The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-30

last put new life into the entire party, the
food had given bodily vigor and the promise
and prayer had reviv d the spirit. Soul and
body are SO intimately Joined that the well
fare of ons promotes that of another. Paul
had been a physician, a quartermaster. a
minister, all at one time. 1t is not surpris-
ing that The men at once set themselves TO
work and that with good purpose. They
first h.htened the ship that 1t might draw
less water and so more readily come to
land. They cast some of the wheat with
which the ship was loaded into the sea. In
those days grain was raised in large guam
titles in Egypt, the garden of the world"
and sent to Italy, then the center of civil
ization and power. The cargo was sacri-
feed to save the nves-men were estimated
above merchandise. Then they began tho
search for a harbor. In the early dawn
they knew pot the land that lay before
them, but after a little scanning Of the out
lines OF the beach they recognized a creek.
which at once appeared to them a place OF
safety. Into this. as the only refuge. they
etermined to run the vessel, and so escape
the raging of the sea. Wit the terrible
storm behind what hope awakened as the
narrow entrance opened to receive the
weather-beatsn craft.
Observation-Disclosures 40 and 4)-Can
the entrance be made? Skilled officers. brave
hearts and stout arms must be enlisted in
the attempt. A common peril and a COM
chors that had held the vessel during the
night were cut asunder as no longer needed
and allowed to drop into the sea: The rnd,
let down into the water in order to steer
the vessel. The mainsail was hoisted to
catch the win that drove hard toward the
shore. These arrangements completed.
ship steadily forward for the land. swiftly.
scious of her strength. that tempest-tossed
craft parted the waves and. moved on obe-
dent to the rudders. But suddenly the
aground. The stern was exposed to the
force of the waves. Soon the vessel parted
amidships. 1t was at a place where two
to their fury. Notwithstanding all the pre-
caution. all the prayer. all the promise
destruction had come.
HOMICIDE Verse 42)-Danger unites
men: disaster separates them. While the
storm ragged and death was imminent Paul
and the other prisoners, the soldiers who
had them in keeping. and the soldiers who
managed the ship. mingled freely together.
mutually concerned and helpful. Each re-
something for the company. but when the
ship was wrecked and cooperation was no
longer .nossible. the ties Of the short-lived
compelled to stand for himself. Then came
the test of Roman government. Here were
men bound to appear for trial at the court
be lone with them? Put them to death was
the answer of the soldiers who thought
that they might swim ashore and escape.
But suppose they did? 1t was because in
those days one under arrest was supposed
to be guilty until proved to be innocent.
Once in the hands OF the law a man was
liable to the penalty unless rescued by a
fair trial. Our civilization rests upon the
contrary theory. that a man Is innocent I'M
til proved guilty. He who puts one to death
before condemnation by a court is guilty of
murder.
ESCAPE Oversees 43 and H-The CEN
turion had wisdom and justice. HI saw in
| one of his prisoners. Paul the apostle. those
Distinguishing qualities that separated him
frnpa @fhnr rfc0rar T@-sox-1 %Lt, 80
s%picuous man. he rejected the counsel of the
soldiers and spared all the prisoners. II
bad company brings evil. good company in
this instance brought good. So Paul es-
! capped Heb. xi. 80. to share the lot OF all.
Then came the centurion's order. permitting
every one as best he could to save himself
swim cast themselves into the sea. and. aft
! er buffeting with the waves. gained the
land; Others of them seized the fragments
floated. and held fast as they committed
themselves to the treacherous waters. 1t
was a time Of great confusion and anxiety.
Men struggled for dear life. now sinking
and rising. losing their hold and then gain
ing it. washed by the waves, tossed to n
fro. each for himself with no power to help
another. One by one they came upon the
found that all had escaped. and Paul's pre-
diction had been fulfilled.
REFLECTIONS. IA man of God fs a
helper and a benefactor in every place. He
does good to those who are about him at
all times. caring for the body as well as
the soul. 2. God grants to his servants a
clearer vision so that they can discern the
tendencies of events and avert calamities
that would overwhelm other men. They
are at the lookout on the sea Of life, and
no storm is 30 great as to shake their
faith or disturb their sweet repose. 8. In
every trying hour there Is something for
| which to be thankful. and there Is no con-
dition SO desperate but there 10 some bless.
| ing attending 1t. l. We may SO deport
ourselves as to gain the good opinion Of
! the ungodly. who In turn will defend W