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promise and vow three things. You all know what these three things are. Tell me then, my dear readers, do you indeed wish to "renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh?" Oh! I hope you do. I hope you have begun to know what sin is, and what temptation is; and what an evil heart is: and I hope you have begun to mourn for sin, and to pray against it; and to see, as you get more into the world, that if you are to be safe, and happy, and useful through life, you must indeed forsake these three enemies of your salvation.

And tell me; do you indeed wish “to believe all the articles of the Christian faith?” That is, not only to credit the Bible statement of Christian truth; but to embrace with the faith of the heart what the Gospel declares of salvation only through the Saviour of sinners. I hope you do: I hope there are those amongst my young readers, who begin to feel that Christ is precious; and that they may well love him for the great love wherewith he hath loved them.

And, lastly, tell me; do you indecd wish to “keep God's holy will and commandments, and to serve him truly all the days of your life?” Do you see that to be holy is to be happy; and do you

wish to spend your days in a constant aim at your duty, though you know that you must expect conflict and hardship in so doing? I trust you do.

Well then, go with these feelings to the Bishop. Now at this anxious sea. son, and in this holy rite of confirmation, give yourselves up to God. Tell him, that you wish to take upon you your baptismal vow. Now shew your desire to enlist under the banner of the Captain of your salvation. Beg of Christ to receive you. Implore his Spirit to strengthen your resolutions: and oh! from iny heart I offer up the prayer for you, which the Bishop utters when he puts his hands upon the confirmed, and blesses them; “Defend, O Lord, this thy child with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine forever : and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom.” May the Lord “strengthen you with the Holy Ghost the comforter; and daily increase in you the inanifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; che spirit of counsel and ghostly- strength ; "the spirit of knowledge and true godliness ; and fill you with the spirit of his holy fear, now and for ever. Amen."*

* See Confirmation Service

LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP

COURAGEUX:

Which was wrecked on the coast of Barbary in the

year 1796, with nearly 500 of the crew.

By J. V. one of the survivors.

After the ship struck on the rock, I saw men jumping overboard, when the wash and dreadful surge of the sea took most of them between the ship's side and the rock, and in an instant they were crushed to pieces. I was witness to many dying in a few minutes. Surely the Lord was with me and supported me! I went on the quarter-deck : some were praying ; others crying, “keep your hearts up, or it is all over with us.“

A heavy sea struck the ship and laid her on her beam-end ; and without a thought, I jumped on the dry rock. The wash and surge of the sea between the ship's side and the rock raised me up several yards. At the return of the sea, I held on the rocks, which were as sharp as flints. I got up the rocks as fast as possible, and before another sea came, I was out of the way of it.

My hands and feet were much cut, as also my breast and knees : the sea washed the shoes off my feet. I then ba,

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gan praying to God, and praising him for his great mercy in saving me from a watery grave. At one time I thought, “ surely I am too great á sinner to die: even the sea has refused me, and cast me out as mire and dirt: but I am spared in mercy a little longer.”

After this, the main-mast fell and was the death of many, wlio had, like my. self, got safe on shore. I could hear their dying groans very plain. I sat down upon the rocks, and looked at our gallant ship; and heard the distressing cries and prayers for mercy of those on board, but we could not help them. I was now joined by six men who came up the rock after më: when, stopping

a few minutes, a heavy sea struck the ship, she went all to pieces--and a dreadful loud cry was heard of many voices all as one" Lord! have mercy on our souls !” which was answered by those on shore, “Lord! have mercy on your souls!These were the last dying words of our poor sailors. Then all was silent but the waves dashing against the rocks.

The ship struck about nine in the evening; and about a quarter of an hour after not a bit of her was to be seen! Here was the loss of the finest 74 gun ship in the Mediterranean, with nearly 500 brave sailors, mostly all young men, launched into eternity in a few minutes !

We got a little further up the rock; but being so very dark and such bad walking, we had very nearly fallen down a steep rock many hundred feet high. It was still blowing and raining very hard ; and we took shelter under a cliff, which screened us from the wind, but not from the rain which poured off the rock in torrents on our heads and shoul. ders during the whole night. Six men were in the same place with me. Israel Minwett, a seaman, was constantly crying through the night, and saying, Oh! I shall perish !He sat down behind us; pulled his shirt over his knees, a

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