spiritual sight-my mind enlightened and all my ideas changed into humble resignation and full assurance that all things work together for our good? Do not think I had much bodily suffering. I may say I had not any. In the operation of removing the cataract, I did not feel the least pain. The long time before I was suffered to do any thing, or to see much day-light, would have been tiresome to many: but when alone, which I wished often to be, my mind and thoughts were occupied most pleasingly on the mercy and perfections of the great God and blessed Saviour. The only distress I felt, was the hearing myself praised for the resolution with which I went through it all. ...... I am much better, but not what I was: that may be owing to 66 years in this world. How much of that time have I lost!” 1 A HYMN. İn trouble and in grief, O God, The hours of pain have yielded good, The oak strikes deeper, as its boughs So life's vicissitudes the more All-gracious Lord! whate'er my lot I'll welcome still the heaviest griefs Printed by A. Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale. FRIENDLY VISITOR. No. LXX. JULY, 1824. VOL. VI. SAILORS. Benjamin Williamson was born at a small village in Norway. His parents died when he was only three years old. He was brought up by charity; and when of a proper age, employed by a farmer. When grown up nearly to manhood, he came to England; and from hence he sailed to the East Indies; where he was pressed on board the Amphion Frigate. He served seventeen years in the English Navy; was in many engagements, in all of which God preserved his life. He lived, like too many sailors, in the practice of sin and neglect of Christian duty for seventeen years. He seldom heard the name of God, except in profane swearing and blasphemy. On account of his hard and dangerous services, he was provided with a good pension by government; which, with his little earnings, gave him every earthly comfort. Yet he seldom thought of God; and lived without prayer and religion. It happened, however, that an old pious sailor invited him to attend the means of grace on board one of the floating chapels, which are now opened in many of our sea-ports, and are doing great good: He began to be a very constant and attentive hearer. A minister, who observed his attention, gives the following account of him: “I visited him, and found him ignorant, but teachable. He had no book, and had nearly forgot how to read. I I gave him, by his own desire, a Testament and Common Prayer Book. He took great pains, and was soon able to get on very well: and I was fully convinced, that he read his books, from a sense of need. G In my visits to him before his sickness, it was evident that he was bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. The Testament was his companion; and christian conversation his delight. And after reading the Psalms, he would say to me, "Sir, what a nice Psalm this is!' then he would name a second, or third with the same remark: and on looking at the Psalms, I have found them to be the sinner's Lamentation, Confession, Prayer, &c. These seemed to be the language of his soul. "About six months since, as poor Benjamin began to grow ill, he was sent to a hospital. He obtained some relief, and returned home. He soon however had a relapse, and was ever after chiefly confined to his house. I was greatly pleased to find him mostly reading his Bible when I called. There was every proof that God's Spirit was working powerfully upon his mind. He used to sigh and pray for forgiveness under a sense of his sins; which he lamented with weeping eyes and an aching heart. He "Poor Benjamin could now no longer join in public service. His tall and once stout body was laid helpless on his bed; and the visits of pious friends were very dear to him. As his end drew nigh, his peace and comfort seemed to abound. He saw and felt his sins: his language was, "God be merciful to me a sinner!-When I used to say to him, 'Well, Benjamin, how are you?" never complained, but would reply, Oh, I am pretty well, only weak! How do you feel your mind? Oh, I know I am a miserable sinner; but I hope God will pardon me for Christ's sake I hope he won't cast me off." Then he would weep. Owing to his illness he was deaf for some time: and when his wife and I were conversing, he was afraid she was complaining to me of their poverty; and with great feeling and earnestness he cried out -- don't complain, my dear, I don't want any thing.' "Seldom did I visit him, but he spoke of the mercy of God in sparing him in so many engagements; when so many hundreds were cut off on board the ships he sailed in; adding, ‘if I had been shot then, I must have been sent to hell.' He felt and knew, that dying in the defence of our country is no passport to heaven and to die on a bed surrounded by christian friends and a kind wife, was a blessing of which he could never speak in terms strong enough. "Whenever he saw me, his sunken eye would shine with pleasure; and with both hands extended, he would catch hold of mine, and exclaim, 'O my blessed minister, you first taught me the way to God! Praise God and not man,' was my reply. 'I do, I do; but I love you.' He assured us he was not afraid of death, because he trusted in a merciful God, and in his dear Saviour Jesus Christ. The night before he died, he sent for the old sailor who first took him by the hand; and told him how happy he was, and took leave of him. He died on the 15th of last March, leaving a good hope behind him, that he has entered into rest. -- "How different the state of an aged sailor I was called to visit soon after Benjamin's death! The following conversation took place between us: you are very ill. Yes, I am. Perhaps you will die.Yes, perhaps I shall; but I will live as long as I can. Why, that is very natural. But do you know how we must prepare for death?"—" No, I don't know, I am no scholar.' I read to him the third chapter of St. John's Gospel; and then asked him, if he knew what the new birth was. 'No, (he replied) I suppose I cannot become a little child again? No, (I remarked,) but the change which you must undergo before you are fit for heaven, must be as great in a spiritual sense, as though from an old man, you were to become a little child. God must be sought for it: and sought aright, you will have it. I prayed with him, promised to call again, but the next day he died. He had been in the service of his country all his days; but it is feared had thought little about his soul. May this last picture of the awful state of a soul dead in trespasses and sins, lead us to pity and to pray for those around us, who are in the same condition; and may the history of Benjamin Williamson encourage us to hope for mercy, even for those, who seem to be most out of the way!" SHORT SERMON. PHIL. iv. 6, 7. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." How much of the kindness and benevolence of God may we discover, even in the commands and precepts of his word! There is nothing in their nature, but what conduces as much to our present happiness, as our future welfare: and again and again we are brought to this remark-that to be holy is to be happy. "Be careful for nothing." Who would not wish to be freed from care? Can there be a greater bane to our enjoyment, than an anxious, fretful frame of mind? Do we not see every day, that where people give way to it, every thing in the whole world fails to make them happy? They may have riches, health, and every earthly good; but all is blasted by this disordered state of mind- |