ein mnritR puniehment and will be overtaken by it. This is a fundamental and ultimate principle; we need not try to account for it or to "get behind it." It is aufilciont in itself; it is a conviction that comes from the Author of our spiritual nature, which will not bo dislodged, which itself accounts for much that we think, say, and d1r- that Bin deserves penalty, and sooner or later must bear it. 4. A human error, common to the unenlightened. A narrow mind and one unillumined by the teaching of Gnd makes a great mistake in applying the trnth just stated; it infers that any particular misfortune is referable to some special sin (ver. 4; see John ix. 3; vii. 24). It also falls into error of e. similar kind, though conducting to an opposite conclusion-it infers that e. man who has nn extraordinary escape is a special favourite of Heaven (ver. 6). Taught of God, we know that, while sin brings penalty, inward and circumstanLial, and while righteousness brings Divine regard and honour, God often permits or sends suffering and sorrow in fatherly love for the promotion of the highest well-being (Heh. xii 5-11). We have also here-- II. THE MANIFEST PRESENOE OF THE DIVINE. Christ was present: 1. In the person of his apostle. That teacher of truth who had been so influential a passenger on board ship (eh. xxvii.), and who makes himself so useful now (vers. 3, 8, 9), is there in his Master's Name, and on his Master's work. 2. In the exercise of benignant power: (1) protection from harm (ver. 5, and Mark xvi. 18); (2) exercise of healing power (vers. 8, 9, and Mark xvi. 18). We may learn three special lessons. (a) That true dignity is never above usefulness, even of the humblest kind; a Paul may gather sticks in time of emergency without losing thonour. (b) That Christian generosity must not be behind native kindness. (c) That bodily benefit is an admirable intro- duction to spiritual help. Who can doubt that Paul used the gratitude and honour which he reaped ( ver. 10) to find a way for the truth of Christ to the minds and hearts of the Maltese ?-C. Ver. 15.-Human kindness. A striking and touching instance is this of valuable human kindness. It is a positive relief to our minds to think that the faithful veteran soldier of Jesus Christ, bearing in his body such marks of lifelong conflict, worn with toil and care and suffering, having escaped from one kind of affliction and on his way to another, met with such considtirate kindness as greatly comforted and cheered him. The text mo.y remind us- L THAT HlJllAN KINDNESS 18 A DIVINELY I:MPLA.NTED DISPOSITION. As God created us" in his own image," we were made to feel and show kindness one to another; to rejoice in one another's success; to promote one another's prosperity ; to sympathize with one another in sorrow; to be willing to deny ourselves, to run risks, to make sacrifices, to help others in their time of need. II. TJl.&.T UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN IT :r.taY BE EBADIOATED FROM THE SOUL j e.g. pirates, wreckers, thugs, etc. III. TB.AT IT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED DY CO:NSTANT CULTUBL Kindness, like all other graces, needs regular cultivation, or it will decline or even perish. It needs: 1. The nurture which comes from the utterance of truth; the reception of right thGaghts into the mind. 2. The strengthening which proceeds from daily illustration; that which is derived from the practice of slight and simple acts of considerateness and good will. 3. The confirmation of larger acts of self-sacrificing love; 11\.Ch acts as 4..1,use trouble, as involve difficulty, as entail risk, as necessitate expenditure. IV. THAT IT HAS RENDERED HIGH SERVICE IN TilE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. 1. To the great King himself; for shall we not say that much of the ministry of those women who waited on him so kindly, and something of the attendance granted by the men who tendered him their o.id, was the offering of human kindness rather tlian of Divine service? Yet it was not on that account unacceptable or unserviceable. 2. To his apostles. Here is one instance in which humau kindness greatly comforted and heartened a valued scrrvant of Christ, and helped him on his useful and fruitful course. 3. To his servants i.u. all succeeding centurias. Who shall tell how much the canl!e of Christ has been furthered by the opportune kindness shown by tender hearts and gentle hands to those who have ba.n its representatives and champions? V. TUAT IT IS AN ADMIRAnLE THING IN ITSELF: one that is highly esteemed of God (Heh. xiii. 16; Eph. iii. 32); one that is beautiful in the sight of man, that 330 THE ACTS OF 'l'HE A.POSTLES. [on. xxvm. 1--a1,
adoms the doctrine, that is to the character what t.he bloom is to the plant; one the.t has 11. general and T'recious reflex influence on those that exerciso and exhibit it, VL THAT IT 18 A IILEBSING FOR WHIOR WF. SHOULD IIE GRATEFUL TO Gon. Paul ''thanked God" u well RB" took courage." \Ve have reason to thank God for human kindness ee much RB for any blessing we receive. For though this does not oome 1\9 peroeptibly from him as the sunshine and the rain, yet ultimately and actually lt is as much hie !!ift. as they are. Only the loving God can originate love in the human heart a:nd in the human life. "God is our Sun," from whom streams every ray of human kindness that falls on our path and cheers our soul. Let w, too, thank God for it, while we take courage from it.-C.