The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 294

HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-17.-The voyage. "The voyage of life" is an expression drawn from the common feeling of men that there is a close analo:zy between the course of a man's life through the world, from his birth to his grave, and the progress of a ship from port to port. The Christian metaphor of the ark of Christ's Church, tossed upon the waves of this troublesome world, yet finally reaching the land of everlasting life, is no less familiar to us. It may not be without instruction to note some of the points of resem- blance in a Christian's life to the apostle's voyage as described in the narrative before us. First, there is in both a definite purpose. The ship is making for a particular port; the Christian is definitely seeking to attain the kingdom of heaven. But many a life would be far more useful, and far more consistent, if this purpose were more condensed. We are often too much distracted by the episodes in our life. The passing circum- stances, the shifting situations, the immediate surroundings of the day, bound our horizon, and the intermediate seems to us as the final, or at least shuts the final out from view. The lesson is, keep steadily in view, in sunshine and in storm, under every variety of outward circumstance, the great end of the Christian life, to dwell with Christ in glory for ever, and bend your unrelaxing efforts to compass this end. Then, again, let us mark in the Christian life, as in the ship's voyage, the conditions of the enterprise. There is the :fixed will and purpose, and the wisdom and skill and resolu- tion of the man, on the one hand; but there are also the inevitable hindrances and obstacles, on the other. Changes and chances, vicissitudes and disappointments, obstacles and disturbances, arise unbidden, and often when we least expect them. 'The pleasant start, the cheering incidents which seemed foll of promise for a prosperous future, are succeeded by dull delays and by tedious, disheartening, and disconcerting experiences. We have to deal with events of which we had not taken count. The sanguine hope of a rapid progress is succeeded by the tediousness of delay, and our own counsels are continually thwarted by the folly or incompetence of others of whom we cannot set ourselves free. By-and-by, when we think we see signs of improvement close at ha.nd, things suddenly take a turn for the worse. All the elements of difficulty are multiplied a hundredfold ; and our bark, whether freighted with earthly schemes or heavenly hopes, is in imminent danger of shipwreck. Happy is he who at such times lays fast hold of the promises of God, cleaves to the Lord Jesus with a steadfast faith, and perseveres to the end. In spite of delays, and in spite of dangers, he shall not be ashamed of his hope. Only let each alternation work its proper work, teaching patience and long-su:ffering, encouraging a life of simple faith, stimulating all the energies of the soul, stirring up to active exertion, engendering a calm and dauntless courage, and bringing out every resource of the mind according to the immediate need, and the storms and agitation of the voyage will in due time be exchanged for the peace and safety of the everlasting haven of glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Dear reader, be prepared for e.11; let nothing shake your faith or dim your hope, and then the most troubled voyage shall have e. blessed end; and in the last review of the roughest pas• sage your testimony will be, " He hath done e.11 things well." Vers. 18-44.-The escape from shipwreck. The particular feature in this part of the narrative or the shipwreck to which attention is now invited is the sacrifices by which the final escape was effected. The eighteenth verse finds tho whole party on board the ship in an encounter with a furious tempest. We can easily picture to ourselves the sea running high, the vessel crouching as it were before the wind, the waves breakinb over the side of the ship, and the water beginning to fill her. At this moment the relative value of things in the mind of the master and crew undergoes a great change. 'l'he freight of the ship-so precious in the owner's eyes, acquired at great cost. put on board with much labour, and on which was set the hope of great gains when the vessel should reach the Italian shore-now l0ses 1111 its valne in his eyes. Something more  802 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLEB. [OH. XXVIL 1--44,