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of the waves, while they themselves were oppreffed with terrible fear. Who would not wish to enjoy the fame confidence of the divine favour?

Trials and dangers manifeft the advantage of true genuine piety. For this end the Lord afflicts his people, that they may prove the tendernefs of his regard and the power of his grace. He is glorified in them, when they can fubmit, truft, and rejoice, amidst storms and tempefts, through a dependence on his word: this is what others cannot attain. We afk, Can you of a truth declare, as St. Paul, "His I am, and Him I ferve?" Or, are you not ashamed to avow your attachment to him, in the prefence of his enemies? If you do indeed confide in his mercy, his promife to you will be fure: "He will never leave you, nor forfake you." Though you may feem to be toffed about on a troubled ocean, nothing hall separate you from his love, or prevent the accomplishment of his purpofes in your behalf. Like the Apoftle," believe God, that it fhall be even as it is told you: :❞ you need not defire any better fecurity for your hopes. You should, alfo, feel compaffion, and offer many prayers, for thofe around you, in the fame town or family, who know not the Lord: perhaps, they will be fpared for your fakes.

After thirteen days of perplexity and distress, the mariners fufpected about midnight, that they were approaching to feme land, and were alarmed by the fear of being dafhed to pieces upon rocks. They formed the scheme, therefore, of efcaping in the fmall boat; but Paul prevented them, by declaring to the Centurion, that their continuance in the fhip was neceffary to the fafety of the whole. Though affured that no lives could be loft, yet he thought it abfolutely requi fite to hinder their flight: and, if we do not remember that the events, which God hath promised, depend upon the means, which he hath ordained, our faith will lead us to prefumption. The boat was abandoned:

abandoned and, while they were eagerly withing for the light, he expreffed his confidence that all fhould be preferved, and encouraged them to take food for their refreshment, as their ftrength was nearly exbaufted. He looked up to God, in their prefence, with devout adoration of his goodness, for the bread which yet remained: he himfelf did eat, and they were induced to follow his example.

The day came on, and they perceived that they were approaching to the fhore. They endeavoured to direct the fhip into a creek; but through the violence of a current they were driven upon the fand, and by the force of the waves the veffel was broken in pieces. All was confufion. The foldiers, dreading the efcape of the prifoners, propofed to dispatch them; but, for the Apostle's fake, they were fpared. Unwilling to confent to his death, the Centurion interpofed to prevent the fcheme, and gave orders, that all might be permitted to confult their own fafety; and thus, the whole company were preserved by different means, and conveyed to land.

Do we not perceive the hand of God over-ruling these various circumftances, for the protection of his faithful fervant, and with a view to the propagation of the Gofpel? In like manner, He will render all events fubfervient to the final deliverance of his people but in the mean seafon He proves their fincerity, by making them pafs through much tribulation. We would encourage your expectation of a happy iffue, if you be truly reconciled to him by Jefus Chrift. Many and formidable dangers may feem to obftruct your path; but you shall furely reach the promised inheritance. In your own apprehenfion, you may escape with much difficulty, like the fhipwrecked mariners before us, who were borne to the hore, "fome on boards, and fome on broken pieces of the fhip:" yet the Lord, whom you truft, will bring you to your defired haven.

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The fcattered company were again collected on the island of Melita, where, in their diftrefs, they met with reinarkable kindness from the inhabitants *. Some circumstances, there alfo, drew the general attention to St. Paul, and, perhaps, prepared the way for a favourable acceptance of the Goipel. Whilft he was employed in affifting to kindle a fire, a viper fuddenly faftened upon his hand.

He had been preferved from the violence of a tempeft, and the rage of the fea: and now the venomous bite of a little animal was thought likely to be fatal. Ah! what is our life! To how many dangers expofed! No fooner are we delivered from one, than another fucceeds; nor is there a moment, in which we are not liable to a fresh attack. Any trifling event, as well as that which appears moft formidable, may prove deftructive. But the ferpent could not hurt the Apoftle, whom the God of heaven was engaged to protect: he fhook it into the fire, and felt no harm. The natives beheld and wondered. They expected his immediate death from this poifonous creature, and confidered him as a murderer, whom divine vengeance had marked for its object. But, when they faw that no bad effect followed, they were ready to adore him as a deity.

