276

THE POWER OF GOD'S TRUTH.

[LECT.

with a portion of Paul's spirit, as much as in us lies, to preach the Gospel to them that are at Rome also. There is a way of proclaiming that Gospel, which no man can controvert, viz. by such a Christian deportment, and by such evangelical graces, as may be visible to all who come within their influence, so that it shall be said of us as the damsel possessed with a spirit of divination said of Paul and Silas, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation ;" and never, so long as I acknowledge the power of God's truth upon the mind, will I be persuaded that in every place there will not be some "jailer" who will fall down before the force of truth, whether exhibited in words or in deeds, and tremblingly exclaim, "What shall I do to be saved?" With our privileges therefore, brethren, as those to whom are committed the oracles of God, there is this great responsibility, that in all things we show what the riches of God's grace and mercy can effect in the outward conduct, and make that faith we profess worthy of the compliment which Paul once paid to the Christians of this very city, whose faith was spoken of throughout the whole world:"-but it is time to take up the sacred narrative.

66

Since our last lecture you will probably have examined anew, in your private meditations, all

vi.]

ST. PAUL'S DEPARTURE.

277

that happened to the apostle at Jerusalem and at Cesarea, and it will be borne in mind that in consequence of his appeal to the emperor, which was a Roman citizen's privilege, the object of St. Paul's desire was accomplished by providential circumstances over which he seemed to have no control. It may also be remarked, that Agrippa and Festus virtually acquitted the prisoner, and, as Pilate said to the multitude, "he found no fault" in the spotless Jesus, so did these judges of Paul's conduct declare, that "he might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Cæsar." It being determined that the apostle and his company should sail into Italy, they were consigned, along with other prisoners, to the care of a centurion, and sailed towards the coast of Asia, touching at the port of Sidon. At that place Paul was enabled to confer with his brethren in Christ, and give them a parting exhortation to continue stedfast in the faith. He next sailed along the coasts of his native country, Cilicia, and, arriving at Myra, a small port on the Lycian coast, the passengers were all finally transferred into an Alexandrian ship which was bound for the shores of Italy. The whole account of this voyage, as far as the island of Malta, is given in the 27th chapter of the Acts, and it is allowed by all those who have carefully examined the details, that none but a person who had actu

278

HIS VOYAGE TO ITALY

[LECT.

ally made the voyage could have written so accurate a description, and that he must, moreover, have had a considerable knowledge of geography and the nautical affairs of that period. But although this is the case (showing, indeed, internal evidence of the authenticity of the history), St. Luke seems ever to have had an object in view far beyond the mere incidents which led to its accomplishment; he continually refers to the words and actions of Paul, tells us of the spirit of prophecy with which he was endued, and of the influence which he acquired over the ship's crew, who were in all 276 persons. In their dangerous course, from Crete to Malta, we have an instance of that Divine protection which those can best appreciate who "do business in great waters:" it was mercy already designed and announced beforehand to the chosen instrument of God; but although Paul was thus assured that he must stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, and that God had given him all that sailed with him; although he knew every circumstance that would happen, by revelation, (for he told them they must be wrecked upon a certain island), still he spared no exertion, and called upon all the rest so to act, as if every thing depended upon themselves; whereas nothing depended upon them, since it was already decreed. In this, brethren, is not the sovereign will and fore-knowledge of

VI.]

HIS VOYAGE TO ITALY.

279

God discerned to be consistent with the utmost freedom and energy of human action? First, the apostle says, "God hath given me all that sail with me," and again, he saith, “except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved'." In all the incidents of life, the Christian will ever recognise the same Divine economy; when the struggle is past, and he revolves in his mind the active part he hath taken in them, he discovers so little of his own power, that it is utterly unworthy to be reckoned with that " mighty working whereby the Lord is able to subdue all things to Himself;" and thus he sees nothing that hath brought him to the haven of his desire, but the sovereign power of God, and therefore to Him he ascribes all the glory and the praise.

This voyage from Jerusalem to Italy was undertaken at a season of the year when sailing in the Mediterranean was the most dangerous2, viz. about the time of the equinox-denoted by St. Luke, "after the Fast." This was on the tenth day of the seventh month, which answers to the 10th of October; and it would almost appear, from

1

See this subject satisfactorily handled by Dr. Chalmers, in his Sermon " on the Doctrine of Predestination." Sermons, &c. c. p. 294.

2 In contemplating the apostle's voyage, we must dismiss from our thoughts the modern improvements in the art of navigation.

280

ISLAND OF MALTA.

[LECT.

the tenor of the history, that they were nearly six weeks before they reached Malta. As their ship was entirely destroyed, they were detained in that island for three months, during which period the things occurred which are set forth in the former part of the last chapter of the Acts. We find St. Paul was enabled to perform many miraculous cures, and thus to advance the interest of Christ's kingdom; it is not, however, said, that the "barbarous people" were in a state to receive the Gospel. The history of that island is indeed such, that it may be doubted whether the real truths of Christianity ever took root in it, the duty of planting them there now devolves upon our own country, to which (as a Christian traveller has remarked) this celebrated island is entrusted, as a portion of that mass of power, which Divine Providence has committed to her, to be exercised for the benefit of mankind'. The apostle and his companions left Melita at the end of the winter, and landed at Syracuse in Sicily, where they remained three days; in which famed city it does not appear there were any Christians. After touching at Rhegium, on the straits of Charybdis, now called Reggio, they arrived by a prosperous voyage on the coast of Naples, and

'See Jowett's Christian Researches in the Mediterranean. "Advantages of Malta," p. 376.