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" TOILING IN ROWING."

A WORD OF CHEER FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

"And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea."---Mark vi. 48.

SEEST thou that bit of a boat battling with the blast? There are many men in her, most of them well used to the sea: they hold her helm firmly, they tug bravely at the oars, but little headway is made. They are our Lord's disciples, and at His command they are making for Bethsaida; but this means steering in the very eye of the wind, and Gennesaret is in no genial or gentle mood. Alas! for these toilers. Theirs is, indeed, a sorry plight. Their course has been set them, but they can hardly keep it, and progress seems out of the question. Moreover, the head-wind lifts up the waves, and there is much splashing, and a possibility of swamping. They cannot strain incessantlv at the oar, yet if they rest they drift to leeward at a terrible rate, and may be overturned if they fall into the trough of the sea.

"Fierce was the wild billow,

Dark was the night,

Oars labored heavily,

Foam glimmered white."

These things are an allegory. To my mind these disciples represent Sunday School teachers and other Christian workers. The Master has told them whither to steer. Hindrances neither few nor small confront them, and brave as they are, they are fain at times to give up their thankless task. Unless Jesus aids them, their case is sad indeed. But He does, and will! He sees them toiling in rowing. He knows all about the contrary wind. He is watching from the hillside, or perhaps already hastens to relieve the rowers.

Here, then, we have an emblem of a band of teachers, and a picture of the Savior's readiness to succor them. Oh, that some whose hands and hearts are aching may be nerved to bend to the oar with redoubled energy, and ten times heated zeal!

1. Note, first, that these men were true disciples. Certain of them were Apostles of the Lamb. They had all followed Him, and seen His miracles, and believed His word. Just lately they had assisted in feasting the five thousand in the desert place, and they were even at this time in duty's path, for had He not constrained them to get into the ship, and to go to the other side? You, my fellow workers, are disciples, too,---followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. You should not be teachers else. You are not, I hope, attempting to teach to others what you know not for yourselves. I know that a sign-post can direct the traveler, though it stirs not from its place; I know that a dead stick may materially assist a living tree by supporting and shielding it; I believe that a globe of water or even a block of ice can be used as a burning glass to focus the rays of the sun; I know also that God can use ungodly men for accomplish­ing His purposes of grace, but I have yet to learn that He desires to be served, as a rule, by those who themselves are un­converted.  ‘Unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes?" Let there be no question about this all-important matter. If you can sincerely say "I am the Lord's," I have no fear about the present of your work, or its future either. All else will fall into line, and fit into place if this be true. The boat will neither be broken nor belated, in which faithful disciples toil at Christ's command.

II. Moreover, they were specially qualified for their task. They were no strangers to the sea. Rowing was no novelty to them. They were not likely to catch "crabs." Yet even their skill was sorely taxed. It was only because they were accustomed to this toil, that they held out so long. Landsmen would have been beaten back at a much earlier stage.

Now, it must be confessed that some teachers are not "apt to teach," and there is little wonder that they find the work too much for them. Every convert is not called to this branch of the service. God forbid that I should discourage any from attempting it, or from persevering in it, but the truth must be told that some of those who are toiling in rowing in the Sunday School ship, would do better work elsewhere. They are not cut out for teaching. It isn't in them. I have heard of a man with rather round shoulders, who, presenting himself for enrolment in the army, had this uncomplimentary speech made to him: "You'd make a first-rate soldier if your head was turned round." He may not have lacked intelligence nor courage, but his physical condition was not up to the mark. His rounded shoulders would have made a fine broad breast, and his flat chest would have done for shoulders. But in order to this, his head must needs be turned round. It is not perfectly clear that even then he would have fulfilled all the requirements of the standard. I do not question the love and zeal of any would-be teachers, but the special knack being absent, it is evident that some other sphere demands their presence. But as for you who are all experienced teachers, to whom the task is perfectly congenial under ordinary circumstances, and who are by no means afraid of it, even when it becomes specially trying, I can only bid you thank God that He has thus qualified you, and in view of emergencies and exigencies, trust Him to bring you through. You are at least in good company. If Peter and Andrew, and James and John, toiled in vain, you must not murmur if all your striving seems to result in no progress. You are sure that you were put into the boat; you are sure, too, that you know something of rowing, for have you not been at it these many years? Then row on!

