The Indianapolis journal., 1885-04-05
HOME READINGS


The Lesson. Acts xvii, 2744.
God Mightier than the Mighty Waves. .Psa. xc.
The Alternative Choice .Deut Xxx, 10 70
The Hope Of the Christian. i Pet j, 3l3.
There are few places more trying to our
faith than where all others besides ourselves
are in douot There is something confusing and
dispiriting IN the constant clamor of fear and
uncertainty. Men become lawess and defiant
after they lose hope. Under these conditions
Pauls calm, unmoved faith shines out as
of fourteen days and nights he never
for moment doubts as to his personal safety,
and, whichever way the wind may blow that
they were carrying him toward Rome. But.with
the vision given him at the close OF the last
lesson he seems to have inspired others with
his own faith that they were all sworn to be
saved. And now they listen with all respect
to this prisoner, who is evidently the servant OF
the God Of the storms and the controller OF
events.
1t was the fourteenth night after the vessel
had left Crete, and the ship had been driven up
and down, or north and south, in the sea OF
Adra for nearly two weeks. and in that time
they had been carried over 410 miles westward.
There were signs that impressed the sailors that
they were near land They might have
heard the breakers, and so at midnight they
dropped over a line with weight on It,
and it touched the bottom at twenty
fathoms, showing that they had 10
feet of water under them: The next
time they sounded it only fifteen fathoms,
showing that they were driving in the shore,
and then they cast out four anchors out of the
stern, that would drag behind and hold the ship.
1t is good thing for a man to stop and take
moral soundings Compare your feelings and
experience with what they few years
or months ago, and see if you are not drifting
in on the rocks OF peril Look out and sail
away at once, or you may soon be powerless.
In this darkest hour, just before the day, the
shipmen, or sailors, attempted to let down the
small boat. under the pretense of getting some
y6nro x,f fD~4 49, %tA Chi hnf
with the real purpose of leaving the others to
their fate. But when Paul said to the centurion
and the soldiers Except these abide i'll the
ship ye cannot be saved" then they cut
away. And in the same way there are men
who think they can be saved by their own
morality and efforts, but they can only be saved
by the one plan of grace and mercy that the
Lord has provided for all. These sailors were
like modern saints, who propose to save
themselves and let the great mass of sinners do
as best they may. Every sailor was needed on
shipboard, and so every man or woman that has
special grace is needed to day in the Church
With the approach OF the morning, and with
belief that they will all need special strength for
the coming danger, Paul besought them all to
take meat [some food, Revised Versionl. as this
was the fourteenth day they had tarred and
continued fasting. having taken nothing The
word fasting here does not imply entire
abstinence from all food, but that they
had not eaten with any regularity.
And to make them feel perfectly safe he declared
that there shall not fall hair from the head of
any of YOU. Paul sets the good example of Civ
ing thanks to God in presence of them all before
he begins to eat. His cheerful. hopeful spirit
affects Thorn all, and they also take some food.
With good cheer comes courage and obedience.
The proper care of the body has much to do with
cheerful spirits, and the food fitted them for the
next trying duty They seem to have made no
further attempt to save the cargo or ship
THE sHIPwRECK.
The island of Malta has been carefully studied
to find the spot where the vessel was wrecked and
there is doubt that it happened in what
tradition has long called ST. Pauls bay on the
northeast extremity of the island. The account
as given in the Revised Version should be
read, as it makes much more clear the details.
AS they attempt to enter the inlet Of the bay,
not hundred yards wide, they run
aground, and the vessel is left in the channel,
where the ngoing and outgoing waves meet
Soon the hinder part of the ship begins to break
up and just as they are near the shore arises
the greatest peril of ALL But Gods promise was
given, and against the madness of the waves and
the cruelty of the soldiers his word stood forth.
According to Roman law, soldier was held re-
sponsible for the prisoner he had in charge, and
if he allowed him to escape he might be pun
ished in the same way that the prisoner
would have been. Hence the soldiers advise
the slaughter of all the prisoners before leaving
the ship, lest any of them should swim out and
escape. But the noble hearted centurion would
not listen to the idea, and boldly assumes all
responsibility himself, and spares them all for
the sake of Paul. who had really saved them all.
He orders those who could swim to
venture first, and others follow on boards
and on broken pieces of the ship. Paul
had been shipwrecked three times before, and
had passed a night and day on the Deep"
probably on floating timber. He had no fear
for himself, but was very anxious that Gods
word should be fulfilled, and that every one
should reach the shore His heart must have
been filled with joy when it was that all had
escaped safe to land.
TRUTHS TO BE IMPRESSED.
Gods fixed plans allow prayer and personal
freedom. There were several things in this
matter that were determined and unaltera-
BILE. God decided the length of time,
the loss of the vessel, the place of
the wreck But within these limits there
was large room for the illustration Of the highest
qualities of Christian character, the most abund-
ant freedom of personal choice. Paul found the
time and place for prayer, and the dangers and
difficulties bring out the nobest things in the
man. Faith, hope, patience, courage, greatness
of soul, are manifest to all.
Look well to your anchors in time of storm
Faith, hone. love-these are sure anchors for
the soul, and hold it steadfast. Keep the cable
of prayer strong, and the anchors win never
drag.
Except these abide-ye cannot be saved"
We must help one another. That is Gods
plan. The church means this mutual help.
Fellowship is for this end. Stick to your
ship and be true to your fellows, if you would
be saved.
Tightening the ship may save the sailor.
Many crafts have too much lading to reach
heaven Better a little loss now, than total
loss hereafter See Matt " 20, 80.
The promises of God are Yea and Amen.
They are many and precious u Pet. J. Al, and he
is not slack eoncernining them q Pet iii, o.
His word never fails.
Safe to Land-What a happy, blessed hour
when at last their trouble was over and they
were safe ashore! How great the Joy Of our
friends who have been out i'll long storms to see
the port and greet the loved ones! But how
much greater the JOY of those who leave the
poor body like a stranded ship, and reach the
shores of heaven, and are safe forever!