November 10

Acts xxviii. — 1. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

2. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

3. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4. And, when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6. Howbeit, they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7. In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

The term "barbarians" here means nothing more than that the natives of Malta used a language foreign to the Greek and the Roman. The island lay in the great highway of commerce: it had a Roman governor, and its people were civilized and friendly. The belief in a retributive Providence is well-nigh universal in the human mind; and the tendency to connect particular calamities with specific sins, though often misleading, is but one phase of the testimony of conscience to the deserts of wrong-doers. "The viper was probably in a torpid state, and was suddenly restored to activity by the heat." A viper will dart at its enemy, sometimes several feet at a bound. Sudden collapse and death ensue often from the bite of serpents. Shakespeare speaks as a naturalist when he says of the aphorism Cleopatra, —

8. And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody-flux; to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9. So, when this was done, others also which had diseases in the island came, and were healed;

10. Who also honored us with many honors; and, when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11. And, after three months, we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

12. And, landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

13. And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli.

14. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days; and so we went toward Rome.

15. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii-forum and the Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

"Trembling she stood, and on the sudden dropped."

It was human nature to jump from the abhorrence of Paul as a murderer to the worship of him as a god; though we more commonly see the process reversed.

Whoever visits Naples should not fail to drive out to Pozzuoli, eight miles distant, and see the remains of the ancient pier upon which Paul landed when his feet first touched the coast of Italy. Here he was greeted with a fraternal welcome, and refreshed with Christian sympathy. Though the ancient pride of castles and palaces that once adorned that coast has long since crumbled into ruin, the great apostle lives, not as a memory merely, but as a perpetual power.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 27, 32, 44.

O Lord, our heavenly Father! we have nothing to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor return of love and gratitude and praise as these hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, that we may thank thee and praise thee as we ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee for thy loving-kindness in the night-season; and every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of lights; and though we are so changeful in our love, so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us to thyself, O our Father! by the mighty attraction of thy love in Christ our Saviour.

We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertak-

ings: may we be upright in our dealings, true and kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our spirit, pure and holy in our walk! May we do good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so exhibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we shall win others to the love of Christ! And we pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; that thy Church may increase; that missions may prosper; that thy Word may be given to all people. Have mercy upon the poor, the outcast, the suffering, the afflicted and bereaved; and grant unto all the consolations of thy grace.

We thank thee for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all things that we need as a family. Bless the absent who are dear to us; and bring them, together with us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.