A miraculous influence was exerted by the Apof tle, not for himself alone, but for the relief of others. Publius, a principal perfon, probably the governor of the inland, entertained the fhipwrecked company with fingular hofpitality; and he was well repaid for his kindness. His father being then afflicted with a difeafe, which threatened his life, Paul prayed for him, and inftantly reftored his health. Different cures were alfo wrought upon various inhabitants, who were therefore difpofed to revere this man of God, and to provide both him and his affociates with

* A&ts xxviii. 1, &c.

every thing neceffary; for they prepared to proceed on their voyage, after a continuance of three months. Doubtlefs, he took the opportunity of recommending the Saviour to their notice and acceptance, and of improving the time of his abode amongst them for the most valuable purposes. Such was his fervent zeal, that he could not refrain his lips from proclaiming the rich mercy of God in Jefus Chrift. Perhaps, then, the fhipwreck proved the happy means of healing many fouls as well as bodies of thefe courteous ilanders, and thus extending falvation to them who were ready to perish.

At length the company departed from the place, and, after touching at Syracufe and Rhegium, came to Puteoli, where, at the request of certain Chriftians, Paul and his friends obtained permiffion to remain a week. Afterwards he proceeded by land towards Rome. The account of his approach had reached that famous city; and in fuch eftimation was he there held among them who had embraced the faith, that they went out to meet him, fome to the diftance of fifty, others of more than thirty miles, and conducted him on the road.

Their kind attendance in fuch circumftances afforded him peculiar pleafure: it excited gratitude to God, and infpired him with fresh life and vigour. Perhaps he began to droop: but, when he faw the dear brethren, to whom he had written his invaluable Epiftle a few years before, and over whom he had rejoiced as fellow-heirs, he was cheered and animated. "He thanked God, and took courage." Then he was willing, that Nero fhould do his worst: he fhrunk not from danger or death, when he perceived fome of the glorious effects of divine grace among the inhabitants of Rome; and he gave vent to the nobleft affections, while he felt a warm attachment to thefe followers of his Lord, and the ftrongest emotions of delight in their fociety. We

afk,

afk, Is this the kind of happiness, which you have experienced? Do you love the brotherhood," or know any thing of "the communion of faints ?" Would the very fight of them revive your hearts, when oppreffed with trouble? We pity you, as ftrangers to the most exquifite fenfibility, if you have not tafted the sweetness of Chriftian friendship. But, if you enjoy that inestimable privilege, we exhort you to improve it for mutual edification and comfort. Value your opportunities of intercourse with pious perfons, and, by your converfation and prayers, endeavour to infpire each other with a holy fortitude, though you are travelling together, as Paul and his companions, to meet a powerful and malignant enemy.

When they came to Rome, the prifoners were delivered to the proper officer; but the Apostle, being separated from the reft by peculiar favour, was permitted to dwell in an habitation of his own, under the cuftody of a foldier, to whom, probably, he was chained. In this new fituation, he fhewed the fame zeal and courage for the defence and propagation of the Gofpel, as before. Three days after his arrival, he fent for the principal perfons among the Jews, who refided there, and explained to them the true cause of his imprisonment. He affured them, that he was brought into those circumftances, not for any real offence committed, but only for maintaining "the hope of Ifrael," and publifhing that falvation, which had been promised to this people, and was then procured for them by their long expected Mes

fiah.

They had nothing to allege in reply, except the general prejudice, which has always been urged as an objection to the religion of Jefus, when its powerful influence appears; "This fect is every where fpoken against.' Many defired to hear his account of Christianity: a time was fet; and for a whole day together

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