four Gospels more than they do。 No doubt all Scripture is profitable。
It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of
another。 But I think it should be good for some who are very familiar
with the Epistles； if they knew a little more about Matthew； Mark；
Luke； and John。
Now why do I say this？ I say it because I want professing Christians to
know more about Christ。 It is well to be acquainted with all the
doctrines and principles of Christianity。 It is better to be acquainted
with Christ Himself。 It is well to be familiar with faith； and grace；
and justification； and sanctification。 They are all matters 〃pertaining
to the King。〃 But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself；
to see the King's own face； and to behold His beauty。 This is one
secret of eminent holiness。 He that would be conformed to Christ's
image； and bee a Christ…like man； must be constantly studying Christ
Himself。
Now the Gospels were written to make us acquainted with Christ。 The
Holy Ghost has told us the story of His life and deathHis sayings and
His doings； four times over。 Four different； inspired hands have drawn
the picture of the Saviour。 His ways； His manners； His feelings； His
wisdom； His grace； His patience； His love； His power； are graciously
unfolded to us by four different witnesses。 Ought not the sheep to be
familiar with the Shepherd？ Ought not the patient to be familiar with
the Physician？ Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom？
Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Saviour？ Beyond doubt it
ought to be so。 The Gospels were written to make men familiar with
Christ； and therefore I wish men to study the Gospels。
On whom must we build our souls if we would be accepted with God？ We
must build on the rock； Christ。 From whom must we draw that grace of
the Spirit which we daily need in order to be fruitful？ We must draw
from the vine； Christ。 To whom must we look for sympathy when earthly
friends fail us or die？ We must look to our elder brother； Christ。 By
whom must our prayers be presented； if they are to be heard on high？
They must be presented by our advocate； Christ。 With whom do we hope to
spend the thousand years of glory； and the after eternity？ With the
King of kings； Christ。 Surely we cannot know this Christ too well！
Surely there is not a word； nor a deed； nor a day； nor a step； nor a
thought in the record of His life； which ought not to be precious to
us。 We should labour to be familiar with every line that is written
about Jesus。
e now； and let us study a page in our Master's history。 Let us
consider what we may learn from the verses of Scripture which stand at
the head of this paper。 You there see Jesus crossing the lake of
Galilee； in a boat with His disciples。 You see a sudden storm arise
while He is asleep。 The waves beat into the boat and fill it。 Death
seems to be close at hand。 The frightened disciples awake their Master
and cry for help。 He arises and rebukes the wind and the waves； and at
once there is a calm。 He mildly reproves the faithless fears of His
panions； and all is over。 Such is the picture。 It is one full of
deep instruction。 e now； and let us examine what we are meant to
learn。
1。 Let us learn； first of all； that following Christ mil not prevent
our having earthly sorrows and troubles。
Here are the chosen disciples of the Lord Jesus in great anxiety。 The
faithful little flock which believed when priests； and scribes； and
Pharisees were all alike unbelieving； is allowed by the Shepherd to be
much disquieted。 The fear of death breaks in upon them like an armed
man。 The deep water seems likely to go over their souls。 Peter； James；
and John； the pillars of the Church about to be planted in the world；
are much distressed。
Perhaps they had not reckoned on all this。 Perhaps they had expected
that Christ's service would at any rate lift them above the reach of
earthly trials。 Perhaps they thought that He who could raise the dead；
and heal the sick； and feed multitudes with a few loaves； and cast out
devils with a wordHe would never allow His servants to be sufferers
upon earth。 Perhaps they had supposed He would always grant them smooth
journeys； fine weather； an easy course； and freedom from trouble and
care。
If the disciples thought so； they were much mistaken。 The Lord Jesus
taught them that a man may be one of His chosen servants； and yet have
to go through many an anxiety； and endure many a pain。
It is good to understand this clearly。 It is good to understand that
Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is
heir to； and never will。 If you are a believer； you must reackon on
having your share of sickness and pain； of sorrow and tears； of losses
and crosses； of deaths and bereavements； of partings and separations；
of vexations and disappointments； so long as you are in the body。
Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these。 He
has undertaken that all who e to Him shall have all things
pertaining to life and godliness； but He has never undertaken that He
will make them prosperous； or rich； or healthy； and that death and
sorrow shall never e to their family。
I have the privilege of being one of Christ's ambassadors。 In His name
I can offer eternal fife to any man； woman； or child who is willing to
have it。 In His name I do offer pardon； peace； grace； glory； to any son
or daughter of Adam who reads this paper。 But I dare not offer that
person worldly prosperity as a part and parcel of the Gospel。 I dare
not offer him long life； an increased ine； and freedom from pain。 I
dare not promise the man who takes up the cross and follows Christ；
that in the following he shall never meet with a storm。
I know well that many do not like these terms。 They would prefer having
Christ and good healthChrist and plenty of moneyChrist and no
deaths in their familyChrist and no wearing caresChrist and a
perpetual morning without clouds。 But they do not like Christ and the
crossChrist and tribulationChrist and the conflictChrist and the
howling windChrist and the storm。
Is this the secret thought of anyone who is reading this paper？ Believe
me； if it is； you are very wrong。 Listen to me； and I will try to show
you you have yet much to learn。
How should you know who are true Christians； if following Christ was
the way to be free from trouble？ How should we discern the wheat from
the chaff； if it were not for the winnowing of trial？ How should we
know whether men served Christ for His own sake or from selfish
motives； if His service brought health and wealth with it as a matter
of course？ The winds of winter soon show us which of the trees are
evergreen and which are not。 The storms of affliction and care are
useful in the same way。 They discover whose faith is real； and whose is
nothing but profession and form。
How would the great work of sanctification go on in a man if he had no
trial？ Trouble is often the only fire which will burn away the dross
that clings to our hearts。 Trouble is the pruning…knife which the great
Husbandman employs in order to make us fruitful in good works。 The
harvest of the Lord's field is seldom ripened by sunshine only。 It must
go through its days of wind； and rain； and storm。
If you desire to serve Christ and be saved； I entreat you to take the
Lord on His own terms。 Make up your mind to meet with your share of
crosses and sorrows； and then you will not be surprised。 For want of
understanding this； many seem to run well for a season； and then turn
back in disgust； and are cast away。
If you profess to be a child of God； leave to the Lord Jesus to
sanctify you in His own way。 Rest satisfied that He never makes any
mistakes。 Be sure that He does all things well。 The winds may howl
around you； and the waters swell。 But fear not； 〃He is leading you by
the right way； that He may bring you to a city of habitation。〃 （Psalm
cvii。 7。）
II。 Let us learn； in the second place； that the Lord Jesus Christ is
truly and really Man。
There are words used in this little history which； like many other
passages in the Gospel； bring out this truth in a very striking way。 We
are told that when the waves began to break on the ship； Jesus was in
the hinder part； 〃asleep on a pillow。〃 He was weary； and who can wonder
at it； after reading the account given in the fourth chapter of Mark？
After labouring all day to do good to soulsafter preaching in the
open air to vast multitudes； Jesus was fatigued。 Surely if the sleep of
the labouring man is sweet； much more sweet must have been the sleep of
our blessed Lord！
Let us settle in our minds this great truth； that Jesus Christ was
verily and indeed Man。 He was equal to the Father in all things； and
the eternal God。 But He was also Man； and