The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 5, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Golden Text, Pc. S,CxiV, 22-Commen-
+ary Prepared by Rev. o. NJ. stearns.
Part Of PauIs message was that the
ship would be lost and that they would
be cast upon an island (xxvti, e, 26).
And about midnight Of the fourteenth
night Of the storm the shipmen deem
ed that they were nearing some land
and. taking soundings, found it even
so; therefore they cast out four an
chors and longed for daylight. 1t was
while they were thus anchored thar
Paul persuaded them to take some food
(xxvu, 27-3S. When it was day they
saw a creek with a shore where they
might possibly run the ship aground;
so, cutting or the anchors and hoisting
the mainsail, they made for the shore;
the fore part Of the ship stuck fast, but
the hinder part was broken with the
violence Of the waves, yet all got safe
ly ashore, either by swimming or on
broken pieces Of the ship (xxvii. 39-44),
as God had told Paul by the angel.
Notice in verses 30, 81, 42, 43 how
some might have hindered the purpose
OF God to save them all. Concerning
the great salvation, God has provided
1t for all and will have all to be saved
and is not willing that any should per-
ish Il Tim. Ii, 4; Tit, II, II. margin; III
Pet iii, 81, but II any will not accept
Gods way they must perish, not be-
cause He wills 1t, but because they
decide against Him, or, as He said, '"Ye
will not come unto me-" T would
ye would not" Israel would
none Of me- John v, 40; Matt. xiii,
81; Ps. lxxxi, 1D. When they reached,
the land they found that they were on
the island which we now call Malta,
and they received much kindness from
the people, who because Of the rain
and cold kindled a fire and welcomed
them. They are called barbarous peo-
pie, but many who are so called have
often shown more kindness than those
called Christian. 1t is deeds that tell.
not words or names.
A few years ago the world wac
shocked by the atrocities Of the Boxers
In China, but now the civilized ~ ma
tons Of Europe are far ahead Of all
barbarinns in monstrous and indescrib-
able atrocities, and the end is not yet
June, 1873. The words in xvii, 30,
when it was day" and the change
from being exceedingly tossed on the
sea by a great tempest to being again
on the land, make us think of one night.
when, until the morning watch, the,
disciples toiled In boat against a con-
trary wind, and He saw them, yet not
till the fourth watch did He come
walking on the sea, but when they re-
ceived Him into their boat they were
Immediately at the land John vi, 1920.
We are certainly in the worst storm
our poor earth ever saw, and mems
cause Of the distress Of nations with
perplexity, but the day will dawn. q
morning without clouds. and we will
not be shipwrecked. but caught up to
meet Him in the air. whose we are
and whom we serve duke xxi, %,
%; Rom. xiii, II: II Sam. xiii. 4: 1
Thess. iv, 16. 10. Our God shall come
and shall not keep silence; though He
tarry we will wait for Him CPs. /, 81;
Heb. K, SO, 81. Ea
Paul gathered sticks to help mako
the fire burn, then came the viper, and
again he is misjudged and thought to
be a murderer, but when he shook off
the beast and felt no harm and did not
fall down dead they changed their
minds and said he was a god (xxviM,
B-0, Just like the people at Lystra
(Acts XIV, but in the reverse order. for
they FIRST worshiped him and then
stoned him. Such IS poor human ma
ture that judges by appearances. But
let us lay to heart some lessons, think
ing just for a moment Of Peter. who
warmed himself where he should not
have been and brought upon himself u
lot Of trouble, for the viper, the old
serpent, took hold Of him and would
scarce let go. Consider your prayer
meeting the place where you ought to
go to get warmed up. Have you ever
thrown on a stick or two to help make
the fire burn? A word Of praise or
prayer to magnify Him. Then did the
viper light on you as you overheard
some one ridicule your testimony?
Well, what did you do-fall down dead
and never speak in meeting again, or
did you shake off the beast and feel
no harm?
God had another handful for Paul
and his companions by making them
welcome in the home Of the chief man
Of the island, and then He had a re-
ward for Publius by healing his father
by the hands Of Paul. That led to
many coming to be healed, and more
handfuls for Paul in the form Of many
honors, and when they departed they
were loaded with all that they needed.
During the three months that they re-
mained on the island Paul would not
fail to do as he always did and preach
Jesus and the resurrection, and though
it is not so recorded. we shall surely
hear Of it and its results in the king.
dom. Not all the things that our Lord
Himself said and did are recorded
John Xxx, 80, 81; xxi, 25, and If some
Of ours are not written ON Garth al
His through US are written in heaven
and not even a cup OF co'S water given
In His name shall lose its reward
Even our thoughts of Him are record
ed (MaL iii, 16. In His service we are
assured that such things as are neces
sary will without fail be given us
phil. iv, 19). for the promise is with
Him freely all things" (Rom. wifi, S2)
| See also Matt. vi, 80, 33.
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