his acts of disobedience; and who instead of returning with the prodigal to seek forgiveness, goes farther and farther astray. Read, O read, the Scriptures, while in the land of the living and the place of hope, and in the full conviction that the words now referred to, are not yet applicable. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." THE CHURCH IN THE SHIP.-PART II. THE inquiry whether there is a church in the ship, must be deter mined by an appeal to facts; such an appeal would supply ample evidence of the progress of religion among seamen, and of the consistency and devotedness of those who have professed Christ. A church may be said to be in a ship, when a number of praying sailors are congregated together; when they are walking in the ordinances and commandments of Christ blameless; when family worship is maintained amongst them, as regularly as circumstances will permit; and when they are accustomed to commemorate the Lord's death, as frequently as the opportunity presents itself. It may be expected, that to such a company will apply the gracious promise which God gave to his servant Abraham, "I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing." Pious seamen will not only shed an influence on those who sail with them, but on all with whom they come in contact. A reference to facts will fully illustrate these supposed cases, and will show that, occasionally at least, there is a church in the ship. In many ships there are not only solitary instances of piety, but several converted sailors associated together. On board the every man is a praying character, and a member of some Christian church. In another vessel there are six who are in the habit, not only of secret devotion, but of joining, publicly, in social prayer. On one occasion, the whole ship's company, consisting of seven men, led the devotions of the assembled congregation. Nor are these isolated cases; for though there may not be many vessels in which the whole crew is converted to God, there are many, on board which, a number sufficient is assembled, to justify the remark, that there, there is a church in the ship. Nor is family worship neglected by these men. In an increasing number of vessels this delightful service is maintained with regularity and zeal. In those above referred to, the crews assemble, morning and evening, for social worship. There are ships which come to our port from the principality of Wales, in which, when lying in the river, the masters insist on the performance of this, the first duty of the day, before the other duties of the ship commence; and of the beneficial influence of this order and decision on the character of the men, ample evidence is afforded. which you have aided in providing for him. This is a crying woe, this is one of the wants you can help to relieve. Another woe is, that sailors are not amply supplied with churches and preachers. Thanks be to God, again, that the Bethel flag is waving in so many places, and that so many souls have been saved for eternity by the quick and powerful work of God. But here, too, the work is only begun. Our adversary, the devil, is still going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, and the unsuspecting sailor is too often standing just in the way. Awake, awake! sound the gospel trumpet in his ears; or if he will not heed the trumpet, point him to the Bethel flag, and lure him by the tones of kindness to the house of God, which you have aided in erecting. This is another woe-this is another want, you can relieve. Another woe is, that the sailor has not the Bible. He is sailing on a dangerous shore, without a chart or a compass. Will you not give him the Bible? There are many other wants and woes on which I might dwell, had I time and space;-let these, however, suffice. Mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, our appeal is to you! When you press your peaceful pillows, think of the sailor, and send a prayer to heaven in his behalf. Yea, more; resolve, in the strength of God, that you will do what you can to help him. Then will you receive the blessing of that Saviour who said to the poor woman,"She hath done what she could." When the midnight wind is howling, though you feel not the chilling blast, oh, think of the poor sailor! And think of the widowed mother, whose boy is on the mountain wave, who hears the sound of every breeze that blows, and trembles when she listens to the sighings of the rising wind, and sinks upon her shaking knees when she hears the howling blast. Think of the wife, whose husband is at sea, and of the children, whose father is exposed to the dangers of the deep. Ay, and while you thus think, breathe a prayer to heaven that God would protect the sailor in that fearful hour, and inwardly resolve that you will do all that you can to secure to the weather-beaten mariner a peaceful haven at the last. Then, when the storms of life shall beat upon your head, you may expect the blessing of that Saviour who once stilled the raging waters by sayingPeace, be still." Christians of every name, this appeal is to you. Ye who pray, "thy kingdom come," make your sailors missionaries, and the work will soon be accomplished. Send them with their earnest hearts glowing with the love of God, to the distant corners of the earth, and soon that very love will be spread abroad as the waters cover the seas. Too long have sailors been the messengers of Satan; why should they not now be the messengers of God? the evidence of daily experience proves that it is nevertheless truth