Acts 27:44

REFLECTIONS

How blessedly the Prophet Nahum spake, when he said, the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the storm! And how fully proved, was that way manifested, in all the circumstances of this voyage? Well might the Apostle say, in perils often, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. But, said he, as upon another occasion, out of them all, the Lord delivered me. Reader! it is well to be brought into exercises, that we may discern the Lord's hand in bringing out. The loudest cries of the awakened soul, are, when all is dark and discouraging, and when neither sun nor stars appear for many days. A child of God will then indeed pray, and pray hard, and in earnest, while the hand of chastening is upon him, and the grace of the Lord is within him, leading him forth in acts of faith and trust, upon the Lord his righteousness. Who of the Lord's people but would gladly pass through a storm, like this of Paul's, to have Paul's Lord with them, in the storm in such visions of the night? Oh! the unspeakable felicity, whether in storms or calms, in rough or smooth seasons, when a soul can say, there stood by me this night, the Lord and Angel of the Covenant, whose I am, and whom I serve. Reader! it is not simply an act of faith, but faith is then become the substance, realized into possession; when you and I, can, on sure grounds, say, I am God's property by grace;. sure I am, that I shall be equally enabled to say, then am I God ' s care by his covenant love and faithfulness, Lord! help all thy redeemed to cast all their care upon thee, and into thy hands; for Jesus will bring home the whole, and everyone to land, and bring them in to his everlasting haven, where they would be!