III. Despite these advantaqes, they had their difficulties. Of course they had. Scarcely anything that is worth doing, is easily done. Small pains, small gains. John Ploughman says, "Rome was not built in a day, nor anything else, unless it was a dog kennel." Eating grapes is easy work, but keeping a vine­yard means much labor. Sailing with the wind is one thing, rowing against it, is quite another. Paddling one's own canoe may be mere holiday employment, but bending at the Sunday School oar is back-breaking work, and heart-breaking, too, at times. It may be that there still exist some teachers who take it easy, but I am persuaded better things of you, though I thus speak. You are not of those who rest upon their oars. If you do, you are much more likely to reach the bottom than Bethsaida. I have often wondered how you manage to do so well. You are busied all the week, and despite the helps which are to hand, preparation must be difficult work. I am not surprised if you sometimes envy us ministers our greater leisure and better opportunity. Moreover, the art of teaching is to me a thing to be wondered at. Often have I admired the masterly way in which silence has been secured, and interest awakened, and truth driven home among the juveniles. If you have envied me my leisure, l own that I have often coveted your gift, for it is one of the best. Thank God for it, and put it out to usury.

The head-winds with which you have to contend, are at once serious and numerous. Foremost among them is Satanic influence. Satan longs for the lives of the dear children. So do you. You want to bless those whom he desires to blast. It is a solemn struggle. How the angels must watch this tug of war! It is a case of pull teacher, pull devil. It is well for you to know the strength of the enemy. The gusts of Galilee were not to be sneezed at, and the power of Apollyon is not to be trifled with.     

Alas! that inherent evil has also to be reckoned with. Adverse winds are bad enough, but when the cargo shifts within, or barnacles delay without, the chances of weathering the storm, or of making a quick passage, are lessened greatly. We are not of those who hold that the little heart is abso­lutely innocent---that it is as a clean sheet of paper, and only needs to be kept clean. What a task even that would be, but ours is greater still. Foolishness, not godliness, is bound up in the heart of a child. Are we not all born in sin, and shapen in iniquity? There is nothing within to assist in keeping the course, or in forging ahead. Even a powerful steamer makes hard work of it against a strong wind dead ahead, but a sailing vessel simply has to change her course, or else lay to and drift. Your oars are out, but rude Boreas laughs at oars. Your labors are faithful, but the evil heart within soon counteracts their force. I am afraid, too, that in many instances home influence contributes to non-success. You have the children for an hour or so only through the week. For the rest of it they are neglected, or even led astray. What chance has the oarsman who can take a stroke only every now and then? The little "way" he managed to get on his boat is soon lost. Wicked companions, also, undo your work, for there are some men so possessed of the devil that they find fiendish pleasure in infect­ing pure young minds with all unrighteousness. They will do their best to retard the boat's progress. They would scuttle her if they could.

These are only some of the difficulties that beset the faithful worker in the class. How these gusts come tearing' down the gullies! They rush upon the little craft like beasts bounding from their lairs. What wonder that they "knock her silly," and keep her tossing "in the midst of the sea."

IV. It follows that the disciples were much distressed. Rowing is good exercise, and pleasant pastime; but circumstances alter cases. Sculling on the Thames, or in Battersea Park, does not give a fair idea of the condition of affairs on this occasion. There was no pleasuring about this, The disciples were by this time well-nigh exhausted. Their backs and shoulders felt nearly broken, their hands were badly blistered. Possibly every now and then a cheery voice said, "Now, altogether boys," or "Let her have it," after the manner of the rowers of today, but the result was scarcely perceptible. The most they could do was to hold their own. You may be forgiven, brave worker, if you find your heart failing momentarily. You are but flesh and blood. Even the cheery words of others may not do much to hearten you. Do not blame yourself for feeling tired and worn, or even discouraged. If you did not care how the matter ended, if you did not wish to succeed; if you did not mourn the little progress, the case would be still sadder.

V. But for all this, the toilers never dreamed of changing their course. It must have been a great temptation to hoist the sail and run before the wind, or at least to rest on the oars and drift. But there was no suggestion that any other place more reachable would do as well as Bethsaida. Oh, no. Their Captain had set the course, and they dared not swerve from it so much as a hair's-breadth. Dear friends, I trust that you also will tolerate no idea of turning, nor even of tacking. You do not dream of quitting the rower's bench, do you? I thought you were chained to the oar! You do not propose to alter the style of the lesson, I hope, to tell stories instead of teaching the truth, or to make the truth more palatable by an admixture of human reason. Teachers and preachers, let us cast far from us all notions of this sort!  Our task has been set us. It is ours faithfully to discharge it. Only then can we hope for help from above. We will abide by Bible truth, and work by Apostolic methods. We dare not alter the course. Christ is coming to our assistance, soon, and we may miss Him if we steer even a quarter of a point to port or starboard of His instructions. Our only hope of safety and of success lies in obeying to the letter the sailing orders of the Commander of the fleet. High officials in the naval world have been known to make fatal mistakes, but our Admiral is absolutely infallible. "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."

