THE SHIP GLORY, OR, THE VALUE OF TRUE RELIGION

The following copy of a letter picked up in a bottle thrown overboard from a vessel which foundered at sea, which otherwise would never have been heard of, gives pause for thought:

At Sea, October 19th, 1862.

“My Dear Wife,

Before you get these few lines I shall be in heaven. Our ship, the Glory’, of West Hartlepool, is just about foundering. The pumps are both choked. John Hunter has his leg fractured by a sea breaking. We have had nothing but gales of wind, and we are almost a wreck. But thank God we are resigned to our heavenly Father’s will. My men are all made happy in the Saviour’s love. They were all crying for mercy, and they all found peace. The lad, John Hunter, was one of the brightest conversions I ever saw. My dear wife, I have left you in the hands of the Lord. I know He will provide for you and the dear children, and I hope you will all meet me in heaven. May He grant it for Christ’s sake,

Your loving husband,

John Loynes.”

How lovely are those principles that will let a man thus calmly yet trustfully look death in the face! May you and I sail in the ship Glory’.

George Cowell