Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-09-01
I. HE. SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON K, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 8.

FNl'O'NNG O-'hGOi I'LL ' ~
Text ofthe Lesson, Acts xvii, 3O-44-Mem-
DRY Verses, 4e-44-Golden Text, Ps. XVI,
documentary by the Rev. ID. NJ
stearns.
3d. And rs the shipmen were about to
fee out Of the ship. when they had let down
the boat into the sea. under color as though
they would have cast anchors out Of the
foreship." ] feel gri'Pcd ~ begin this les
son with the treachery Of these sailors,
when such rich food for the soul is in verses
% to 25 so strangely omitted " 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 24); if they should start off in the
boat by themselves, he could not be respon-
sible 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, q, %;
/ John ii. l9).
80. "Then thosoldiers 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 only safety In order to be
saved by Christ we must let 20 our own
righteousness, our own works and even
our own ways and thoughts-in fact all that
we have lisa. Xiv, 6; Titus iii, 5; lisa. w., Z,
and Luke xiv, 49,
80. And while the day was coming on
Paul besought them all to take meat"
They had endured Il days of such tempes-
tuous weather that they had little opportu-
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 iv, 39) 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 Il common Old and New
Testament illustration of perfect safety.
See Sam. xiv, IS; II Sam. xiv, II; Kings
i, 81; Math. Y, 30; Luke xii, :; xxi, IS. Even
concerning Daniels friends who were cast
into the seven times heated furnace it is
written that there WIS not hair of their
heads singed dan. iii. 2O.
30. 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-
fed God. whose he was and whom he served.
Thus he magufied Christ in his body Phil.
l. 20J. He testified before all that he knew
God, that he trusted in God and that lie
had dealings with God He gave thanks
for deiverance when it was not yet visible
except to faith.
30. Then We're 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 %, 25). Com
pare Acts xiii, IL: Math. tx, 2, % and John
xvi, 80. If we steadfastly believe God, we
will be filled with JOY and peace Rom. XIV,
l3), and inasmuch as it is impossible for
any of us to live only unto ourselves (Rom
xiv, y we must of necessity influence 9th
ers to be cheerful also
81 And we were in all in the ship two
hundred, threescore and sixteen souls"
Think of 215 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 Sturgeon, Moody, Munhall, Needham
and others; What is your influence in the
world' Does it tend to the health and safe
ty of others, or are you troubler and
dshonor to the Prince of Peace?
IS. 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 ~. There was there
fore no object in attempting longer to pre-
serve the cargo The life is more than meat,
ard 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 Jesus sake, it would be better for
them. both for this world and for the world
TO come.
: 80. And when it was day they knew not
l the land" How welcome the daylight
would be and also the sight of the land,
since they Ii wv that all would somehow
reach it in :. fety. The storm was still on,
= and on Il lee shore as they We're there would
seem to be more danger of their lives than
ever, but the word Of God had been given
: that no life would he lost How happy and
' peaceful should those be whose anchor is
y within the vale, sure and steadtast (Heb
, vi. 1901
40 And when they had taken up the
Il anchors they made toward theshore." Now
; came the greatest danger apparently, for
: might they not all be dashed to pieces?
e No, for the word of God was pledged on
: their behalf One who trusts in that word
s can say, "Therefore will not we fear though
u the earth be removed and though the
u mountains be carried into the midst of the
+ sea- (Ps. XVI. p.
Z Il. And falling into 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
Il the tempest on the sea and kept them from
going to the bottom was now hopeless
wreck. 1t came ia pass as Paul had been
told-the ship should be lost Verse 22).
A. And the soldiers counsel was to kill
the prisoners, lest any of them should swim
ont and escape" 1t was because of one of
these prisoners that all were alive. They
were glad enough to listen to his words of
announcement in the storm but now they
would ruthessly 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 well CON
tent to be as He John XIV, 10, POP
49, But the centurion willing to save
Paul, kept them from their purpose" The