Though the world may not have discovered it, though our friends may have thought us trustful and resigned under the trying dispensation, oh! if we look within on the hidden chambers of the heart, we shall remember when the desolating bereavement and the long-continued anxiety made us mentally say, "Hath not God forgotten to be gracious?" We could not discern love in the oft-repeated chastisement, and the star of a Father's faithfulness was almost shrouded by the earth-born mists of unbelief.

Oh! when we cannot as we would unravel the entanglements of a mysterious providence, let us, in patient and trustful submission, seek to obey the heavenly injunction, "Be still, and know that I am God!" and we shall soon find the "great peace". ours-the heritage of those who, under all circumstances, stay themselves on Jehovah.

The soldiers advise that all the prisoners should be put to death, lest any of them should make their escape.

It is true that the Roman military discipline was severe, and the soldiers might have been charged with negligence or unfaithfulness, had any of the prisoners regained their liberty; but it was hardness of heart indeed, at such a time, to plan deliberate murder, when life seemed so precious to all.

And could the centurion suffer Paul, the prisoner

of the Lord, to fall under the sword of the assassin ? Oh, no! he durst not thus act! He felt it would be fighting against the Almighty; for he knew that Paul was under the protection of the God of Israel.

Instantly Julius orders that all who can swim are to cast themselves into the sea, and endeavour at once to gain the land; as if he were unwilling to trust, even to argument, the cruel proposition of the soldiers.

Look! some are springing from the ship's side into the foaming waters; for a moment they are lost to view-then again they appear, clinging to broken pieces of the ship; others keep themselves afloat on boards. Even those brave swimmers must now be weary. They are driven backwards by the violence of the sea! Our hearts sink. Manfully they are battling with the waves! Our fears are needless. All, all escape safe to land! What, all? Two hundred threescore and sixteen souls! We should cry," Impossible!" did we not remember that the Lord, the Ruler of the ocean, says, "Is there anything too hard for me?"

And, if we are in Christ, this mighty God is our God. We may pass through deep waters, the swelling billows may seem to keep us back from the haven where we would be; but the sure word of promise is ours, as it was theirs ;-though the storm

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of adversity rage, though the sky of our joy be darkened, though neither sun nor moon for many days appear, the word has gone forth, of which not one jot or tittle can pass away: They shall never perish!" and if we only believe that it shall be as God has told us, we shall all escape safe to land, the blessed land where the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!

XXI.

PAUL IS KINDLY RECEIVED BY THE MALTESE.VIPER FASTENS ON HIS HAND, BUT TO THE GREAT ASTONISHMENT OF THE

INHABITANTS

DOES HIM NO INJURY.-PAUL HEALS MANY DISEASES THERE, AND THEN GOES ON TO ROME.

THEY find that the island on which they had been shipwrecked was called Melita, or Malta, which, if you will look on the map, you will find situated about sixty miles from the coast of Sicily.

Malta is a low rocky island, and formerly produced great quantities of honey. Oh, how thankful they must have been when they found that they really had escaped from the tumult of those tempestuous waters! and how gratefully they must have received kindness from these barbarous people, by whom they were instantly surrounded! yet we must not suppose that they were altogether an uncultivated savage set, for the Romans called every nation but their own barbarians.

It is cold and rainy, and they have already kindled a fire for the comfort of their unexpected

visitors. Paul is not idle,

but is assisting these Look! he is gathering

kind people in their labours.

some sticks, and now he has placed them on the fire. But what has happened? Terror is on the countenances of those islanders. A viper has crept from the wood and coiled itself round Paul's hand. All crowd around him; and we hear them saying amongst themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live."

And some of you too, in the midst of Gospel light, are ready to exclaim, "How is this? We thought that the beloved of the Lord dwelt in safety by him." O ye of little faith! you need continually to be reminded, that, although at a hasty glance outward circumstances may appear unfavourable to the Christian, yet, that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Paul calmly shakes off the viper into the fire, and stands unharmed amongst them.

The bite of this poisonous serpent was sometimes fatal, especially if a vital part was in any way affected by it. They still anxiously watch Paul, in expectation of seeing some speedy inflammation ensue; nay, they even fear he will die. A long time they wait; and when they find he remains altogether uninjured, they know that he must have been miraculously preserved; and they who had so