Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
LXX: St. Paul at Melita explained
St.
What happens
St. Paul, having survived the peril of the sea, steps onto the promised shore of Melita. Rather than resting, he humbly gathers sticks for a fire, demonstrating his prophetic strength and humility. When a viper bites him, he receives instant divine aid, teaching the Christian lesson to do one's part and trust Heaven for the rest.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Humility
St. Paul's humble act of gathering sticks and enduring the viper's bite exemplifies suffering and humility, with divine aid granted in response.
Faith and Doubt
The poem encourages Christians to do their part and leave the rest to Heaven, emphasizing faith in divine providence over doubt.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Secure in his prophetic strength, The water peril o’er, The many-gifted man at length Stepp’d on the promised shore.”
Confident in his God-given power, having survived the danger at sea, the man with many gifts finally set foot on the land that was promised to him.
Describes Paul's safe arrival on the island of Melita after the shipwreck.
“Lo! humblest pains the Saint attest, The firebrands and the flame.”
Behold! The most humble tasks, like gathering firewood and lighting a fire, bear witness to the saint's character.
Highlights Paul's humility in performing menial work despite his status.
“Christian! hence learn to do thy part, And leave the rest to Heaven.”
Christian, from this example learn to fulfill your own responsibilities, and trust the outcome to God.
The moral lesson of the poem: human effort combined with divine trust.