The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-11-06

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PAUL \ PRISONER. THE SHIP
WRECK.
(Acts y: 27-2S: Io)
[For study in Class. Chap. y: 80
to %: 10.
Golden Text: The Lord redeem
eth the soul OF his servants, and none
OF them that trust in him shall be de-
ISOLATE" Psalm 81: y.
Sailors lave keen senses. Two
whole weeks OF battling with tempest
passed, and suddenly, IN the midst OF
their perks. something told the sailors
that land was not lar away. They Ell
Their Smclled the odor OF the shore, or
heard in the midst OF the roar OF the
sea the sound OF the breakers on the
coast oi the island where they were
TO be cast Paul, you remember, had
told them that would happen. They
dropped the sounding line Twenty
fathomS. Again fifteen iaihOmS. I'VE
will be driven on the rockS!" they cry,
and so they cast out four anchors, and
longed for the day
Those sailors were a cowardly crew.
They thought to save themselves by
the boat they had taken UP, days be.
fore They cared nothing for the pas
sengers They made a prctext OF let
ting out a bow anchor and for that let
down the boat.
Paul saw their real purpose and
cried, Except these abide III the ship.
We cannot be saved The soldiers at
once thwarted the design OF the crew.
They cut the ropes and the dory
dropped into the sea.
Then Paul gathered them all ard
spoke. The prisoner had become
commander. Eat, prav." he said.
Then he gave them the example. lie
thanked God before them all, and be-
gan to eat. That chccrcd their hearts.
They all began TO eat. Two hundred
seventy-SIx persons were on that ship.
Their lives were practically in Paurs
keeping When they had eaten they
still further lightcncd the ship by
throwing the wheat overheard. Then
they waited Tor day
Danger always brings fear.
Danger always reveals character.
The hero and the craven do not need
TO speak
We will look ont Tor ourselves"
thought the sailors. we will all per
ish together or all be saved together"
was the answering thought oi the soil
dicrs.
The soldiers believed Paul. WHY:
Paul believed God There was no
other man in that ship like Paul. The
soldiers saw that
What made Paul So very different
from every other man in the ship
His belle! in God The soldiers vague
ly comprchcndcd that
To the fright which had filed all
minds Tor fourteen days. came calm as
they waited Tor the morning. Paul
was acting aS Jesus might have done.
BE of good cheer Let us eat. Let
us give God thanks We are safe. Tor
God IS near. That was a great mo.
ment when Paul gave thinks.
THE LESSON.
VS., 80. Daylight gave sight oi land.
No sailor knew what i, was But it
was land. Not safe yet They saw
the shores made by a creek that emp
tied into the sea There was safety il
they could run the ship into it,
vs.. 80. Up anchors Up main sail.
Let us try. Would the rudder work?
Loose the netherlands Every man
was alert. Now for the shore So
they went driving landward.
VS.. ~. II wa, OF no avail Gross.
currents were before them The sea
puss' caught them. and the ship
grounded. ! he bow was fast set. and
the stern hung IN the sea OF course
the waves broke the doomed vessel t.
pieces. MI crowded to the how.
Where was Paul'S brave assurance
now?
vs. a. New danger to Paul came,
The soldiers knew only the stern law
that they must deliver their prisoners
TO Rome or die. II they killed them
there would be no escape, and no
charges To- answer.
vs.. -. But the centurion said no.
God was guarding Paul The ccn,ur-
ion ordered soldiers ard prisoners to
take to the sea. First went the swim
mers. Then the rest
VS.. q. \ broken piece Of the ship
is not SO good rs n whole. staunch
boat. bat it is better than nothing.
Into the pitilcsS waves they went. but
the broken pieces were kind They
carried each its man or men to land.
Two hundred Scvcnty-Six. Al ashore.
ship gone, cargo gone; but life was
LETT. And there is hope always where
there is life.
CHAPTER XVIII.
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