The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 298

II. PATIENT LAnoun. From point to point they made their way; with the wind~ against thorn, they o.t length made Myra (ver. 5). "'fhey so.iled slowly many dr1ys," but they wont on towards Cnidus (ver. 7). 'fhey had much work to pass Salmone (ver. 8); but by dint of persevering lo.hour they reached the port. Whether we seek know Jed<>e, matcrinl resources, position, influence, or the o.ccomplishment of any great enterprise "'in philanthropy or religion, we must be prepared for patient Jabour. We must make onr way from point to point, struggling with "contrary winds,"" hardly passing," but manag- ing to make our way beyond this mark and that, finally reaching our goal-exhausted, perhaps, but successful. III. Tm!: SUBMISSION WHIOH PREVAILS. Julius would not have arrived at Fair Havens when he did, had not the captains of the vessels in which he sailed conquered the forces with which they had to contend by a wise submission. The captain of the '' ship ot Admmyttium" sailed on the other side of Cyprus from that on which he meant to steer, " because the winds were contrary" (ver. 4). "The wind not suffering" them, they did not enter Cnidus when they were" off" it (ver. 7). We must direct our course, guided by events. We are too feeble to carry our projects through without frequeu t tacking and changing. We may be resolutely firm in our principle, tho11gh we may vary our policy as circumstances may demand. We often find it wise to yield one thing in order to gain another which is not inconsistent with the end in view. We do well to concede small things that we may secure greater ones. If our aim is a purr, and noble one, we shall gladly bend to the" contrary winds," if only we may, by taking another course, reach the Fair Havens which we seek. Between one man surrendering principles to gain position or resources for himself, and another man yielding to oppos- ing winds in order to effect a high and beneficent purpose, there lies all the distance between meanness and magnanimity. IV. READY UBE OF FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. (Ver. 6.) If we would do good and great things in our day, we must not only use the weapons which are thrust into onr bands, but must eagerly and actively seize upon them when they are in reach. The centurion/ound, on seeking for it, a ship sailing in his direction. Many men are very near to failures in business, in society, in sacred service, because they expect opportunity to seek them out, instead of their looking keenly out for opportunity. Then comes- V. Joyous ATTAINMENT. (Ver. 8.) We arrive at the Fair Havens, the port of our hope, and the peaceful harbour is the pleasanter to our eye for the toil and the submission we have exercised to gain it.-C, Vers. 12-15.-Disappointment. Disappointment is the strong reaction of the soul where it nurses an eager expectation and fails to secure the object of its hope. The familiar pleasantry which affirms the blessedness of him that expects nothing, is only a pleasantry; it does not contain any other grain of truth than that it is wise not to cherish Lopes which are unlikely to be fulfilled, and this is a very simple truism. For- I. HOPE IS A CONSTANT RESIDENT OF THE BUMAN SOUL. "Thou didst make me hope upon my mother's breasts" (Ps. xxil. 9). Man must hope for that which is beyond him; otherwise he would sink fast and far in the scale of being. 1. We may set our heart on exchanging the insufficient for the satisfactory. That was the case here. The port of Fair Havens was "not commodious to winter inn (ver. 12); the sailors could not be satisfied that they were safe until they reached another which lay "toward the south-west and north-west" (Phenice). 2. Or we may desire to pass from the unsuit- able to the appropriate; as when he who has left boyhood behind him desires to have the heritage of manhood. 3. Or we may long to move on from the good to the better; as when a man strives to rise to the higher post, to the superior position, to the wider sphere. Such hope is, in the first case, obligatory; in the second, desirable; in the third, allowable. But such is the feebleness of OU!' nature and such the frailty of our efforts that-- II. DISAPPOINTMENT IS OFTEN wAITING UPON HOPE. How often does the " south wind blow softly" (ver. 13), and we think we" have obto.ined our purpose," and make ready to enter our " desired haven," when suddenly there arises " a tempestuous wind,'' and the" ship cannot bear up" (vcr. 15), and we have to "let her drive" whither she will, b'.lt not whither wo will I How often does some relentless Emoclydon interpose .\O'fB-l,, ~  306 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [orr. XXVII. 1--44,