Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-06

virtually the master of the ship.
His calmness. his confidence. his
claim to be the revealer OF
Gods purpose profoundly i'm
pressed all who saw the man and who
listened to his words. He was the only
man on board who could inspire with
hope that terrified company. He was the
man for the hour because he knew. This
Is a truth of universal application. The
world over. and the ages through. the
man who knows is the man fitted to
command. and sooner or later lie will be
acknowledged as chief. And everywhere
the world is looking for the men who
know. For such places are waiting; and
wealth and honor and position and
power are theirs when they are discov-
cred. 1t is true these places are at the
top. But what an inspiration to the
young man to fit himself for them!
Paul made three predictions. They were
to be cast upon an island: the ship would
be lost, but the passengers would be
saved. The truth of these predictions
would soon be verified. Hark! Already
there comes to tim the sound of pillows
as they break upon the shore. 1t is
midnight but that sound to q sailors ear
is unmistakable. The lead was cast and
the depth was found to be twenty
fathoms. A little later 1t was but fif-
teen fathoms. They were in danger of
ships OF those days carried several an
chors. They Immediately cast out four
Of these from the stern and longed for
the day. The Greek verb may be rem
with Jonah prayed to their gods. SO these
sailors may have prayed to theirs
While they were waiting for the day
some Of the sailors. pretending that they
wished to cast anchors out of the fore
ship and thus make the boat more
steady, sought to lower the small boat
and to make sure Of their own safety by
escaping to land Paul discovered it and
said to the centurion: Except these
abide in the ship We cannot be saved"
Immediately the command was given to
cut the ropes by which the boat was sus-
pended, and she drifted off into the sea.
This incident together with others that
occurred during this voyage, shows the in
divine purpose and mans free agency.
God had promised that all should be
saved. but they were to use every pos
sible fundamentally. Paul gave notice
that the escape of the sailors would frus-
trate the purpose OF God The doctrine
Of the divine sovereignty is true. A god
without a purpose would be no god. But
to SO interpret this doctrine as to make
the results to be Independent of mans
conduct is to teach a doctrine which
clashes hopelessly with the plainest dec
laration of the Word of God.
Paul evidently felt the responsibility Of
the new role that he had been called upon
to assume. People were excited by fear.
they had been weakened by long fasting
and watching. Their greatest need was
food. Fourteen days of fasting, i'm which.
as he tells them. they had taken moth
ing untitled them for the trials that
were yet to come. He exhorted them to
partake of food, and taking bread. and
giving thanks to God i'm the presence Of
them all. he began to eat.
The effect Of this was salutary and in
Simultaneous. "They were all OF good
cheer, and they also took some meat"
They were yet tossed by, the sea. but
their danger was past. for Paul had as
sured them that There shall not hair
fall from the head of any of YOU"