The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-30

color as though they would have cast
anchors out Of the foresbip." I feel
grieved to begin this lesson with the
treachery of these sailors, when such
rich food for the soul is in verses % to
%. so strangely omitted by the lesson
committee.
81. Paul said to the centurion and to
the soldiers. Except these abide in the
ship We cannot be saved" Paul was
only promised the lives Of those with
him in the ship (verse 2D; If they should
start off in the boat by themselves, he
could not 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 X, %, Is;
l John ii, 49,.
80. "Then the soldiers cut off the ropes
of the boat and let her fall Off" 1t
looked like throwing away their only
hope, but it was really their own safely.
In order to be saved by Christ we must
let go our own righteousness, our own
works and even our own ways and
thoughts-in fact, all that we have Qsa.
LAW % Illus Ils I'D ANs anu 4QhC
xiv. 9S).
SO. And while the day was coming
on Paul besought them all to take
meat" They had endured fourteen days
of such tempestuous weather that they
had little opportunity 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 controls
the winds and the sea Mark iv, 3S) had
for His servants sake sent a 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 1 Sam. xiv. As; II Sam. xiv,
Il: Kings t. 50; Math. X, 80; Luke xii, Z;
xxi. IS. Even concerning Daniels friends
who were cast into the seven times
heated furnace it is written that there
was not a hair of their heads singed
dan. iii. 20.
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 glorified God, whose he was and
whom he served. Thus he magnified
Christ in his body Phil. 1, 20). He tes-
titled before all that he knew God; that
he trusted in God and that he had deal
ings with God. He gave thanks for de-
liverance when it was not yet visible
except to faith.
Sc. "Then were they all of good cheer,
and they also took some meat" He
not only exhorted them to be of good
cheer, but being Of good cheer himself
he Influenced others to do likewise
oversees 22-25). Compare Acts xiii, IL:
Math. tx 2-22, and John xvi, 80. III
we steadfastly believe God we will
be filled with joy and peace (Rom. Ky,
49, and inasmuch as it is Impossible
for any Of us to live unto ourselves
CRom. xiv, y we must of necessity in
fiuence others to be cheerful also.
81 And we were in all in the ship
two hundred, threescore and sixteen
souls" Think OF 275 people saved from
a watery grave by one man. Ten right
eous men would have saved Sodom from
its fiery overthrow. How many thous,
ands have been saved from eternal
death by such men as Sturgeon, Moody,
Munhall, Needham and others? what
is your influence in the world? Does Ii
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 tighten the
ship would tend TO their safety. If
some Christians would unload some OF
their wealth for the good OF others and
for Jesuss sake ii would be better for
them, both for this world and Tor the
world to come.
49, "And when it was day they knew
not the land" How welcome the day.
light 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 a lee shore as they
were there would seem to be more dam
ger Of their lives than ever, but the word
of God had been given that no life
would be lost. How happy and peace
full should those be whose anchor Is
within the vale, sure and steadfast (Heb.
vi. 49,
40 And when they had taken up the
anchors they made toward the shore"
Now came the greatest danger appar-
emily, for 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 re-
moved and though the mountains be
carried into the midst Of the sea- Ops.
XVI, p.
Al. And falling into a place where two
seas met they ran the ship aground"
Thus part remained immovable, while
the rest was soon broken by the waves,
and the vessel that had held together
through all the tempest on the seas and
kept them from going to the bottom was
now a hopeless wreck. 1t came to pass
as Paul had been told-the ship should
be lost (verse 22).
AZ. And the soldiers counsel fwas to
kill the prisoners, lest any of them should
swim out and escape" 1t was because
of one of these prisoners that all were
alive They were glad enough to listen
to his words of encouragement in the
storm, but now they would ruthlessly
take his life If permitted. All, Paul,
thou hadst much fellowship with thy
Master, for those whom He came to bless
actually took His life. When shall we
learn the lesson that the servant is not
greater than his master and be we'll
content to he as He John XIV, 19, 20)?
A. But 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 1. Compare chapter
x, %, and see also Math. viii, 5, 6, 10;
xvii, 81.
a. land so 1T came to pass that they
escaped all safe TO land" What God
and angels testify we may surely be-
lieve, for THE Lord of Hosts hath sworn,
saying, surely as I have thought so shall
it come to pass, and as have purposed
so shall ii stand" Qsa- xiv. 2D. May the
fulfllment of the words of this angel
lead us to believe firmly the words of