The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-11-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VI, FOURTH QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. 7.

DRY Verses, 3-5-GoIden Text, Rom. viii.
2s : Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
I, 2. Having all got safely to land,
some by swimming and some by the help
of boards and broken pieces of the ship,
they found themselves on the island Of
Melita, or Malta and received much kind J..
ness from the people, who kindled fire
and welcomed them and did what they
could TO deliver them from the rain and
the cold which prevailed. It must have
been such cause of gratitude To find
themselves safe on land that they would
not think SO much of the rain and cold,
and yet the kindness of the natives was
very refreshing. How much joy might be
brought into many life If we all lived to
show kindness to those In need Aswe ex-
perience in our own hearts the loving
kindness of God, which Is better than life
Cps. xiii, 81, we should surely show the
kindness of God to others Oh Sam. TX, 81,
but these people probably knew nothing
of the love of God How often the conduct
of one who knows not God puts to shame
those who are His
80. Paul was not above gathering sticks
with the rest to help make the fire burn.
1t Is Christlike to be ready to every good
work, however humble. The meek and
lowly scorn not any service they can rem
der TO another. Paul was an earthen yes
sci for Gods glory gal. 4, 24), and God
was glorified in him In the storm before
all the people on the ship. He now allows
a viper to fasten on Paul's hand that be-
fore these natives the power of God may be
seen in his shaking off the viper and ex-
periencing no harm. This was according
to our Lords words in Luke K, 10, BE
hold, give you power to tread on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power Of
the enemy, and nothing shall by any
means hurt you"
z, 8. paul entered in and prayed and
laid his hands on him and healed him. +"
This was the father of Publius, the chief
man of the island who was sick of a fever,
but the Lord through Paul, instantly
healed him. At one time God wrought
special miracles by the hands of Paul, so
that by handkerchiefs or aprons which had
touched his body the sick were healed (Acts
xix, II, 12). At another time Paul had TO
leave Trophimus at Miletum sick. We
cannot always tell whether health or sick
ness or life or death shall glorify God the
most, so we should say as Paul said,
"Christ shall be magnified in my body
whether it be by life or by death" (Phil. 1,
20).
g. $50 when this was done others also
which had diseases in the island came and
were healed" Thus the power of Christ
was made widely known, and we cannot
think of Paul obeying part of our Lord s
command without obeying the other II
he healed the sick In the name of Christ,
he would certainly preach the gospel of God
concerning His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord,
TO which he had been especially called and
separated (Rom. i, /. -. Thus not only
were bodies healed, but many souls must
have been saved also.
TO- "Who also honored us with many
honors, and when we departed they laded
us with such things as were necessary.
When people are really blessed, 10 is not
necessary to ask them TO give. Gratitude
will show itself in some at least. The mis-
sionary money which comes TO me from
year TO year in gratitude for the blessing
received at the Bible classes convinces me
of this more and more, and the abundance
for current expenses in my own congrega-
ton from the grateful hearts who enjoy
the ministry of the word, so that / never
need To ask any one for a cent, but merely
state the need when there is one and look
to the Lord alone to supply it through His
willing people, makes me wish that all
preachers and teachers would so feed their
people that the gratitude would be more
manifest to the glory of God.
H. "And after three months we depart
ed in ship of Alexandria" Paul had
learned TO wait, and whether 1t was two
or three weeks In a storm at sea- or three
months on shore at Malta, or two years a
prisoner at Cesarea, he knew what it was
to "rest in the Lord and wait patiently for
Him" Cps. xxxvii, y. Our Lord waited
80 years at Nazareth and has waited over
1900 years at Gods right hand to have
His body gathered out of the nations of the
earth We have great need to consider Him,
lest we be wearied and faint in our minds
Heb. xii, 81.
1914. Three days at Syracuse, call at
Rhegium, seven days at Puteoli, then on
toward Rome. And every day, whether
on land or sea, journeying or waiting, just
living to glorify God. Conscious of His
loving kindness In storm and sunshine,
not because we feel 1t, but because we
know 1t In Christ; conscious OF His con
slant care of and interest In us; rejoicing
that God Is for us, Christ Is for us, the
Spirit Is for us, and the angels minister to
us (Rom. viii, 81, "a, %; Heb. 1, 14).
Sure that all our works are prepared fol
us beforehand, and we have only to walk
In them, doing as occasion serve us, for God
is with us (Eph. Il, 10; Sam. K, y. Done
with all fretting and murmuring and
complaining, all Of which Is sinful; care
full for nothing, prayerful for everything,
thankful for anything, and rejoicing In the
Lord always.
Is. Brethren from Rome came to meet
| Paul and his companions as far as April
| forum and the three taverns, causing
gratitude and inspiring courage. 1t Is
heavenly to meet on earth those who are
our true blood relations. l do not mean SC
much our kindred as Ishose who are one
with US by the blood LNChrist. These are
often nearer to us than brother or sister.
| The bond Is wonderful. Blest be the tie
that binds our hearts in Christian love
Paul may have met some of these brethren
| in other parts of the world or not. We ART
not told. But they were one In Christ and
living for His glory and ready to die for
| Him.
IA Thav emma IN Rome and Daul was