must prevail-and "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Thousands are now, we trust, the happy recipients of the grace of God, and are quickened together with Christ; but whilst we can rejoice, and do rejoice, that the work of grace is progressing amongst our seamen, we cannot but lament over the thousands that are to be found posting onward to eternal ruin, and sporting on the brink of fate. Hundreds of sailors have, during the past year, finished their last voyage, and oh, solemn thought! it is to be feared, after all the admonitions, intreaties, and invitations they have received, have foundered in the overwhelming billows of the wrath of God. Nevertheless there are many of whom it may be said, we have hope in their death. They have also finished their last voyage; their sails were filled with the sweet gales of heavenly grace; the course directed by their Pilot, who is also the Captain of their salvation, they have strictly attended to -they safely cleared the rocks, the shoals and quicksands of the lee-shore, and have made the land far on the lee-bow They ear the sheets, square every yard, And round the weather-braces in, With joyful hearts they reach the port, Furl sails, and safely moor therein. Visitation of the River, &c.-During a portion of the past two months, I have been laid on a bed of sickness; yet although brought low, the Lord helped me, and I desire with much thankfulness to record his mercy and loving-kindness towards me in raising me again to the performance of my duties. In the course of my labours in the past month, I have held eleven services on shore, and thirteen services on board of ships-distributed about 1143 religious tracts, visited about 197 vessels, hoisted the Bethel flag on board of five new Bethel vessels, and about 275 sailors and others have attended my religious services afloat, out of which number fifty-two have engaged in prayer. Some of these services afloat have been of an interesting and cheering nature. At a meeting held on board the Gem, of Lynn, lying at the Custom house pier, the ship's hold being empty and well fitted up for the service, I had the pleasure of meeting forty-four of my seafaring brethren. I was assisted by an excellent and Christian brother, Captain Lowther, whose services are highly appreciated amongst the sailors who have the pleasure of knowing him. Seven sailors and Captains engaged in prayer, and more were ready to engage in this delightful service if time would admit. The following evening a similar meeting was held on board of the Edward, of Lynn, laying at Yarmouth Chain. Whilst talking to the captain on my coming on board, I heard the sailors singing their well-known hymn, "the Gospel ship." I went forward, joined in the harmony, and at the close of our singing found that a goodly number had heard our singing from the surrounding ships, and had come on board the Edward: we held our service in the ship's hold, forty-seven sailors being present. On this occasion also my esteemed brother, Captain Lowther, kindly assisted, and six of our seafaring friends engaged in prayer. Another meeting of a similar nature was held on board the Holme: Captain Thomas and two pious captains assisted in giving addresses on this occasion. This meeting was held in the cabin, which together with steerage and state-rooms were crowded: oftwenty-seven present, six prayed. The marked attention paid by all present at these three meetings was of a pleasing and satisfactory nature, and I trust the fruit will be found after many days, to the glory of God. After these meetings, I held a service on board the Amazon, Captain Wright, in the lower pool; and here I was happy to meet two young sailors that had to date their conversion to God during their last voyage from Riga, and whilst at sea. Captain Wright, who is an excellent and pious man, and who has an altar erected for God on board his ship, gave me an account of their being brought to the knowledge of the truth, but the limits of this report will not admit of the detail. I had, however, the pleasure of hearing both of these young men engage in prayer; and oh, how earnestly did they plead with the God of all grace for their dear captain, as they were pleased to call him, in prayer! Tears flowed freely from their eyes whilst they poured out their supplications at the throne of grace. This has not been a solitary instance of seamen offering up prayer for their captains, in cases where their labours for the spiritual interests of their crews have been blest, and many such pleasing instances of good there are to be found. Our Christian fellowship meetings amongst sailors continue as usual to be attended with success; and from the Christian experience of our brethren, we have reason to hope much good is doing amongst them. MR. PALMER-Fifth Station.