The true northerner., 1897-10-27

ory verses, 2l-x5 = Golden Text, Acts
xvii, 25-Commentary by the Rev. ID. M.
stearns.
l5. "And when the south wind blew
softly, supposing that they had obtained
their purpose, loosing thence they sailed
close by Crete" Paul, with Aristarchus,
a former fellow traveller. and afterward
fellow prisoner (Acts XIX, 30; Col. iv. 1o),
is now at sea on his way to Rome. They
touched at Sidom and thence near Cyprus
to Myra on the mainland of Lycia, In Asia
Minor. There he was transferred to ship
of Alexandria bound for Italy, and after
many days Of slow sailing rounded the east
end OF Crete and reached the Fair Havens,
on the south coast Of Crete. Here they
spent much time, until Paul advised them
not to venture farther on account OF the
season, but the master and owner and the
majority advised to try and reach the port
of Phenioe, little farther west In Crete,
and winter there So with light wind
they started, keeping as near the land as
possible. Paul is In the hands, humanity
speaking, of those who know not God, but
no Is really in the hands of God and can
trust Him TO manage.
IA, 10. A mighty wind from the land
arose against which the ship could not bear
up, and they were compelled to let her run
before it. Was this of God or the devil that
they were thus driven out to seap We know
that satan Is the prince of the power of the
air and that he caused the wind that blew
down the house upon Jobs children and
killed them dob |. 12, 19), but he could not
do it without Gods permission. God con-
trolls the angels who control the winds, and
even the stormy wind fulfills His word
REV. vii, /; Ps. oxlyiii, 81. We must see
God alone.
10, II. The storm increased. Under the
lee OF the island Of CLAUDIA they get the
small boat on board which had evidently
been towing astern. They somehow under
grid the ship, then lower the sail and let
her drive under bare poles What about
the condition of the passengers among the
276 souls on boardp (Verse37.) Sailors are
not supposed to feel anything, never TO
know they are sick till they are dead, but
many ordinary people do get awfully sick
in storm. This must have been a sad
ship And yet there were some on it very
dear to the Lord Jesus.
18, 10. Exceedingly tossed with tenn
pest. Well, there is no use to say a word
circumstances yourself. 1t was bad case,
and many doubtless wished that there was
no more sea (Rev xxi, y. Yet even under
such circumstances the Prince of Peace can
control ones heart. In health or sickness,
life or death, we can be quiet in His low
ing care
90. "All hope that we should be saved
was then taken away" Surely they were
ot hot @ m
the margin, "All their wisdom was swal
lowed up" The case was as far as human
eyes could see, utterly hopeless. 1t makes
one think of the sinner having no hope
and without God in the world (Eph. ii,
12), OF, ,as in Rom.v, 6, without strength.
But there is a Saviour for the lost, and only
for such He said, 81 came not to call the
righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
81. "But after long abstinence Paul
stood forth in the midst of them. +" They
had tasted for ii days verse 33), and must
have felt forlorn indeed and ready for
word of comfort from any one who might
have it for them. None but God could
help or comfort them, and His servant is
ready TO be the messenger. He Is the Fa-
ther of mercies and the God of all com
fort I'll Cor. j, 3D. but we cannot fully ap-
preciate it or Him till we get into strait
places.
22. "And now / exhort you to be of
good cheer, for there shall be no loss of
any mans life among you, but of the
ship" He emphasized it by adding,
There shall not an hair fall from the
head Of any of you," and he took bread
and gave thanks to God in the presence of
them all and began TO eat oversees "a, 35).
23. "For there stood by me this night
the angel Of God, whose am and whom
serve" This and the next two verses are
to me the very heart Of this lesson. Take
the words, "God whose / am, " and think
of what is included. His property, which
He will certainly care for, His child, whom
He will certainly see TO, loved by the Lord
Jesus as the Father loves Him John XIV,
81, bought with the precious blood of
Christ, and therefore as precious TO God as
that blood is; IA part of Christ Himself, q
member Of His body. We need not hesi-
tate to say, 1.-The most high God, the pos
SCISSOR of heaven and earth, owns me-, and
take all the comfort there is for u.s. Then
consider whom / serve, and remember
that we cannot serve God and Mammon I;
neither can we serve Christ and please
men (Math. vi, "a; Gal. 1, 10.
"a. Saying, Fear not, Paul Thou
must be brought before Cesar, and, 10,
God hath given thee all them that sail with
thee" This is confrmat ton of the Lord s
testimony to him in Jerusalem-"Thou
must bear witness at Rome" (chapter xiii,
I'D. The Lords "musts' are as sure as
God Himself, whether 'ye must be born
again or "all things must be- fulfilled. ="
Every purpose of the Lord shall be per-
formed, and all His thoughts shall come to
pass (Jer. II, 90; Isa. xiv, 24). 1t was the
Lords purpose that Paul should be His
witness at Rome, and therefore it was as
good as done, although In this storm every
thing seemed against It, How blessed are
the "fear nots" of God from the first one
in Gen. XIV, /, to the last in Revelation
His perfect love casts out all fear, and the
soul that rests In Him can truly say, "What
time 1 am afraid will trust in Thee. +" "I
will trust and not be afraid
%. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer,
for 1 believe God that IL shall be even as
il was told me-" Verse A says, "And so
it came to pass. Whatever God says is as
sure as IL it had already come to pass, so
we should say continually, 81 believe God. /"
The first believe In the Bible Is In Gen.
XIV, 8, where it is said of Abraham, "He be-
lieved In the Lord, and He counted it to
him for righteousness. 1t might be lit
orally translated Abraham amened God, F"
or said amen TO God So did Jeremiah