The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-27
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY w. T. ELLIS
BY w. T. ELLIS

an angel of the God to whom belong,
and whom also worship, and He said,
Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you
must stand before Caesar; and GOO
has granted you the lives OF all VINO
are sailing with YOU
Therefore, sirs, take courage;
for I believe God. and am convinced
that things will happen exactly as
have been told. But we are to be
stranded on a certain island
"It was now the fourteenth night,
and we were drifting through the sea
of Adria, when, about midnight, the
sailors suspected that land was close
at hand. So they hove the lead ana
found twenty fathoms of water; ana
after a short time they hove again and
found fifteen fathoms. Then for rear
of possibly running on rocks, they
threw out four anchors from the stern
and waited impatiently for daylight
The sailors. however, wanted to make
their escape from the ship, and had
lowered the boat into the sea, pretend
ing that they were going to lay out
anchors from the bow. But Paul, al
dressing julius and the soldiers, said
Your lives will be sacrificed, unless
these men remain on board
''Then the soldiers cut the ropes OF
the ships boat and let her fall off
And continually, up till daybreak,
Paul kept urging all on board to take
some food.
This is the fourteenth day. he
said. that you have been anXiously
waiting for the storm to cease, and
have tasted, eating little or nothing.
1 therefore strongly advise you to take
some food. This is essential for your
safety For not hair will perish
from the head of any one of you
Having said this he took some
bread, and, after giving thanks to GOD
for it before them all, he broke it in
! h
raised the spirits of all, and they too
took food There were 276 of us,
crew and passengers. all told. After
eating a hearty meal they lghtened
the ship by throwing the wheat over
board
A Prisoner to the Fore
One marvels at the primacy of Paul
in all the experience of the voyage.
He was only a passenger and pris-
oner. Yet his counsel was taken be-
fore that of the experts. The reason
| is simple. Captain julius, and every
body aboard the ship knew Paul for
distinguished parsonage, who had
received marked attention from two
governors and a king, and who was
| bound for Rome with an appeal to
Caesar himself. More than that the
personality Of the man vindicated his
pre-eminence. In a time of trouble,
real ability comes to the fore. Ad-
versity tests men. In many a battle,
the sergeant or corporal has gone be-
fore the captain or the lieutenant.
Every critical situation reveals new
heroes and leaders. Because Paul was
the greatest man aboard the snip, ne
naturally assumed the leadership.
Altho they did not fully understand
its significance, all the men aboard
the boat realized that this man Paul
had personal relations with the Su-
preme Ruler of sea and earth. They
l. 81 ND n an
death becomes a near neighbor, 1t 1s
the man of God to whom we look,
even as everybody aboard the wrecked
Spree" in 1892 turned to Mr.. Dwight
L. Moody for leadership in intercession
with the Lord of the waters.
OF all the precious cargoes that
have been carried across the Mediter-
ranean, this numbering, leaky ship
from Alexandria held the most price
less. For Paul bore that which was
mightier than the laws of Rome
mightier than the philosophy OF
Greece. mightier than the legions OF
the Caesars or the navy of the Per
slams. He was custodian of the revo-
lutionary Gospel of Christ, that was
destined to enter the decadent life OF
sincerity, purity, mercy and love.
Much folly is uttered in the name
of evolution" Rome was devolutine
toward death Her progress was
downward, despite all her wealth and
wisdom. Yet this Gospel which Pau
carried was able to cut athwart these
J natural tendencies, and at once make
clean, holy and happy men and WON
J en- out of these Romans. Out of the
ruins of old heather Rome grew the
Holy Roman empire, because of the
truth of which Paul was the messen-
ger. That little ship was more i'm.
: portant to the worlds welfare thar
any other than ever sailed the seas II
held the beginnings of a new worlf
4 order, far mightier than any thai
{ Rome instituted