Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-11-24


tween that city aad Palestine WAS Fare it
was determined TO send him to Adramy-
thinm. a seaport OH the coast of A A>ia
Minor. lie WAS given in charge to a
band of soldiers under The command of a
centurion, whose name was Juuits. and
he had for his companions the faithful
Luke and Aris;archus, IA Macedonian of
Thessal0nica. On the first day they
came to Sidon. where Paul was permit
ted to go on shore and greet the disci-
pies OF that place. From Sidon they set
out desiring to make straight across the
northeastern angle OF the Levant. and to
keep sonth OF Cyprus, but contrary winds
compelled them to sail north of that
island, and ut length they came to Myra,
Il town OF Lycia. where they found an
AleXandrian corn ship bound for Italy
into which the soldiers and the prisoners
we're transferred. This vessel had large
cargo, and as we learn afterwards there
were TWO hundred and seventy-siX souls
OH board. so that taking into cOnsidera-
ton the trade in which she was engaged
and the number whom she accomno-
dated, We may not be tar wrong in sup
posing that she was about Thousand
LunS burden.
Leaving Myra they sailed away slowly,
because the wind was ulliav0raDle, and
at length they bore mp 10 Cnidus. which
was promontory (see map for all this (:
every teacher should take his map with
him to the class iOr this lessson) between
the islands ot Coos and Rhodes. SO long
as they We're under the lee Of the land
all was well, but the moment they at
| tempted &c round the point. the full force
| OF the northwest wind would take them.
Here, therefore, they put about. and
steering III sOuth-westerly direction
| they managed with great effort to round
| the cape OF Salmone, which is the most
| easterly point OF the island of Crete. Al
ter this, sailing under the lee of the
island OF Crete, they came to Fair Ha-
ven. where they cast anchor. From this,
against the eXpostulatOns of Paul, they
| set out for PhUenice, intending To remain
there for tile winter, but though the
| wind was favorable a. first, so that they
did hot take i'll the little boat, but tOwed
it astern, yet, when they reached the
prOmontorY, there came down furious
storm known as EurocIydon, against
which thy could not make head, and
so they ran before the gale under the lee
OF the little Island OF CLAUDIA. Here they
took OIL board the boa., and under vi G.
ed, or in modern phrase "frapped' the
ship, by passing strong cables under
meath the keel and coiling them around
the hull. At the same time '.they strake
sale" or rather lowered the gear and LAY
to-" putting her probably on what is
called the "starboard tack" with hel
right side to the wind. In this way they
drlfted before the gale perhaps at the
rate of thirtysiX miles day. On the
second day they lightened the ship, and
on the third day they cast the "taeklng,'
or rather the mailyard, overheard. Even
that, however, gave little relief, for the
storm continued, and the danger was III
creased by the fact that, owing TO the
cloudiness of the weather, they could
see neither the sun by day nor any OF
the stars by night. Add to this that the
water seems to have been gaining OIL
them all the while, and you have vivid
idea OF the dismal cil instances in which
they We're placed, and will not wonder
that there Was much abstinence, for there
would be little opportunity and less in
cliuatiOn to nave anything like regular
meals.
| In this season of utter hopelessness
Paul stood forward with calm self
possession and noble Christian faith.
and made all announcement which must
have tended greatly 10 comfort ab(
reasSure his fellow YOyagerS. He re.
ferred TO the advice be had given then
ut Fair Hayens, uot, however, SO much
TO upbraid them Tor rejecting it, as Il
secure their confidence in that
which he Was now about to say. liz
| bade them be OF good cheer, for he was
| persuaded that, though 1t would be i'm
| possible TO Save either the ship or the
cargo. no life would be lost and he gave
Us the ground OF this conviction the fact
| that the angel OF Him whose he was anI
| whom he served, had appeared unto
him and declared, not only. That he him.
| self should yet stand before Caesar, bu
also that the lives Ii all VINO were with
him i'll the ship had been given to hi,
enireaty. "N NherefOre,sirs," he added
witn happy cheertulness and simple trus
''be OF good cheer, ior believe Ged. thai
! it shall be even ais it WAS told me, how
| belt We must be cast upon certain
| islalld."
AT this point the subject for the day
ends, and we may pause 10 take with u,
a few practical lessons. We may learn
then. in the first place, that the people o.
God are not ccempt from pe, its. Paul
had often been in similar dangers. Ii,
writes TO the Corinthians years before
this date, that he mad been ..iu peris by
waters" and tha5 IA uight and day ht
had been in the deep.n so when storms
comes, we must noL always conclnde thai
there is on bOari some Jonah fleeing
from duty. Paul was in the way OF duty
and yet Tie was in all this danger. In
deed, few narratives give us Il more viviu
idea OF the hardships which his mere
travels entailed Oh tie apostle. Voy aging
IS not without its perils even in test
days, with our steamships and all the
| Improvements i" nayigafiCn to which we
owe SO much; how much greater, howev-
er, must they have been in ancient times
| when there was no compass, and when
men had not yet learned TO battle with
the waves as our modern sailors do. Moth
| ing but an Intense love to Jesus and the
souls of men could have sustained the
apostle in the journeyings and voyages
which he made. Second we may learn
| further that God has q special care of His
servants. When all Others had lost nope,
lie sent His angel 10 comfort Paul. THIS
Is the third time in his history that a ce.
lestlal messenger came to Paul with com
fort and encouragement, aud on each Oc-
caSion potent. God keeps His special
mercies for our peculiar needs. He de-
lays long enough TO make mans help
lessEess apparent, and then He comes il.
such way as TO leave no doubt that the
imposition is Divine. Third, thai We