The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-12

selves. More than that they resort to a mis-
cradle subteIf0ge to accom- piish their mr.
pose, making as If they "wonld have cast
anchors oct OF the foreship." Here was
co sardice, selfish, and unfaithfulness to
sacred trust.
Compare with the conduct OF these sea-
men that of the Apostle. Courage, thought
f0lness OF Others, faith in God, calm iudg-
ment, heroic love not doing itself out
by some rule of duty but pouring itself out
without stint or measure Then. 100. there
was some sense of honor as well as energy
IN seton, on tn part of the soldiers and The
centurion. Zone nan is daun led By danger:
another is bewildered; utterly SELFISH Calm
self-control which springs from faith in God,
and love which considers another's safety as
well as its own, now shines brightly.
1t Is worth our while to ask ourselves how
We demean ourselves IN the presenc &C OF dan
ger to the soul, as in times of temptation, or
y hen In the midst of moral ccrIuptions Do
We content ourselves with saving our own
souls, or do We set ourselves to help and res
cue Others also2 The selfish Christian Who
cares only for his own salvstion-what sort
of a Christian is he?
2. Paups practical reconciliation of Gods
absolute promises and the human free agency
(5l 34) Paul had already received a divine
assurance that there should be no loss of any
mans life (22 pa; and q little further on, he
say TO the centurion and soldiers. There
shall not an hair fall from the heads of any
OF you" (34) And yet here be as explicitly
declares Except those abide in the thip, ye
cannot be saved and sgain, Take some
food, for this lie for your safety" The divine
promise was sure; and yet there must De per
sonal effort on the part of those interested in
1t The assurance that had been graciously
given wa to be realized, not by the apathy
OF blind ia a,ism, but by mans co opera
llon. Paul saw no contradiction here. He
hrmly trusted; be planned and acted He
knew ood would bring their safety to pass;
he also knew that if these men did not act
with prompt and wise energy they would
certainly perish So with respect to the ad
vancemeDt of Christ's kingdom and the sal
vation OF individual souls Gods promises
are sare; and yeG our CO o Grafton must help
make them sure.
3 The power over others OF personal good
ness and fsitb(32 31)-The entire narrative is
wonderful illustration of this. Paul
showed great self-command, prsctcsl wis
dom and energy. But two things shone out
In all he said and did: namely, Lis goodness
snd faith; his nnsel6sh regard for others,
81 his IN waveriDg confidence in God. As
the perlls deepened and multiplied, thsse
traits began more and more TO appear. And
so fast as these were disclosed 50 fast did he
gain IN the respect and confidence of those
about him. Soon he was acknowledged by
all a leader. His courage and cheer proved
contagious. He told the cen.
turion the sesmen must abide in
the ship" ard at once the soldiers
cut of the ropes CT the boat and pre-
vented their escape. He told them they had
halfstarved themselves quite as long as ID
was safe, AID hogan himself 20 eat and
"then were they all of good cheer, and they
also took some meat" Respect and conf
dence drew all sbont him. More and more
they looked TO him, and caught his spirit.
So always goodness and faith are bonored
and trusted. This does not always appear
The world is not always conscious of its feel
ing toward those no possess such traits;
but, In great emergencies. in times of peril,
In dying hours it comes out. In deed in or
binary times these qualities are secrets of in
1nence and power. Ii We would win Others,
we must show ourselves unseli IA. II we
would inspire cheer, and courage and action
In others, we must 60 forward with that
faith which comes of great acquaintance
with God.
4. An important sign of genuine faith (35).
When Paul took bread be gave thanks
to God in presence of them all" This was
common practice of devout Jews; Just as il
now is with the good Christians But some
Christians shrink from such distinctively
Christian acts in the presence of others.
Pa1Ps mpsnions were nearly all heather.
And yet he boldly acknowledged Ged, and
acted out his convictions before them all.
1t was good way 10 preach to them. No
doubt they honored him for it. We may
be sure his Master in Heaven smiled ap-
prevail.
To be sdrely saved at last is reward
enough, whatever be the cost (43, 44) 1T was
only with their lives that these men reached
the shore. Their goods we're goue. The ship
that bore them was broken in pieces. The
voyage had been one of hardships and priva
tions and fears. But in the joy of safety all
trials and ills were forgotten. So it will be
when We reach the heavenly shore. The
good things priced here will be left behind.
1t will be through much trib )ation that we
make the journey thiiher. But to find our
selves safely there will be triumph and Joy
enough.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. Nights of storm and darkness are sp-
pointed to Christians as we'll as Others.
2. With the wording self is uppermost;
the Christian looks also on the things of
others"
g. Faith and works, prayer and personal
effort must always go together.
4 It is Christian duty to take care OF
the health; ana. with this, when and what
and how we eat has much to do (34l
5 Men respect the religion of those who
are ready to Iced helping hand in time of
trouble.
6. The lessons we would practice in storms
and trials are best learned in DAYS Of sun.
shine and comfort.
Z The saddest shipwrecks are those Of
souls.
But the Joy upon the shore
To tell our voyage perils o'er,"