"THE VOYAGE OF LIFE."

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 143, 19 June 1899, Page 2

"THE VOYAGE OF LIFE."

Last evening, in the Primitive Methodist Church, Pitt and Edwin Streets, the Key. W. S. Potter preached the first of a series of special sermons on 'The Voyage of Life' to a good audience. The passage chosen for text was taken from St. Luke i. 66th verse, 'What manner of Child shall this be?' By way of introduction Mr Potter spoke of the interest felt by all, especially the young, in learning about remarkable voyages, such as Captain Cook's, Columbus', Sir John Franklyn's, and others, and the interest we were all feeling at the present time about the Perthshire, now so long out from Sydney to the Bluff. He pointed out the many points of analogy there were between the voyage of a ship from one port to another and the voyage ol life from time to eternity. In both there were fair winds, head winds, calms and storms, but in each case the ever onward movement towards destination. But before a voyage could be undertaken a ship must be launched, and between the launch of a ship and the bjrtb, of a child there were some points very similar. There was conclusive evidence of design. Every particle of material was brought together in Biich a way as indicated that a ship was built for a special purpose, and had been carefully planned and designed. He pointed out that God, the Great Architect and Designer of all things seen and unseen, designed human beings for something better that to eat, drink and pander to their animal .instincts. They were made to [live noble lives for the benefit of their fellows and the glorifying of their Creator. He spoke of the uncertainty of the future. Some ships were a source of pleasure and profit to their owners throughout the whole of their career, while others were continually running into difficulties, entailing trouble and loss. As a ship's future was hidden from its owners, so a child's future, was hidden from its parents. A ship might be used to carry the Gospel to heathen lands, give help to shipwrecked mariners, distribute the world's products, or become a pirate ship or a slave trader. The future of America was largely involved in the voyages of the Mayflower and Speedwell, which carried over to its shores the Pilgrim Fathers. The possibilities of the future should lead them to be extremely careful of the training' up of the child, or the fitting out of the ship, since children would be either a blessing or a curse to all with whom they would come in contact in tJheir future lives.

Under the second heading of the fitting out of the ship he said children should not have the responsibilities of life placed upon them too soon. Experimental knowledge was required, and while they required and should have as liberal a secular education as could be procured, a thorough sound training in true religion, their duty to those around them, kindness to dumb animals, and duty; to God

could only be instilled into their minds through the teachings of Christ, and the best use should be made of the Bible and the Sunday School. He especially urged that home should be made attractive. He then spoke of the necessity for a sense of responsibility, of parents, school teachers, and those who had the training of the young. When fitting- out a ship one faulty link in the chain, one flaw in the anchor, one rotten strand in the rigging, one loose rivet in the hull, one wormeaten spar, might be the cause of shipwreck and the loss of all hands. The fitting must be done before going to sea, for when the ship had to contend against the elements there was no time nor opportunity to fit a p__jt wa|9 then the fittings were tested, when the ship was being tossed about on the billows of the mighty deep. if they wished their children to have a prosperous voyage of life they must see to it that they were pro-

perly fitted out when they launched them upon the world. He closed by an earnest appeal to his hearers, the young, not to be too hasty to leave the paternal roof and restraint, and one and all to put tho. Great Captain of their salvation in charge of their ship, and by His aid to steer a straight course for the port of Heaven.