Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-17
THEPOWER OF KINDNESS
LESSONS FROM PAUL's RECEPTION
ON THE ISLAND OF MELITA.

a Royal Flower of Gods Goodness.
/ BROOKLYN. Sept. 1S.-Brooklyn Taber-
nacle today contained many strangers on
their way home from the watering places
and foreign lands. Many OF the members
absent from the city during the summer
were In their places. The church building
and the organ. which have been almost
continually under brush and hammer
since the dedication last spring, are now
about completed. The sermons today were
full of congratulation and were attended
by the usual throngs. DR.. Talmage's morn
ing sermon was on kindness, from the
text, Acts xviii. q THE barbarous people
showed US no little kindness.
Ny text puts us on the Island OF Malta,
another name Tor MelifS This island,
which has always been aL.mportant com
mercial center belonging at different times
70 Phmnicia, to Greece, TO Rome, 10 Ara
/ bia, TO Spain, TO France. now belongs to
England The area Of the island is about
one hundred square miles. 1t is in the
Mediterranean sea, and of such clarity OF
atmosphere that Mount Etna, one hundred
and thirty miles away. can be distinctly
seen. The island is gloriously memorable,
because the knights of Malta for long
while ruled there. but most famous be-
cause Of the apostolic shipwreck.
The bestormed vessel on which Paul
sailed had "laid TO" on the starboard tack.
aud the wind was blowing east-northeast.
aud the vessel drifting probably mile
and half an hour ere she struck at what
is now called St. Paul's bay. Practical
sailors have taken up the Bible account
and decided beyond controversy the place
OF the shipwreck. But the island which
has so rough coast is for the most part a
garden Richest fruit and a profusion OF
honey characterized il in Panl's time as
well As now The finest oranges, figs and
olives grow there When Paul and his
comrades crawled up on the beach. satur
ated with salt water and hungry from long
abstinence from food and chilled 10 the
bone. the islanders, though called bar.
barnns because they could not speak
Grerk. opened their doors TO the ship
wrecked unfortunates.
T Everything had gone TO the bottom OF
the deep. and the barefooted bareheaded
apostle and ships crew were in a condition
20 appreciate hospitality. About twenty
I live such men few seasons ago found IN
the life station near Easthampton. Long
/ Island They had got ashore in the night
from the sea, and not a hat nor shoe bad
they left They found out, as Paul and
his fellow voyagers found out, that the sea
Is the toughest Of all robbers My text
finds the ships crew ashore on Malta, and
around hot fire drying themselves, and
( with the best provision the islanders car
offer them.
And they 20 into government quarters
for three days to recuperate. Pubius, th'
ruler. inviting them, although he had SO
we're sickness in the house ut that time
his father down with dysentery and typhoid
fever Yea. for three months they stale
on the island watching for ship and put
ting the Inequalities Of the islanders 20 I
severe test. But they endured the test salts
factorily. and 1t is recorded for all the ages
of time and eternity 70 read and hear il
regard 10 the inhabitants OF Malta, "Th'
barbarous people showed US no little kind
/ ness
BIBLE EXAMPLES OF KINDNESS.
Kindnessi What a great word that is. i
would take a reed as long as that which
the apocalyptic angel used TO measure
heaven 10 tell the length, the breadth, the
height Of that munihcent word 1t is Z
iavorite Bible word. and tits early Launched
In the book OF Genesis, caught up In Tn,
book Of Joshua, embraced in the book Of
Ruth. sworn by in the book Of Samuel
crowned in the book OF Psalms. and EN-
throned in many places in the New Tesla
ment kindnessl a word no more gentl
than mighty expect It will wrestle M
down before get through with IL. 1t i
strong enough to throw an archangeL Blu
it will be well for u TO stand around II
and warm ourselves by its glow as Pan
and his fellow voyagers stood around tn,
fire on the Island OF Malta, where the Nal
tese made themselves immortal in my tex
by the way they treated these victims OF tn
sea. THE barDarous people showed us M
little kindness"
kindnessi All definitions Of that multi
potent word break down half way. Yol
say ii is clemency, benignity, generosity. i
Is made up of good wishes. il is an expires
sion Of beneficence, it is a contribution. Z
the happiness Of others. Some one els
says why. can give you definition o
kindness; II is sunshine Of the soul, it /
affection perennial, II is a browning grace
it is the combination Of all graces, it /
compassion. L Is the perfection Of gentl
manliness and womanliness" Are yol
all through You have made dead fail
ure in your definition. II cannot be de
fined. But we all know what it IS, for W
all felt its power. Some Of you may hav
felt it as Paul felt IL, on some coast o
rock as the ship went to pieces, but NOR
OF us have again and again in some awful
stress of life had either from earth {
heaven hands stretched out. whicl
showed US no little kindness"
There is kindness OF disposition, kind
ness Of word, kindness Of act, and there i
Jesus Christ, the impersonation Of all 9
them Kindnessl You cannot affect il
you cannot play it as part, you canno
enact It, you cannot dramatic it. BY tn
grace Of God you must have 1t inside you
an everlasting summer, or rather a con
bination Of June and October, the genial
" Of the one and the tonic Of the other
II cannot dwell with arrogance OF spite o
revenge or malevolence- At its first al
pearance in the soul all these Amalekite
aud Gergishites and Hittites and JebusitS
must quit, and quit forever.
Kindness wishes everybody WELL ever
man well. every woman well, every chill
well. every bird well, every horse wei