But, blessed be God, they have " an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." " The promises made to us in Christ, are sure to all the seed." However imminent our danger may appear, we should not despond : " there is help laid for us on One that is mighty," on One, who is " able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him." Fear not then, but only believe ; and whatever difficulties you may have to encounter, you have the promise of your Lord and Saviour, that " none shall pluck you out of his hand;" and his Father's veracity and power, no less than his own, are pledged for your everlasting salvation x.]
* John x. 28, 29.
Acts xxviii. 3 — 6. And tvhen 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. And when the barba- rians 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 suffer eth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked ivhen he should have sivollen, or fallen doivn 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 teas a god.
IT is curious to observe how, in this chequered scene of life, judgments and mercies, trials and deli- verances, crosses and comforts, are intermixed. In the space of a few hours Paul was shipwrecked, and saved; destitute, and relieved ; bitten by a viper, and preserved from injury ; judged as a murderer, and honoured as a god.
These events, though not of primary importance, are yet deserving of consideration.
The inhabitants of Malta, here called " Barba- rians," as not being learned and polished like the Greeks and Romans, shewed great kindness and hospitality to the shipwrecked crew: and in this they put to shame many who bear the Christian name, who would have plundered, rather than relieved, the unhappy sufferers. A fire being made to warm the