The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 7, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text of the Lesson, Acts xvii, 80, I,
xviii, fo-Memory Verses, xviii, Q
fo-GoIdsn Text, Ps. xxxiv, 22-Com.
mentary by Rev. o. NJ. stsarns.
One night as they took sounding
they found the depth OF water grow
ing less, and, fearing lest they shoulC
be cast upon the rocks, they cast -four
anchors out of the stern and longeC
for the morning. AS the sailors were
about to make or with the boat undei
pretense of casting anchors out OF the
foreship Paul said to the centurion
and to the soldiers. Except these
abide In the ship We cannot be saved
(SD. Some may say. But had not Pau
assured them that all would be saved
So we learn that. while God is not
willing that any should perish and
desires oil to be saved. He, having
provided a way. says that IL men will
not accept His way they must per
tsh. When morning came they dlscov.
| cred a place with a beach where they
might run the ship aground. And
now death again threatens Paul. fol-
the soldiers advised that the prison
ers be killed lest they should escape
The centurion. for Paul's sake, pre-.
vented this. and so IN one way OF
another all escaped safe to land. as
| Paul had told them while out I'm the
storm at sea. And so It came 10
pass" (44l, and In that saying there Il
one of the finest Of Bible studies, for
1t Is true of every prediction concern
ing the sufferlngs of Christ and will
certainly be true of every prediction
concerning His kingdom and glory.
They found themselves on the island
Of MeIita. or Malta. in time of much
| rain, and cold rain. too. but the people
OF the island showed them great kind
ness and kindled a fire aud welcomed
! them as well as they could. When |
read Of kindness | recall that David
/ asked If there was any one left of the
house Of Saul that he might show "the
kindness of God" unto him foe Jona-
than's sake III Sam. tx, l. 3. a. There
Is ordinary kindness such as was
shown by these Maltese. but believers
are here to show the kindness OF God.
Paul did not fail to help make this
fire burn and TO keep it going, for he.
! too, gathered bundle of sticks and
laid it on the fire. A good prayer
meeting ought to be a good place to
warm one. but how often the leader
is almost the only one to help make
the fire burn. whereas IL a dozen or
more each threw on a stick or two
what good fire there might be. One
might say. Il thank God for the for
giveness Of my sins;" another might
add. II am glad that the Son of God
loved me and gave Himself for me; -
another. Il praise Him for making me
a joint heir with Himself" | am sure
! that a few contributions like these
: would help TO make a great blaze, and
| many would get warmed up, for il Is
very cold at some prayer meetings.
That old serpent the devil or some of
his generation of vipers would be sure
20 get warmed up. too. and fasten on
some one and say something not very
kind. which might lead some one TO
say, We'll. I'll never open my mouth
in meeting again" but IL they would
just shake of the beast into the fire
where he belongs they would feel no
harm. Again. Paul is misjudged and
numbered with transgressors. but soon
they change their minds about him.
and IL we will simply pay no heed to
false accusations and misrepresenta-
lions the Lord will take care OF all
and make true His assurance, "No
weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper. and every tongue that
shall rise against thee In judgment
thou shalt condemn" Qsa. liv. ~.
Some people look q great while to see
some harm come to a child of God.
but no real harm can come to such.
and what looks like evil God will over
rule for good tRom. viii. %, 29).
Paul was permitted by God to work
q miracle OF healing upon the father
OF the chief man of the island. who
happened TO live in those parts. He
was suffering from fever and bloody
lux, but in the name OF the Lord
Jesus Paul laid his hands on him and
healed him. This led to others bring.
ing their sick ones, and many miracles
OF healing were wrought during those
three months OF unexpected blessing
which had come to that island. We
may be sure that Paul would seize
every opportunity to tell OF Him who
graciously healed the people through
His servant. and by him and bis com
panions 1t would seem as IL all on the
island must have heard the glad It'd.
ings. not only of salvation through a
crucified and risen Jesus Christ, but
also Of the kingdom which He will
yet establish on the earth when there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow.
nor crying; neither shall there be any
more pain ON the whole earth, and the
Inhabitants shall not say. am sick
(Rev. XXI, 4: lisa. xxxiii. 24D When
the shipwrecked people landed on the
island they were shown no little kind
ness, but when they departed after
three months they were honored with
many hopors and laden with such
things as they needed. This must have
been real gratitude to God and to His
son Jesus Christ and to those who had
brought the good news 10 them. For
about thirty years have seen much
Of this gratitude from some thousands
OF people who have had presented to
them In the simplest possible way the
great truths Of salvation and the king
dom. and In nineteen and one-half
years have seen that gratitude In