VI. Before concluding, I would like to sound three notes of encouragement. I would make them thirty-three were this possible, for you need all the cheer that can be given.

May I put you in remembrance, first, that you came into your present position at Christ's command?  However fierce the wind, however high the sea, however slow the progress, the disciples had ever for their comfort the knowledge that Christ had sent them there. They had not started on a pleasure trip on their own account. They were not making an excursion without His knowledge. There could be no question about this. Jesus had evidently had some difficulty in p6rsuading them to launch out. "He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side." So far from gratifying a whim of their own, or yielding to the solicitations of some other man, it was only by pressure from their Master that they had been induced to embark. They could, therefore, say to one another when things were at their worst, "We have not brought this on ourselves. Our own dear Lord sent us hither. The responsibility is His. Surely all will yet be well." Is not your case parallel with this? You are conscious that you did not begin this work with any ulterior motive. There was, perhaps, more than enough of hesitation about starting on it. But Jesus Himself seemed to say, "Go." You were pressed into His service, your will being sweetly subdued by His. You felt that it would be woe to you if you taught not the children. Well, then, in all the sorrows that have since beset you, there surely has not been wanting the consolation which springs from the assurance that you are where your Lord would have you. Had you rushed headlong into this sacred work, had you courted popularity, or sought applause, had you gone counter to any of the King's commands, you might well have resolved to 'bout ship, and pull for the nearest shore. Stay at your post, then, till Christ relieves you; pull at the oar till you can pull no longer, or the need to pull is at an end.

This, also, is for your help:---If Jesus is absent, He is not un­mindful of you. How sadly these men missed their Master, Never did they need Him more. But He had tarried on the shore, although He knew full well the toilsome task before them. Did this mean that He had forgotten them? Oh, no. "He saw them toiling in rowing." Like the English King who watched his son winning his spurs in the fight, and stood ready to send reinforcements at the time of crisis, so Jesus looked with infinite interest at his brave-hearted followers. They were doing their best, and Christ demands no more than that. Dear brother, is this true of you? Then keep a brave heart still. Jesus sees you" in the midst of the sea," even if you cannot see Him" alone on the land." Moreover, he is praying­, praying for you, I doubt not, that your faith fail not. Certainly He has not turned His back upon you, nor steeled His. heart towards you. Bury the blade once more in the dark wave, put forth your full strength into yet another stroke---and then another. Jesus is looking at you and praying for you!

And yet again:---The Lord is coming. You are toiling at Christ's command. Then nothing will please Him better than to find you" toiling on." "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." What if He found you taking it easy, or flying before the wind? That would be shame indeed. Remember, too, that His coming ends the toil. When Jesus went up to them into the ship, the wind ceased. There was more rowing after that, but no more toiling. We shall serve Jesus in Heaven, but it then will be all joy and great delight. If His coming ends the toil, we will toil till He arrives.

"We'll work till Jesus comes,

And we'll be gathered home."

What if we have no success until He comes? We may not even then have to wait so long as some have waited. Judson toiled six years without seeing a convert. The Telugu Mission was barren of results for thirty years. When all others thought to abandon it, brave Clough would not forsake his post. Hence it was named the Lone Star Mission. For ten more years the star twinkled solitarily. Then came the blessing! The people in their thousands turned to God, and piled their idols up heaps upon heaps. A single day saw more than 2,000 converts, and a year 10,000, and soon there were more than 30,000 truly converted Church members. Similar experiences have been met with in many another sphere. Why not in ours? Jesus is coming our way, either in revival power, or in second advent glory. Shall we not redouble our efforts, brethren, rather than relax them? You leaders have a great responsi­bility. The stroke oar sets the example for the rest. Let us gather up our energies for a final effort. Now, are you ready for "A long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull altogether"? 

"One Name above all glorious names,

With its ten thousand tongues,

The everlasting sea proclaims,

Echoing angelic songs."

 

 

"Trust not these seas again,

Though smooth, and fair:

Trust not these waves again,

Shipwreck is there."