The sea being stormy, the crew are alarmed. The storm, however, is not so violent, but that Paul is able to make a speech, and they to hear it. To keep up their spirits, and, at the same time, let them see the sort of terms he is upon with the Almighty, he tells them a story about an angel. The angel had been sent to him upon a visit, and was but just gone. The business of the angel was to quiet the mind of the Apostle. The matter had been settled. The precious life was in no danger: and, not only so, but, out of compliment to him, God had been pleased to grant to him the lives of all who were happy enough to be in his company. In the situation, in which so many lives are represented as being placed,--no very severe condemnation can easily be passed upon any little fraud, by which they might be saved. But, is it really to be believed, that this angel, whom, in a deckless vessel, for the vessels of _those_ times were not like the vessels of present times, no person but Paul either saw or heard, was really sent express from the sky by God Almighty, on such an errand? If not, then have we this additional proof,--if any additional proof can be needed,--to help to satisfy us,--that, where a purpose was to be answered, falsehood, or as he would have called it _lying_, was not among the obstacles, by which Paul would be stopped, in his endeavours to accomplish it. SECTION 12. SUPPOSABLE MIRACLE XI.--AT MALTA, A REPTILE SHAKEN OFF BY PAUL WITHOUT HURT.--_Acts_ 28:1-6. A fire of sticks being kindled, a reptile, here called a viper, is represented as "coming out of the heat," and fastening on Paul's hand. On beholding this incident,--"the barbarous people," as the inhabitants are called, whose hospitality kindled the fire for the relief of the shipwrecked company, concluded that Paul was a murderer: and were, accordingly, in expectation of seeing him "swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly." Nothing of this sort happened, their next conclusion was, _that he was a God_. As such, did these barbarians, as did the civilized inhabitants of Lystra, sacrifice to him, or in any other way worship him? No: these conceptions of theirs reported, there the story ends. Of this story, what is to be made? At this time of day, among Christians in general, what we should expect to find is, that it passed for a miracle. But, if by miracle is meant, not merely an accident, somewhat singular and extraordinary,--but, by a special act of Almighty power, an effect produced, by means disconformable to the uniform course of nature,--it might be too much to say, that even by the reporter himself, it is for the decided purpose of its being taken for miracle, that it is brought to view. If, however, the design was not here, that the incident should be taken for a miracle,--the story amounted to nothing, and was not worth the telling. But, if it _is_ to be made into a miracle, where is the matter in it, out of which a miracle can be made?