The Tupelo journal., 1909-11-05
Paul q Prisoner
The Shipwreck

Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT.-"The Lore redeemcth
the soul of his servants, and none OF
them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Pisa. 1922.
TIME.-Early in November. A. D. 50 or
GO.
east shore of the Island of Malta, in the
Mediterranean sea. $50 miles southwest
of the most southerly point OF Italy.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
What the storm and wreck revealed
as to the character Of Paul, the mis-
sionary Hero:
For nearly seven months we have
been studying the character of Paul
under a great variety of circum.
stances. We have found him con
scientious, c~onsecrated to God, de-
voted to the good and the salvation OF
his fellow men, energetic, wise, cour.
ageous, joyful, faithful. p~ersevering,
independent, unselfish, courteous, OF
strong feelings, but self-controlled.
sanity and true. We have e e him
chiefly at his missionary work.
In this storm and wreck we see him
from another point of view. connected
with bodily interests, physical needs,
things pertaining to ordinary human
life, as a man among men. not, as one
has said, "a long-distance pastor" but
in close touch with humanity.
l. The Manly Authority of a Tested
Character.-Vs. 1882. THE four.
teenth night" (v. 27) from the time
they left Fair Ravens in Crete, when
the storm began. Driven up and
down. tossed by the wave and
borne along lin Adria." not the
Adriatic sea, but the name then given
to the central basin Of the Mediter'
ranean. The shipmen deemed that
they drew near to some country"
90. They cast four anchors out of
the stern" Anchoring from the stern
is unusual, but much the best under
the circumstances, for it would leave
them free to sail to either shore when
daylight come. During the dreary
day." the sailors tried to save them
selves at the expense of all the rest
by means of the boat, the n visible
way of reaching the shore. But Paul,
noticing the plan, appealed to the
centurion and the soldiers to put a
stop to it. The sailors had the boat,
but the soldiers had the weapons and
the power. Paul therefore appealed
to the soldiers, for he say clearly that
". 80 except these abide in the
ship, ye annot be saved" as had
been promised. Those who went in
the boat would doubtless be drowned,
and even if they reached the shore.
there were none left to manage the
ship, especially if the officers of the
ship were among those who planned
so selishly for their own safety.
The soldiers put an end to the plan
by cutting the ropes and setting the
boat adrift.
Nothing was too good for Paul
after that, and when at last the ship
broke, and the roll call was made on
land, every man. soldier. and sailor
sang out cheerily. Here And when
at last Paul got to Rome, Capt. Julius
and his soldiers did not soon tire OF
telling to wife and child and sweet.
heart how the little preacher had
saved them from the angry deep"
II. Care for the Physical Comfort
and Health of His Comprehensive
1888. while the day was coming
AS soon as it was light enough to find
food. Continued fasting" took nc
regular meals.
"a. Il pray you take some meat
food; "for your health" safety, they
would need to put their bodies in the
best condition to give them the
strength needed to reach the shore.
35. He began to eat" To lead
them on by his example, he himself
did what he advised them to do.
So. Then were they all of good
cheer" THE hearty c~heerfulness lis
it too colloquial a phrase to say the
'pluck?') of the apostle had commune
Gated itself, as by a kind of electric
sympathy, to his companions"
III. Paul Doing the Commonest Du'
ties to Help his Companions.-Acts
2S:1-6. /. They knew" recognized,
ludL tue lSlduu was CdIcu NclIld,
now shortened into Malta"
w. Paul Healing the Sick.-Vs. ITO.
Publius, the governor OF the island,
living not far away, entertained the
company for three days till they had
time to make other arrangements.
The father of the governor lay crit
ically sick of d%ysentery. Paul prayed
for him and laid his hands on him,
and healed him. This gave Paul an
opportunity to preach the gospel. For
Paul had no credentials that would be
of use, and as a prisoner suspicion
would be cast upon him. So that God
himself gave him the best credentials
by bestowing on him miraculous pow
er. Paul healed many others; and as
Christ's works of healing showed HIS
kindness and love for men, and re-
vealed the loving nature of our
heavenly Father, so Paul's aid for the
sick expressed the kindness of the
gospel.
A modern church expresses thus its
purpose and aim: Our desire for
this church is that it shall be a real
power to help real need-the living
exponent of the religion which Jesus
taught and lived. We wish it to be a
church through whose teaching and
spirit it will be easier for a poor man
to be honest, and less distressing for
an honest man to be poor; where
Christ-liEe sympathy will succor the
tempted, and comfort the troubled;