The sun was setting as the _Dolphin_ discharged her complement of
passengers, and they walked up the valley to their temporary abodes.
They had had their evening meal upon the yacht, and the little ones
were ready and glad to be taken at once to their beds, the older to
sit in restful quiet upon the porches, enjoying the evening breeze, a
cheerful chat over all they had seen and learned in their delightful
little excursion around the island, and in laying plans for others of
the same kind, and for walks and drives here and there, till every
interesting spot in the neighborhood should have received from them due
attention. Also in making arrangements for attending the public service
of the sanctuary on the approaching Lord's day; the captain having
already planned for the _Dolphin's_ crew to do the same, taking turns
so that the vessel would not be left at any time entirely unguarded.
When all these questions had been discussed and settled, though it
was still early, they held their accustomed evening family service,
and retired to rest, that they might hope to awake in good season
refreshed and ready to engage with enjoyment in the sacred duties of
the holy day.
It dawned a lovely autumn day, a cool refreshing breeze coming in from
the bay, making the walk through the lovely valley to the open churches
a pleasure as well as duty.
The services over, they returned home, and after partaking of a simple
dinner, gathered upon the largest of the porches, and each one old
enough to read, with Bible in hand, they spent an hour in the study of
its sacred pages.
The subject engaging their attention was the way of salvation; Mr.
Keith, who was the leader, called for texts showing the one true way,
and they were given by one and another as they found them in God's word.
"'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation,'" repeated the
captain, adding the comment, "Let us notice that the belief which is
unto salvation is evidenced by holy living; belief that is not unto
righteousness is not a true and living faith. The devils believe and
tremble, but theirs is not a saving faith, for they do not love and
trust in Jesus. It is the faith which worketh by love that saves."
"Yes," said Mr. Dinsmore; "it is not enough to have no doubt of
the truth of the Gospel--the good news of salvation through Jesus
Christ--but we must give ourselves to him, love him and rejoice in his
love to us."
"And oh, what a blessing that all may have that faith who will come to
Jesus for it," remarked Mr. Embury; "every one, old and young. 'Look
unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.'"
"Yes," added Mr. Keith, "there are many good and desirable things to
which some of us can never attain, but salvation by faith is within the
reach of all who will come to Jesus for it. He says,'Him that cometh to
me, I will in no wise cast out.'"
It was Mrs. Dinsmore's turn and she repeated: "'Without faith it is
impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.'"
"'Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,'" repeated
Mrs. Keith.
Then Mrs. Embury: "'Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of
them that draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul.'"
"And those who believe in Jesus are not to hide their faith, as that of
which they are ashamed," said Grandma Elsie; "we are to confess with
the mouth, letting it be known that we believe in Christ and take him
for our Saviour. His own word is, 'Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.'"
It was Evelyn's turn. "In Habakkuk ii. 4," she said, "I read, 'The just
shall live by faith.' Again in Romans i. 17, 'The just shall live by
faith.' Galatians iii. 11: 'But that no man is justified by the law in
the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.'
And here,"--again turning over the leaves of her Bible,--"Hebrews x.
38, 'Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him.'"
She paused, and Lucilla repeated the next verse, "'But we are not of
them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul.'"
Now it was Rosie's turn. "I will read a few verses from the third
chapter of Romans," she said, and proceeded to do so. "'Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and
upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.'"
She ceased and Grace, who had turned to the same passage, went on with
the reading, "'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission
of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: To declare, I
say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.'" She ceased, and Walter
went on:
"'Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay;
but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law.'"
"'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ,'" repeated Annis, in low, feeling tones.
Then her husband took it up: "'What shall we say then? That the
Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel,
which followed after righteousness, hath not attained to the law of
righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as
it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling
stone; as it is written, Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and
rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'"
Walter then spoke again and his was the closing text. "'Watch ye, stand
fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'"
"Let us not forget," said Mr. Keith, "that we are to confess Christ,
owning ourselves as his disciples, under his authority, and ready to
submit to it in all things. Let us not forget that his own word is,
'If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross and follow me.' His cross, let us remember; not one of our
own devising, or one laid upon us by some earthly power without the
Master's word. He alone is Lord of the conscience and the Bible is his
word, revealing to us his will. Also his own command to each one of us
is, 'Search the Scriptures; for in them ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of me.' We must never be afraid or ashamed to
let it be known at any time, or in any company or place, that we are
disciples of Christ, to whom the love of our hearts and the obedience
of our lives are due."
A moment of silence followed the closing of Mr. Keith's remarks; a
silence presently broken by Mrs. Travilla's sweet voice beginning the
hymn:
"Jesus! and shall it ever be
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?"
The others joined in, filling the air with sweet melody.
Prayers and other hymns followed till the hour set apart for the
service had more than passed away.