The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-11-28

soldiers prevent the desertion Of the sal0rs2
v. 80. What did Paul urge2 How long had
thew tasted
v. "a. How did he encourage them?
V. 80. Whose blessing did he invoke? What
example is given to US
v. SO. What effect had his conduct on the ships
V. 81. How many were on board
v. IS. What further precauton was then taken
V. 80, When daylight came, what did they dis
V. 40. How did they run the shin ashore p
Meaning OF "loosed the rudder bands p
V. Al. What became of the shlpH
V. AZ. What was the plan Of the soldiers ?
What was the Roman penalty for allowing prison
ars to escsDe2
V. 4S. How did the centurion decide? What
him to this decision2 What command
did he give2
V. "A. How we're those to do who could not
swim2 What was the result Were Pauls as
surances thus fulfilled? Under whose pereiful
care had this ships company been proteetedT How
did He override wicked counsels
NQTEs ON TIE LESSON.
We find in this lesson that Paul and his
companions had a three-fold deliveranee,
viz: from furnishing, from massacre, and
from drowning. In our last lesson We had
an account of the fearful storm that over
took them after they left Fair Havens. On
the fourteenth night, as they were driven up
and down the sea, the shipmen took sound
ings and found they were approaching land,
and fearing rocks, they cast anchor and
awaited the day-dawn. After while some
of the sailors were about to flee and lowered
the boat for that purpose, but Paul warned
the centurion of the danger of permitting
them to escape, expressly declaring that
'except they abide in the ship, ye cannot be
saved" The soldiers Immediately cut the
ropes and let the boat fall into the sea.
V. 80. Near the dawn of the fifteenth
day, before they would be summoned to their
duties, Paul urgently besought the whole
company to partake of food, for in the midst
of their anxiety they had neglected to pre-
pare it, and now were in such furnishing
condition, that they were unfit for the ext
gencY that was soon to come upon them.
. V. 81. This taking of food was one of the
appointed means of safety, and Paul cheers
them with the assurance of safety, thus Civ
ing them motive for taking it, and an ap-
petite for enjoying it. " Not hair fall "
was proVerbial expression. See 1 Kings
i: 50.
V. 80. He enforced his exhOrtation by his
own example, and as a Christian did not for
get to give thanks to God and implOre bis
blessing,
V. SO. His courage was impaired to the
others, and thus We may learn that Chris
tian's happiness should be contagious and
helpful to others.
V. 81. The incidental mention Of the num-
Der on board, two hundred and seventy six,
indicates large merchant ship. She was
an Egyptian corn vessel, and the Egyptian
merchant vessels were the largestin the Med
iteranean.
v. So. After they had made hearty
meal, enough for their health and strength,
they went "tO tightening the ship" in order
probably that they might run her farther on
shore. Up to this time, in their efforts to dis
the ship, they had naturally spared
the cargo, but now they had no further hope
Of saving the ship, but only themselves. ais
not the life more than meat p
V. 80. When the Gay light came, they
could not recognize the land, the coast was
rocky and broken, with frequent inlets.-
They deibsrsted now as to whether they
could drive the ship on the shore in one of
these inlets, and made up their minds to at
tempt it.
V. 40. They therefore yielded their an
,hOrs to the sea, the rudders were loOsed so
hat they might have free use of them, ike
paddles, and they hOisted sail, both TO
steady the ship, and drive her as far as pos
,ible on shore.
v. Al. Being thrown upon tongue Of
and, so that the tide ran down from each
Tide, and thus at the point it could be said
Z two seas met, the fore part of the ship
planted itself firmly on the rocky shore, while
he stern, which was in the deeper part of
# the sea, was bufeted by the waves, and
vas finally loOsed from the fore part and fell
10 pieces.
V. A. The soldiers we're responsible for
he safety of the prisoners, and their plan of
ilayiDg them was only to escape themselves
he penalty that the Roman law attached TO
heir Office. How ungrateful their conduct
owards Paul They owed their lives to him
md yet they counselled to kill him"
V. 43. The centurion seems to have been
by the behaviour of Paul, and to
lave felt high regard for him, and there
ore arrested the execution Of the plan. He
,ade all who could to swim ashore, and there
10 ready to help others. Then the more
helpless, on any thing they could procure
rom the ship, we're to endeaVOr to reach the
and.
V. A. So, as God had promised, "there
vas no loss of any mans hfe." " The ship
vas lost and broken up, and it might seem
impossible that any of the people should es
APE alive. But God, who promises, is able
o perform, whatever the seeming difficulty |
lie has different methods. So with saliva
ion. How varying is the experience Of be-
levers Some seem to have an easy, quiet
entrance to the haven Of rest. Some get