The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-06
SUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.


Voyage and Shfpwreck.
On the dark background Of this terrible storm
at the character OF St Paul shines out in
fullest uster his dauntless courage his practical
wisdom. his commanding spirit his tender and
helpful considerateness of his suffering fellow
creatures, all appear.
The twenty-seventh OF Acts has been well
called the sailors chapter. Lord Nelson read IL
on the morning OF the battle OF Copenhagen.
and IL suggested him expedient which is
said TO have greatly contributed TO his victory.
The chapter has been subjected TO the most
searching scientific examination. and, in spite
OF its minute particularly. has been demon
strated to be correct in every particular. The
entire course here described so infinitely has been
actually sailed ever several times 10 discover II
possible. inaccuracy. Renan himself admits
the account TO be genuine and authentic.
ST. Paul had not exposed himself to the perils
of this fearful voyage by any caprice Of his own
Festus. in order TO concilate the turbulent
populace which he had become Governor.
proposed TO send Paul TO Jerusalem for trial
before the Sanhedrin. intending himself TO act
as presiding officer and thus insure justice to his
prisoner. But Paul had more than the
cleaning daggers Of the Sicarii. He knew better
than the Governor the peril of assassination
TO which he would be exposed. and as a last re-
sort he used the right of the Roman citizen OF
might agree that if Paul had not appealed he
might have been set at liberty, But II not
the best that he should be set liberty. The
only safe place for him behind the walls
of Roman prison. His voyage to Rome also
was in the direct line of Providence. and IL
fell out for the furtherance OF the gospel"
st. Paul. manacied TO Roman soldier he
had been for two years. went on board OF a coast
ing vessel in the harbor of Caesarea with other
prisoners in charge of the friendly centurion.
Julius. He had for his travelling companions
Aristarchus, Of his faithful Macedonian con-
verts. and Luke. the beloved physician. who.
besides watching over Pauls health, kept
daily record Of this memorable voyage
We imagine Pauls emotions he gazed
upon the shore Of the Holy Land. rapidly and
forever receding from his view. AS Stalker
says: Here the last OF her inspired and
prophetic ccme to visit her for the last
time with boundess love for her in his heart.
but she would have murdered him." She did
Danish him. We imagine. too. his feelings
he sailed by Cyprus. of his earliest mis-
sionary tolls and triumphs. where he silenced the
sorcerer and converted the Governor. How his
heart must have been stirred he sailed the
Cicilian bay and cast a last and lingering look
at the scene Of his happy childhood,
But, it seems, he has only escaped the
wrath of man TO be exposed TO the wrath OF the
elements. 1t is late in the That most
treacherous sea is already unsafe The winds
become unfavorable. Progress is retarded BY
and by the dread typhoon. the tornado with a
whirl. seizes the vessel like wild beast its
prey. The captain showed the best seamanship
which was possible in his age. but IT all in
vain and destruction seemed inevitable 1t was
then that Paul. IL by the suffrage Of all on
hoard, became practically the commander OF the
vessel Partly through his natural sagacity and
through his large experience-he having been
thrice shipwrecked in these waters-and partly
through the revelation Of God. he directed to
course which saved the lives of all on board
The great transport ship, previously stripped Of
her last spar and sail and emptied Of her cargo
goes to pieces in the boiling surf. but it's entire
population OF 276 souls stand saved on the storm
beat shore of the Island of Malta.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
1t was the will of God that all on board the
vessel should be saved. but not independently of
human means. They would not have been saved
II they had used one precaution less than they
did They must needs do everything that
human judgment and experience would suggest
They must strike sails. cast the tackling over
ungirdle the ship, head for the shore, cast out
the anchors. throw the cargo overheard, refresh
themselves with food. and only when the ship
went to pieces beneath their feet commit them
selves to the valves Exactly so God wills the
salvation Of every human being, but rot without
the Of all human resources at command
No man gets to heaven by Gods Willing that
he should go there. He also will to CO.
must head that way and keep headed that way
The analogy can be drawn out to minute par
ticulars
No doubt these pautical figures OF speech which
Paul uses with such fine effect suggested
to his mind by this experience or one like H.
Shipwreck is OF the terrible of human
disasters. As moral disaster the loss Of re-
ligion is like 1t. and Paul describes 1t as the
shipwreck OF faith. Again. as the apostle gazed