-Various causes have sometimes operated unfavourably in making the attendance of sailors but small. The indifference, too, of many merchants and owners, of many captains and seamen, is still to be lamented, and proves that the promise is not yet fulfilled, that the abundance of the sea should be converted to Him. But the word of God is true; and though the heaven and earth should pass away, this, this shall be accomplished. But, blessed be God, there are encouragements too, amidst the depravity, the darkness, the many difficulties that surround. This was evident, a short time since, when, accompanied by a brother in Christ, the captain of a ship, I went to a Bethel meeting off the Custom House. I had but just stepped on board the ship, when I was met by the mate. "Oh, sir!" said he, "I am glad to see you; I have not seen you these eighteen months. Thank God, I am a different man now to what I was then. You have held many services on board this ship; and you know, my captain was favourable to them. But, alas! I was then an enemy to God and his cause; and when the Bethel flag was brought here by your missionaries, at the request of my captain, and hoisted to the mast-head, I would, if I dared, have taken it down, torn it in pieces, and thrown it into the river. But praise to God-my God, he has given a power and an efficacy to the means of grace it has been blessed to my soul; and now, instead of a feeling of enmity against the Bethel flag and the cause of Christ, I should be glad, if I had the opportunity, of attending a Bethel meeting every night in the week." I attended several services on board this ship, in the hold, at which twenty-five, thirty, and forty were present; and several sailors engaged in prayer. It was more like a chapel on shore, than a ship on the river. What hath God wrought! I have been encouraged, too, by the occasional attendance of bargemen, from Windsor, Chertsey, &c., who unitedly engaged in prayer with sailors, our brethren in Christ; and who informed me, that some of the towmen along the river Severn, whom they knew, who were trading to Bristol, whose former characters I well knew many years ago to be of the very worst description, are now become decided and devoted Christian men. Since my last report, the services I have held have been in the upper and lower pools. My meetings in ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUNDERLAND SAILORS' SOCIETY. 29 the lower pool, were principally on board Sunderland ships. There is a very favourable feeling to our cause among these sailors, and good attendance. The services I held, are twenty-two; tracts given, 300; sailors present, 350. My visits to the large Dundee steamers, off Wapping, monthly, have been well received. The crews were attentive; and I rejoice to know that some of the officers of each of these fine vessels, are godly men. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUNDERLAND SAILORS' SOCIETY. ON Monday evening, the first anniversary meeting of the above branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, was held in Sans-street chapel, in this town. The spacious building was crowded to excess, and the greatest interest manifested in the proceedings. ANDREW WHITE, Esq., presided, and opened the business by some appropriate observations. The Rev. J. PARKER, minister of Smyrna Chapel, then read the annual report, which was of considerable length. We have only space for two or three brief extracts. The report stated that during the short time of the society's operations (little more than twelve months) two Bethel chapels have been consecrated to the cause of seamen in this port. The Assembly Rooms, by a grant of the trustees, are now at the service of the society, and regular preaching has been kept up in them during the past year, the ministers of different denominations having assisted the agents on Sabbath afternoons and week nights. A second Bethel, on the Monkwearmouth side, has lately been fitted up, chiefly under the direction of T. Speeding, Esq., which is still more likely to advance the interests of sailors, both of this and other ports. It appeared by extracts from the agent's journal that between six and seven thousand English tracts have been distributed, and about seven hundred foreign tracts, principally French and German; seventy copies of the Scriptures have been either sold or gratuitously circulated; and about thirty vessels have been supplied with the word of God gratuitously, for the use of the crews. Several visits have been paid to places along the coast, and religious services held. The report mentioned, that several Bethel captains belonging to this port have helped forward the interests of the sailor's cause during the past year, and proceeded ::-"The death which the sea has occasioned, as well as the loss of property, calls loudly upon us to work while it is day. A number of sailors, after hearing our sermons, have gone forth to contend with the tempestuous ocean, whilst others have sunk to rise no more. On this society, therefore, a work of the highest importance devolves. It sends forth agents to seek the salvation of seamen; to prepare families to hear tidings of prodigality, affliction, shipwreck, and bereavement; to contend with the evils which exist in the domestic circle of the absent sailor; to check intemperance; to superintend the education of his children; to direct would-be sailors in the way they should go; to raise up an agency of young, pious, sober, and intelligent seamen to navigate the ships of this and other ports, on safe and proper principles; to teach them to put their entire trust in the God of salvation, who is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them who are afar off upon the sea; to encourage them to carry out Bibles and tracts to distant countries; to convert every vessel into a floating Bethel, and to export not only the merchandise but the religion of these lands to the end of the earth." The committee expressed an anxiety to establish a fund for procuring seamen's libraries in connexion with the society, and hope that adequate means will be furnished, especially by shipowners, for this purpose, inasmuch as they are great gainers by every advance sailors make in intelligence and virtue. |