Biblical Essays
LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING
Philip P. Bliss was the captain of a fishing ship off the Eastern coast of America. The harbor where he docked his ship was dangerous; filled with deadly rocks.
In order to bring any ship safely through the harbor at night, a beacon-light was placed on the tallest, visible hill; and along the shore, a shore-light.
The two lights were arranged so that as long as the captain kept the two lights lined up together, he could safely bring his ship through the dangerous rocks to the dock. So, before entering the harbor, a captain would line up the shore light with the beacon-light; then he would turn his ship into the harbor – always keeping the shore-light lined up with the beacon-light, thus missing all the deadly rocks.
One stormy night, in 1871, after a long, hard working day, Capt. P.P. Bliss tried to line up the shore-light with the beacon-light, but observed that only the beacon-light was burning – someone had failed to keep the shore-light burning.
Capt. Bliss, eager to get home, decided to take a chance and without the help of the shore-light, turned his ship into the rocky harbor. He hit the rocks, losing his ship and all his crew – only he survived.
That night he went to his home, closed the blinds and locked the door. For six days he did not come out or see anyone. When he at last came out, he had written:
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy,
From His light-house evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping,
Of the lights along the shore.
Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar,
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother,
Some poor sailor tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower light be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling sea-man,
You may rescue, you may save.
Some other songs by P.P. Bliss
Almost Persuaded; Come, Ye Sinners; Free From the Law; Hallelujah! What a Savior; I Am So Glad; I Bring My Sins to Thee; I Gave My Life for Thee; I Will Sing of My Redeemer; It Is Well With My Soul; More Holiness Give Me; Whosoever Heareth; Wonderful Words of Life.
