Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-10-09
PAUL AT SEA.

There was O great SeTsutillty VI
character about that samo Paul. By
turns he was captain of the Lords
people, sending out othersto the work
of conquering for Christ, and then be-
| ing sent himself by the church as a
soldier of the cross, to achieve the
noblcst spiritual victories. Now he
is Christian philosopher, reasoning
on the sublinest Of all themes with
the most learned men of his day, and
next tent maker, sweating at his
trade for his daily bread. To-day q
lion, to brave the ierceness and fury
of a Jewish or Gentle mob, to-mor-
row lamb in meekness and gentle
ness, sitting down among the ofscour-
ing of the earth, to teach them the
way to the purity and glory of heaven.
But Paul at seal What can he do
there? He is as handy on ship-board
as Jack himself. "He knows the
ropes" His enemies sent him a
prisoner to Rome. Hence Paul was
aafloat. Some men lose their con-
sciences off soundings; but Paul kept
his. Some are cloudy and gloomy,
and lose their temper amid the sorrow
of the sea but Paul had SO comfort
able a conscience, and kept on such
happy terms with the great God of the
winds and the waves, that he made q
capital sea-faring man.
1t was his lot to get a touch Of a
tempest on his voyage to Rome. The
storms of angry passion had beat Of
ten upon him upon the shore, but now
was he driven up and down on the ra.
ging sea for fourteen days, and "all
| hope was taken away that they should
be saved"
Paul had an heart Of joyful conf
dence in God, and he made the notes
Of his cheerful voices ring fore and
oft amid the shrieking of the winds
and the roar of the tempest. He
comforted tho feeble minded, cheered
The dosponding, and made all on board
feel it was worth while to have such
company on the sea. Aud he not on
ily used his tongue, but bore an hand
personally in whatever exigency call
ed for it. He was not gentleman
passenger, tucked up in nice berth
in the cabin, out,of harms way; but
tFhe was up7to any labor 7toskeeP all
right. {" I've had mucA work 10 come
by the boat" Surely he was wide a.
wake as ahelper.
And when the selfish sailors were
disposed to secure tlcirown safety by
getting off with the boat, leaving the
rest to their fate, then again rang that
stirring voice of admonilion, Except
these abide in the ship, ye shall all
likewise perish" His counsels and
his cooperating labors and prayers.
contributed to the safe escape from
the wreck of two hundred threescore
ard sixteen souls. From all tMs we
see,
l That ship-owners had better get
apostles to go in their ships, or in de-
fault of them, get such as are most
like them.
2 True religion fits man for any
station, and mukes one useful in it,
You could not put such a man as Paul
into any place in the ecl cation, but you
should see him adapting himself for
that station-taking hold of things
Just as they are, and turning every
thing to the best account. Fl
8 sea-faring people can see what
is a capital article to take with them
in all their voyages, viz, cheerful
piety. 1t won't do to leave that ut
home, if the trip be only a voyage
down The harbor-much less if it be
TO the Pacific or Arctic Sea.
Evangelist.
| f.E