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No partieular description of the ships belonging to the Jews is given in Scripture, but we may suppose them similar to the ships of the neighbouring nations, which in those times differed very much from our vessels. Even in the present day, the ships of the Asiatics are different from ours; and by attending to the accounts given by modern travellers, we may better understand the account of St. Paul's voyage, and other passages of Scripture.

The trading vessels were, in general, much smaller than those common among us. Frequently they were less than fifty tons burden, and in such a vessel, sailing from Alexandria to Italy, St. Paul probably was embarked; though, as the size of the vessel is not stated, some authors suppose it was much larger. But, within the last three hundred years, very small vessels were sent on long voyages. Some of Sir Francis Drake's vessels, which went out to sail round the world, were only about thirty tons burden. In Acts xxvii. we have an account of Paul's voyage, which shows how much less skilful the ancient sailors were than the moderns.

In those days the sailors had no compass, or magnetic needle, which, by pointing constantly towards the north, directs their course at all times. They could only judge which way they were sailing by observing the sun and the stars; so that, in cloudy weather, when neither appeared for many days, ver. 20, they were quite at a loss; they knew

not which way they were sailing, but moved like a person walking with his eyes shut. This may remind us of the state of those who are ignorant of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The reader will recollect that He is compared to the sun. The compass may remind us of the Scriptures, by which the Christian is to direct his course; it always points in one direction-even so the Scriptures refer to Christ. It was then usual for vessels to remain in harbour during the winter months, ver. 12, because the sailors feared the dark, tempestuous nights and cloudy days. This the master of Paul's ship intended to do; but a storm came on, and drove the vessel out of its course. It is still the custom in those seas to tow the boats along after the ship, which gives much trouble when the waves are high, ver. 16. The vessel being much shaken by the storm, they undergirded it, ver. 17; that is, they passed a strong rope or cable round the ship, to prevent it from falling to pieces: this is sometimes done at the present day. One of the Spanish ships sent out against Lord Anson, in 1740, was so much damaged by a storm, that a cable was fastened round it in six places. Some persons have been much puzzled about the four anchors cast out of the stern, but Pocock tells us it is not unusual for Egyptian saiques, or trading vessels, to carry anchors at the stern, which they cast out by the help of a boat, ver. 29, 30; or it may have been an anchor with four points or flukes, which is used in some vessels in those countries. The loosing of the rudder band, ver. 40, is explained by the ancient vessels having been steered by two large broad oars, one on each side. These were fastened by bands or cords to the sides of the ship. They probably had been tied up when the vessel was allowed to drive, ver. 17, but were loosed again to direct the ship's course, when they hoisted the sail, and steered towards the shore. These explanations remove many difficulties which sailors have felt respecting the account of Paul's voyage, because they did not consider the great difference between ancient and modern ships.

We may also notice two places in which ships are mentioned in the Old Testament. We read, that Jonah had gone down into the sides of the ship, and was fast asleep,

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Jonah i. 5. This was in the cabin; probably the bed-places were along the sides, as now is often the case: but Jonah soon learned that no man can hide himself from God, or long enjoy repose when disobeying his commands. The prophet Ezekiel gives the fullest account of an ancient ship, and describes one of the largest and most complete ; see ch. xxvii. To such a noble vessel he compares the city of Tyre, which existed and flourished by its trade and commerce. We may here notice that "the walls round about,” ver. 11, were stages projecting from the sides of the ships, upon which, as is shown upon ancient medals, the soldiers hung their shields, and stood to fight. towers were high places upon the forecastle. The cut on the opposite page represents an ancient galley under sail, and those on the next page represent the inside, cut open lengthways, and also across the centre. These cuts will explain much that is said, Ezek. xxvii. where Tyre is compared to a ship.

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In the passages mentioned are one or two other points to notice. When the men in Jonah's ship were in danger and afraid, “every man cried unto his god," ch. i. 5. Persons who have been on board ships with a crew of Roman catholic sailors during a storm, describe similar scenes. The frightened sailors then call upon different saints to protect and save them.

We also read, Acts xxviii. 11, that the ship in which Paul sailed from Malta to Syracuse, had for its sign, Castor and Pollux. These were two idols worshipped by the heathens, by whose name the ship was called, and to whose care it was committed; it doubtless had images of those gods, as was usual in ancient ships. The large canoes, in some of the South Sea islands, very much resembled the ancient ships, and, like them, had idols on board, to which they were dedicated. The Roman catholics have, in this and many other respects, very closely imitated the heathens. Their ships are called by the names of saints, as San Isidore, San Juan, San Teresa, &c. and sometimes they are dedicated to different images of the Virgin Mary. In one trading company, not only all the vessels were committed to her care, but she was allowed to share in the

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