let us
consider what we may learn from the verses of Scripture which stand at
the head of this paper。 You there see Jesus crossing the lake of
Galilee； in a boat with His disciples。 You see a sudden storm arise
while He is asleep。 The waves beat into the boat and fill it。 Death
seems to be close at hand。 The frightened disciples awake their Master
and cry for help。 He arises and rebukes the wind and the waves； and at
once there is a calm。 He mildly reproves the faithless fears of His
panions； and all is over。 Such is the picture。 It is one full of
deep instruction。 e now； and let us examine what we are meant to
learn。
1。 Let us learn； first of all； that following Christ mil not prevent
our having earthly sorrows and troubles。
Here are the chosen disciples of the Lord Jesus in great anxiety。 The
faithful little flock which believed when priests； and scribes； and
Pharisees were all alike unbelieving； is allowed by the Shepherd to be
much disquieted。 The fear of death breaks in upon them like an armed
man。 The deep water seems likely to go over their souls。 Peter； James；
and John； the pillars of the Church about to be planted in the world；
are much distressed。
Perhaps they had not reckoned on all this。 Perhaps they had expected
that Christ's service would at any rate lift them above the reach of
earthly trials。 Perhaps they thought that He who could raise the dead；
and heal the sick； and feed multitudes with a few loaves； and cast out
devils with a wordHe would never allow His servants to be sufferers
upon earth。 Perhaps they had supposed He would always grant them smooth
journeys； fine weather； an easy course； and freedom from trouble and
care。
If the disciples thought so； they were much mistaken。 The Lord Jesus
taught them that a man may be one of His chosen servants； and yet have
to go through many an anxiety； and endure many a pain。
It is good to understand this clearly。 It is good to understand that
Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is
heir to； and never will。 If you are a believer； you must reackon on
having your share of sickness and pain； of sorrow and tears； of losses
and crosses； of deaths and bereavements； of partings and separations；
of vexations and disappointments； so long as you are in the body。
Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these。 He
has undertaken that all who e to Him shall have all things
pertaining to life and godliness； but He has never undertaken that He
will make them prosperous； or rich； or healthy； and that death and
sorrow shall never e to their family。
I have the privilege of being one of Christ's ambassadors。 In His name
I can offer eternal fife to any man； woman； or child who is willing to
have it。 In His name I do offer pardon； peace； grace； glory； to any son
or daughter of Adam who reads this paper。 But I dare not offer that
person worldly prosperity as a part and parcel of the Gospel。 I dare
not offer him long life； an increased ine； and freedom from pain。 I
dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ；
that in the following he shall never meet with a storm。
I know well that many do not like these terms。 They would prefer having
Christ and good healthChrist and plenty of moneyChrist and no
deaths in their familyChrist and no wearing caresChrist and a
perpetual morning without clouds。 But they do not like Christ and the
crossChrist and tribulationChrist and the conflictChrist and the
howling windChrist and the storm。
Is this the secret thought of anyone who is reading this paper？ Believe
me； if it is； you are very wrong。 Listen to me； and I will try to show
you you have yet much to learn。
How should you know who are true Christians； if following Christ was
the way to be free from trouble？ How should we discern the wheat from
the chaff； if it were not for the winnowing of trial？ How should we
know whether men served Christ for His own sake or from selfish
motives； if His service brought health and wealth with it as a matter
of course？ The winds of winter soon show us which of the trees are
evergreen and which are not。 The storms of affliction and care are
useful in the same way。 They discover whose faith is real； and whose is
nothing but profession and form。
How would the