The Dermott news., 1916-11-02

LESSON TENT-Acts 27:3S-S 10.
GOLDEN TENT-Johopah redeemeth
the soul OF HIS servants. and none OF
them that take refuge in him shall be
condemned.-Ps 81 -.
Taul was ut Malta three months.
from the last Of November To the last
of February, A. II. 50. \ bay on the
north shore is still called ST. Paul's
bay Much help on this lesson can be
secured by reading Mr.. James Smiths
book on the Voyage and Shipwreck Of
St Paul" Sir William Ramscy's. "St.
Paul the Traveller" and Everyday
Icn, by Robert Elliott Thompson.
l. Paul safely ashore CT :3S-ip. AZ
the day duwncd the ship was lightened
for II third time to enable them TO APP
proach nearer to the shore. This time
the main cargo Of wheat was thrown
out, heretofore having been saved as
long rs possible. The sailors were IA
miliar with Malta, but not with this
part where the ship now lay. Discov-
ering small creek. they perceived
certain bay with n beach upon which
they might run the ship. and hold II
without its going TO pieces before they
could land. 1t would have been i'm
possible to escape II they ran upon the
rocks In heavy sea. The words
taken up anchor" ". 4O) indicates
that the sailors had cast them over
board, but attached to the ship. Now
they cut the cables and permitted
themselves not TO be anchored hut to
blow with the storm that they might
land upon the beach. Approaching the
inlet. where the waters of the bay
met that of the sea. "where the two
seas met" the vessel would not an
swer 10 its helm. The ship probably
drew about Is feet OF water, and the
bottom stuck In the Clincing mud and
clay. aid the forepart began To break
away from the rear. due to the yio-
lenee Of the waves. Here Paul had his
most narrow escape " 42). Not
alone WIS he on the point of losing
his life by the sea. but the sword hung
over his head. hot that Of n lawful ex-
eutioner but Of selfish murderer
BEFORE II WIS danger from the sail
ors: TOW II Is the soldiers. but the
centurion proved true. and all of the
prisoners We're saved for PAul's sake.
Il would be interesting speculation as
II how mnuy Of those saved realized
that they were not for Paul's sake. but
for the sake OF his Savior. ard how
many of them We're duly grateful. on
this second stage of the journey, after
having left CaeSarca with the larger
ship there We're probably 27G persons
hy Gods guaranty was there shall
he no loss of any mans life" and his
word Is sure.
II. PauPs continued service COS L
lo). This island is today and has
been since 1900 under British rule. II
WAS then governed by the Romans
% Comfort wv. l. 2l. The term
barbarian" does not indicate rudeness
or uncivlized people. but merely those
II non Greek birth. These people Kin
died Il Gre because Of the cold and Of
the rain They received everyone.
prisoners and soldiers like brothers
md, in the persons Of Paul and Luke.
they certainly entertained angels una
wares. GHrb 13.2). CO.. Cooperation
" - The fire would need continual
rcplenishing. Again paul's energy Is
conspicuous Though the greatest Of
met then living he was ready To do
the hnmhlest duty. Whether counsel
ing about difficulty or comforting I'M
der dangers. he was ready 10 relieve
distress nj all times. and thus held up
The banner Of the cross and proved his
Christian spirit.
As Paul gathered the roots and put
Thorn upon the fire there came out n
viper. probably henumbed by the cold
which fastened Itself upon hts hand
There are now no vruonouS serpents
In Malta, but this is no reason To he
Hey" Tint in the earlier days when
>parSoly Inhabited. this common Eu-
rop"aa serpent, known Us the viper, or
possibly the EgyPtiun asp. may not
have been here. II was natural for
SUpCrstItiouS nations 10 expect that
this WIS the Vengeance OF god
A.ANA~HA NUN bAA NV tHNF no ttAtl
he WAS murderer. Having escaped
from the wreck. Puul could not escape
from the sword Of divine justice. aud
the goddess Of Justice Nemesis. the
aNonger. suffered him not 10 live.
With perfect cemposure. Doubtless
arising from God : promises that Christ
had made To his servants MARX 10
Is; Luke l0:l9l. and also the promises
that he should preach the gospel In
Rome Paul shook the viper from his
wrist They then changed their minds,
thinking that he must he god (see
Acts # slW.
No reference IS made To Paul's
preaching. though. Of course. that is
taken for granted.
His words AMI deeds went along
with his preaching
They honored him With many hon
ors, and loaded them with such things