El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-11-06

as - Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ
Stenrns.
l, 9. 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 or
Melita, or Malta, and received much kind
ness from the people, who kindled a lire
and welcomed them and did what they
could to deliver them from the rain and
the cold which prevailed. 1t 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 n 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
ops 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!
So 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. i, 24), and God
was glorified in him in the storm before
all the people on the ship. He now allows
q viper to fasten on Paul's hand that be-
fore these natives the power of GCd may be
seen in his shaking off the viper and ex-
periencng no harm. This was according
to our Lords words in Lake Y, 10, BE
hold, I give you power to tread on serpentS
and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy, and nothing shall by any
means hurt 7ou.'
T. s. 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 fever,
but the Lord, through Paul, Instantly
healed him. At one time God wroughs
special miracles by the hands of Paul, so
that by ham kerchiefs or aprons which had
touched his body the sicls 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 c. death shall glorify God tho
most, so We should say Us Paul said,
Christ shall be magnified in my body
| whether it be by life or by death (Phil. /,
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
command w-5hout 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 from. i, l, -. Thus not only
| were bodies healed, but many souls must
| have been sa we'd also.
| 10. 'sWho also honored us with many
| honors and when we departed they laded
| us with sucii things were necessary.
When people ara really blessed, it is nos
| necessary to 4sl<~ them to give. Gratitude
| will show itself in some ut least. The mis-
| sionary monsy which comes to me from
| wear to year in gratitude for tie blessing
| received at the Bible classes convinces ND
| 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 ned when there is one and look
to the Lord alone to supply it through His
| willing people, makes me wish that all
| preachers ard teachers would so feed theit
| people that the gratitude would be moro
| manifest to the glory of God.
| IL. '.And after three months we depart.
| ed in q ship of Alexandria," Paul had
| learned to wait, and whether it was two
| or three weeks in a storm at sea, or thred
| months on shore at Malta, or two years u
| prisoner at Cesarea, he knew what it was
| to rest in the Lord and wait patiently fot
| Him" (Ps. xxxvii, y. Our Lord waited
| 80 years at Nazareth and has waited over
| 1,SOO years at Gods right hand to haTG
| His body gathered out of the nations of the
| earth. We have great need to consider Him,
lest we be wcaried and faint in our minds
| (Heb xii, 81.
1914 Three days at Syracuse, a call at
| Rhegium, S, zen days at Puteoli, then !
toward Rome. And every day, whether
on land or sea, journeyins or waiting, just
living to glorify God. Conscious of HIS
loving kindness in storm and sunshine,
not because we feel it, but because We
know it in Christ; conscious of His con.
slant care OF and interest in us; rejoicing
that God is for US, Christ is for US, trI
Spirit is for US, and the angels minister q
US (Rom. Nil, 81, "a, 90; Heb. j, 14).
Sure that all our works prepared for
US beforeha J. and we have only to walk
in them, dong as occasion serve us, for GCd
is with us { ,ph. ii, 10; Sam. X, y. DoLe
with all frettiDg and III urmuring all
complaining, all of which is sinful; care
full for nott ng, praye1iul for everything,
thankful for anything, and rejoicing in tEd
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 Ii
heavenly to meet on Earth those who ara
our true blood relations. 1 do not mean 81
much our kindred as those who are one
with us by The blood of Christ. These ard
often nearer to us iha1l DruthSr OR sister.
The bond is wonderful. Blest be the tie
that binds our hearts in Christian Lowell
Paul may have met some of these brethren
in other parLs of the world not We are
NOT told. But they were one in Christ and
living for His glory and ready to die for
Him.
16. They came to Rome, and Paul was
suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier
who kept him. He was now where God
said he would be. and as to bearing wit.
ness he had only TO watch his opportunity
and be ready to use it, rather let God
use him in it. He was in measure free,
even rs he was in CPsarea, and he was in
the Lords hand, who could easily make
him more free if it was best. We must
have the Spirit of Him who said, ~ de-
light to do Thy will, o My God" His
servants for His pleasure, not seeing peo,
pie or circumstances, but only and always