Few who have had the pleasure of a bath in the ocean can forget their first experiences, of mingled fear and delight, as they felt themselves in the grasp of its mighty power. The pleasure is often greatly lessened, and the dread and discomfort proportionately increased, for those who are too timid to venture far enough to get beyond the point where the surf breaks upon the beach. Here the blows of the mighty waves tear away the soft sand, leaving the feet on the painful and uncertain standing of the pebbles that are left behind. At the same time the body is exposed to the resistless strokes of the surf and knocked about in helplessness; often, indeed, knocked down, and sometimes really injured.

It will be said that if there are such risks it will be better not to venture into the water. This, however, is not necessary, as a very simple rule will do away with all the discomforts of which we have spoken. Let the bather simply go a few steps beyond the breakers. In ordinary weather and on many beaches, this will not take him beyond his depth. Here instead of the waves smiting him, he is lifted by them, and feels the exhilaration of being in the strong yet gentle grasp of a great and mighty power. If he swims, the bather can float at perfect ease, and rise and fall with the swelling waves to his delighted enjoyment.

But there is a helpful spiritual lesson to be drawn from this. The children of God need to learn to trust Him, not in part, but fully. How many of us are like the timid bathers who only adventure themselves a little way; we partly trust Him, and partly ourselves. The beach where the waves break may be likened to our wills; and where our will stands against God's there must be the overmastering smiting of the resistless will of God. How many of us try to stand part way—"Some of self, and some of Thee"—like Lot, who vexed his righteous soul in Sodom, but who did not have the faith to break away from it.

How much suffering this entails! The feet find no certain standing, and we feel as though God were buffeting us in judgment. Many draw back from even attempting the life of faith, to their lasting loss.

What is the remedy? Leave the place of self-will, venture fully, wholly upon God; you cannot perish, cannot trust Him too fully. When our wills no longer resist Him, we find His blessed will, His love, bearing us upward, carrying us as a child is borne in its mother's arms. Here we find the very might of His will which we so feared bears and lifts us in perfect rest.

"Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea;
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered,
None of self, and all of Thee."

—S.R.