The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-30
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER
rIasson Text: ssPaul at Athens" Acts
xvii, 30-44--Golden Text:
Psalm XVII, 1--Com-
Iaentary.


OUT of the ship when they had let down the
boat into the sea, under color rs though they
would have cast anchors out ofthe fUreship." "
I feel grieved to begin this lesson with the
treachery OF these sailors. when such rich
food for the soul is in verses % to Is. so
strangely omitted by the lesson committee.
81. Paul said to the centurion and to the
soldiers. Except these abide in the ship ye
cannot be saved" Paul was only promised
the lives of those with him in the ship (verse
| 24); IL they should start off in the boat by
themselves. he could Lot be responsible for
| them. Noah was given those with him in the
| ark, and Rahab those with her in the house.
| Only those can be saved who are in Christ,
and abiding is the evidence that we are truly
in Him (John K, 81. % II John H., 19).
80. 'Then the soldiers cut off the ropes Of
| the boat and let her fall off," It looked like
throwing away their only hope. but 1t was
| really their only ysafety. In order to be saved
| by Christ we must let go our own righteous
| ness, our own works and even our own ways
and thoughts-in fact. all that we have Elsa.
Xiv, 6; Titus ill.,, S Isa. w., 2. and Luke
xiv, 3S).
SO. And while the day was coming on
Paul besought them all to take meat They
| had endured fourteen days of such tempest
| nifty and perhaps little desire to taste food.
In verse 20 we read that all hope OF ever
seeing land had been given up. But now
there is light in the darkness. He who con-
| trolls the winds and the sea mark w., 39)
! had for His servants sake sent message OF
| peace.
"a. ''This is for your health. for there
shall not an hair fall from the head OF any OF
| YOU" This is common Old and New
| Testament illustration of perfect safety. See
Sam. xiv, 45; II Sam. xiv. II I Kinssi:,
| So; Math. T.. 80; Luke xii. z; xxi. IS.
Even concerning Daniels friends VIII were
cast into the seven times heated furnace it is
written that there was not hair OF their
heads singed dan. ill.,, 27. -.
35. "And when he had thus spoken he
took bread and gave thanks to God in the
presence OF them all, and when he had
| broken it he began to eat" Thus he glori-
Ged God. whose he was and whom he served.
Thus he magnifed Christ In his body (Phil.
T., 2O) He testified before all that he knew
| God. that he trusted In God and that he had
! dealings with God. He gave thanks for de-
| liverSnce when it was not yet visible except
to faith.
36. "Then were they all Of good cheer. and
| they also took some meat" He not only ex-
horted them to be Of good cheer, but being OF
| good cheer himself he Influenced others to
do likewise oversees %. .25). Compare Acts
xiii, II Math. tx, 2, %, and John xvi. 33:
II we steadfastly believe God, We will be filled
with joy and peace CRsm. xv.. 1s), and mas
much as 1t Is impossible for any Of US to live
only unto ourselves (Rom. xiv, y we must
Of necessity influence others to be cheerful
also.
81. "And we were in all in the ship two
| hundred, three score and sixteen souls. y
| Think of 275 people saved from watery
grave by one man. Ten righteous men would
have saved Sodom from its fiery overthrow.
How many thousands have been saved from
eternal death by such men as Spurgeon,
| Moody. Munhall, Needham and others? What
is your influence in the world2 Does 1t tend
to the health and safety OF others, or are you
troubler and dishonor to the Prince OF
Peace?
SO. And when they had eaten enough they
| lightened the ship and cast out the wheat into
the sea- The angel had told Paul, and he
had passed it on that the ship would be lost
| (verse 22). There was therefore no object In
attempting longer to preserve the cargo. The
life is more than meat. and to EShten the
ship would tend to their safety. II some
Christians would unload some OF their wealth
for the good of others and for Jesus's sake.
It would be better for them, both for this
world and for the world to come.
49, And when 1t was day they knew not
the land" How welcome the daylight
would be and also the sight Of the land,
since they knew that all would somehow
| reach It in safety. The storm was still on:
and on lea shore as they were there would
seem to be more danger Of their lives than
ever, but the word OF God has been given
that no life will be lost. How happy and
peaceful should those be whose anchor is
within the vale, sure and steadfast (Heb. vi.
19)!
10. s.And when they had taken up the an.
chors they made toward the shore" Now
came the greatest danger apparently, Tor
might they not all be dashed to pieces! No,
for the word Of God was pledged on their
behalf One who trusts in that word can
say, Therefore will not we fear though the
earth be removed and though the mountains
be carried into the midst OF the sea" Cps.
1lvi., q.
Al. and falling into place where tw,
seas met they ran theship aground" Thus
part remained immovable, while the rest was
soon broken by the waves and the vessel
that had held together through all the tenn
pest on the sea and kept them from going to
the bottom was now hopeless wreck. Il
came to pass as Paul had been told-the shi,
should be lost (verse 22).
a. .'And the soldiers counsel was to Kill
the prisoners, lest any OF them should swim
out and escape" It was because OF one OF
these prisoners that all were alive. They
were glad enough to listen to his words OF
CD p:ouragement in the storm, but now they
would ruthlessly take his life II permitted.
All. Paul. thou hadst much fellowship with
thy Master, for those whom He came to bless
actually took His ltfe When shall We learn
tho lesson that the servant Is not greater
than his master and be will content to be Gs
He (John XIV 19, 20l?
;. 43. '.Bur the centurion. willing TO save
Paul. kept them from their purpose" The
records of the centurions whom the Lord
used to accomplish His purposes or who
were led to know Him as their Lord is most
instructive. The name Of this one is given
in verse l. Compare chap< { K. 20, and see
also Matb. viii. 5, g. 10; xvii. 81.
A. And so it came to pass that they es-
capped all safe to land. What God and
angels testify we may surely believe. for
The Lord Of Hosts hath sworn, saying,
; surely as have thought so shall it come to
pass. and as I have purposed so shall 1t
stand" Gsa. XIV. 24). May the fulillment
| Of the words OF this angel lead us to believe
firmly the words OF some other angels who
said. .'This same Jesus shall 80 come in like
manner" And also the words of Gabriel,
thut !the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne Of His father David, AMI He shall
reign over the house OF Jacob forever: and
OF His kingdom there shall be no end (Acts
j., II Luke l., 80. 33).-Lesson Helper.