tection while they were engaged in Christian service; but it cannot be unintereRting to notice that these promises wore precisely fulfilled in the experience of the apostles, St. Paul, AS narrated in our text, "shook off the beast," the deadly viper, "and felt no harm." From the incident it is suggested to us to conAider- 1. THAT CHRISTI.AN LIFE IS OOVERED AND HALLOWED BY DIVINE PBOMIBES, We learn to speak of the" exceeding great and precious promises." They are stored for us in all parts of God's Word. It may be shown that they are (1) abundant; (2) suffi- cient, since no conceivable Christian circumstance or need is unreached; (3) varied, so as to suit all occasions; (4) adapted, so as to gain gracious influence on all disposi- tions, Nothing is more pleasantly surprising in a Christian life than the freshness with which the promises appear in every new season of anxiety and trouble. They come to us AS if they were words just spoken by the all-comforting Father. They are the "everlasting arms" which hold us safe. They are the wings that bear us up and on and home to God. They are all true and faithful, "Yea and amen in Christ Jesus." II. THAT THESE PROMISES ABE BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIAL. They assure, in large and comprehensive terms, that grace shall be given according to need; but, at least in the case of the apostles, we find them precise and definite. Illustrate from the case of taking up deadly serpents, Christians may err in two ways-either by generalizing the promises too much, or by particularizing them too much, and over-forcing their adapta- tion to the individual. Still, if we had a fuller faith, we might recognize a more definite character in God's promises. Illustrate by such a promise or assurance as this, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick." Ill. TEE EXACT FULFILMENT OF THE PRE0ISE PROMISES ASSURE THE CERTAIN FUL• FIL1lENT OF ALL. This is the lesson which we have to learn from the fulfilment of Christ's definite promise in the case of his servant Paul. It may be taken as a test case, by the help of which we may know whether we may trust all the promises, even those which do not seem easy to grasp, and those which seem to promise too much for mortals and for sinners such as we are. He who is true to his word in the little thing which we can fully test will be true to the great words which assure to us both grace and glory. And, as we see the viper falling harmlessly off the apostle's arm, we say, "Verily, he is faithful that promised."-R. T. Ver. B.-Ohristian returns for kindness shown. "Not far from the scene of the shipwreck lay the town now called Alta Vecchia, the residence of Publius, the governor of the island, who was probably a legate of the Praitor of Sicily. Since Julius was a person of distinction, this Roman official, who bore the title of protos (6.rst)-a local designation, the accuracy of which is supported by inscriptions-offered to the centurion a genial hospitality, in which Paul and his friends were allowed to share. It happened that at that time the father of Publius was lying prostrated by feverish attacks compli- cated with dysentery. St. Luke was a physician, but his skill was less effectual than the agency of St. Paul, who went into the sick man's chamber, prnyed by his bedside, laid his hands on him, and healed him. The rumour of the cure spread through the little island, and caused all the sick inhabitants to come for help and tendance. We may be sure that St. Paul, though we do not hear of his founding any Church, yet lost no opportunity of making known the gospel" (Farrar). In this instance the order of St. Paul's words havo to be changed, He had received thtir "carnal things," and he gladly returned to them his "spiritual things." We cbserve-- I. CHRISTI.ANS CAN RECEIVE FROM THE WORLD BODILY AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL BLESS- l!sGS, These are all that the world has at its command; but tbese Christians need. 'l'hey may be illustrated under the headings: 1. Hospitalitie-~. 2. Charities. 3. Sym- pathies. 4. Practical aids. So the barbarous people coulcl light a fire and show kindness to St. Paul, and Publius could offer to him and his frien<ls generous hospi- talities. Especially dwell on the virtue of hospitality, noticing that it was a characteristic exct:lience of ancient times; it is a virtue carefully cultivated in the East, anti more particularly among tribes, in the present day; and that, while it is retained, it is set under very narrow limitations in modern civilized nations, where class prejudices are strong. ll. CHRISTIANS CAN GIVE TO THE WORLD BOTH BODILY AND SPIRITUAL DLli:SSINGS, 34-4 'l'HE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. ( OR, ltXVlIL 1-31.
They lrnve the common powers of brotherhood and helpfulness which beloncr to men ao ~et in l,11man rPlations; but they CA.n also do for their follows what no other clnRB of men c:in do. They have a new life; that life finds its own peculiar and charactcristio expression. It exerts both (1) an unconscious and (2) a conscious influence for good. Illustrate that Christians can save n city, as ten righteous men would have saved Sodom. They may preserve from temporal calamity by their calmness in the hour of dan11cr through their faith in God; e.s may be seen in times of shipwreck. They may h7\V~ actual power to heal, e.s the apostles had. The_v can certainly witness for the livin" God; commend the service of the Lord. Jesus Christ; carry healing balm to sin-sick :-ouls ; comfort the weary and heavy-laden ; and minister truth and sympathy and love where these are needed. They can be" preserving sa.lt; uplifted light-bea.rers; and upon them may hang, in full clusters, the rich ripe fruits which the world so greatly needs for its rcrrC'shing and its spiritual health. fmpres.~ that what the Christia.n man can be he <:>ugl,t to be and should strive to be. "Ilerein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall yo be my disciples."-R. T.