and Christ himself, as judicially stricken and smitten of their God".]
Afterwards, they considered it as an evidence that he was a god —
[As the heathen imagined that there was a superior Being who punished sin, so they believed that their gods sometimes " came down to them in the likeness of mene." Hence, when the people saw that Paul had sustained no injury, they con- cluded that he must be a god. But here they ran to an opposite extreme. Having no knowledge of the only true God, and of his power to protect his servants, they missed entirely the true construction, which they should have put upon the event before them. But indeed, there is this propensity in every man to judge too favourably of those who prosper, as well as too unfavourably of those who suffer. The just medium can be attained by those only, who investigate matters with a dis- passionate mind, and take every thing into consideration that should regulate and decide the judgment.]
From shewing in what light they viewed the event, we proceed to consider, II. In what light it should be viewed —
God had doubtless some gracious design in this dispensation. We apprehend it was intended by him,
1. As a means whereby to awaken their attention to his Gospel —
[Paul was sent to Rome that he might testify of Christ in Caesar's palace. And as he was now on his way thither, God ordained that he should have an opportunity of making known the Saviour to the barbarians at Malta. But Paul was now a prisoner, and therefore not likely to gain much attention from the people : besides that, he was not at liberty to go amongst them as he would willingly have done. But, by this miracle, the attention of all was instantly fixed on him, and a way was opened for a free communication of the Gospel of Christ. That he availed himself of the opportunity, we cannot doubt : and that he had considerable success, there is reason to conclude, from the gratitude expressed by all ranks of people amongst them at his departure.
The same object, we apprehend, God has in view, by num- berless dispensations which occur from time to time. Both mercies and judgments are continually represented as designed of God for this end ; " And they shall know that I am the Lord." The miraculous powers with which the Apostles were
d Ps. xli. 8. Isai. liii. 4. e Acts xiv. 11.