solved to forsake worldly company, and as far as possible associate with God's people, and endeavour to promote His cause, and I have been greatly blessed since then." We were in the dark again, no light allowed, but had arranged for a Bethel meeting for Sunday evening. I said, “Now let us pray together before we part." We did so; and when we parted my friend pressed my hand in a manner that told me that at heart we had much in common. In the evening of the next day we held our first meeting, his crew being present; and assuming they were in part Catholics, I was a little guarded in my address, in which I endeavoured to show how great our interest was in serving God, and doing His will. At home we regarded the Sabbath, we should do the same here. The claims God had upon us were not the less because we were in a foreign country, surrounded by temptation and influence on the shore that were dangerous, and of which I warned them. We had a satisfactory meeting; and then arranged that next Sabbath the meeting would be on board the “Raisbeck," and on that occasion my friend was present. The Master Whom we served was present, and the service was delightful. The oldest man of my crew wept as a child; and there was manifested a kindness and fusion of spirit that seemed to make us all one. After service I had a pleasant walk and conversation with Captain Havelock, which tended to draw us into close and friendly association; and as we were likely to be detained at Königsberg for some time, from the fact that the numbers of chartered ships were increasing, and there were no cargoes for them, we agreed to arrange for Sabbath services on board ships to be selected ; and happily we found several captains willing to co-operate with us, and during our long stay of five or six weeks, we had a succession of interesting, profitable, and well-attended Bethel services, which, I have no doubt, were a source of good to us all. “Cast thy bread upon the waters, it shall be seen after many days.” While here, one fine young man slipped into the water, and was drowned in the sight of his shipmates; and another young English sailor was killed on the Sabbath. In company with others he had gone to a place of amusement, and riding upon a wooden horse, he fell off and was killed. These cases were specially noted at our services, and I trust turned to good account. My friend Havelock, of the “ John Wesley," and I, got much attached. He had a kindly sympathetic nature, and his spiritual life being qnickened, we became one in heart, and the affection thus generated by Christian intercourse, proved very dear to us, and remains one among many of the tender and precious friendships I have thus formed, the joy of which gave a charm to my sea life, and are among the most delightful recollections of my advanced years. We left Konigsberg, and had a smart passage to Dundee, frequently singing our favourite hymn “ Captain of Israel's host, and guide Of all who seek the land above, The cloud of Thy protecting love, Our end the Glory of the Lord.” AN OLD BETHEL CAPTAIN. A NEW SONG. OUR Gravesend Missionary had gone over to Tilbury and accompanied the third class passengers to the ss. “Chimborazo," in the tender « Tilbury." While OD board the tender he gave gospels and tracts, and New Testaments. One young man said “There are many things in the Bible that I cannot believe." You will not be condemned for that, said the missionary; but you will be condemned if you make God a liar. How so? Because St. John tells us, said the missionary, “ He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." On the “Chimborazo,” in the forecastle, the missionary received a kind reception from the firemen, one of whom was sing. ing, “I thought it very funny,” and he accompanied himself with a banjo. After the distribution of books, our agent spoke of the power of music, and was shown a good concertina, and a tin whistle. If you will allow me, said the missionary, I will play you one of Sankey's hymns. He then sang and played “Shall we gather at the river," with banjo accompaniment. “Chorus there,” said a fireman, and all joined in the chorus. Afterwards the missionary played “There is a Fountain filled with blood.” “ That's good," said a fireman at the close, after he and others had joined in the singing. Now, I have a very wonderful thing to tell you, said the missionary, and that is, God loves every one of you, and has shown His love by sending His one Son to take away your sins. He asks you to believe, and the proof of true faith, is a good life. Death may come to the fore. castle as well as the Bishop's palace; but this is not the reason that you should turn to God; it is because He loves all of you, and desires your salvation. Then He will (if you accept His pardon) put a new song in your mouths, even praise unto our God. When our agent left he received a hearty shake of the hand from each man. THE DEAR OLD BIBLE. Composed to sing to the sailors, St. Peter's Port, Guernsey, Tea-meeting, New Year's Day, 1885, by ELLEN MOORHOUSE. TUNE. — “Where is now the merry party." When the last long voyage is over, Christ our Captain through this Bible And the good ship sails no more ; Speaks to you, and shows His grace, Would you land in glory's haven, And thro' days of toil and danger, Tread that calm and peaceful shore ? At the helm will take His place ; Feel the grasp of love and welcome, He will lead you safely, surely, In that home of endless day? Thro' life's storms to perfect day. Take the dear old Bible with you, Take the dear old Bible with you, When you're going far away. When you're going far away. Have you felt a mother's blessing ? In those lands where church bells never Did she teach your lips to pray ? Spread glad notes upon the breeze, Did you promise you would meet her? You may lie in pain and anguish, Where all tears are wiped away. With no friend those pangs to ease. Friend, without God's Chart and Com. Then how sweet on Christ to pillow, pass, Feel Thy Saviour's arm thy stay. You will surely go astray. Take the dear old Bible with you, Take the dear old Bible with you, When you're going far away. When you're going far away. Take it for your guide, dear brother, To your mansion in the sky; Not afraid to do or die. Of the pearly gate of day. Take the dear old Bible with you, Steam Yacht "Iole.” When you're going far away. « STRONG DRINK IS RAGING.” “ A STATEMENT lately issued by the Patriotic League would seem sufficient to confer upon Belgium the uneviable distinction of being the most intemperate nation in the world. The number of public-houses in that country has grown in thirty years from 53,000 to 130,000. The number of suicides has increased during a similar period 80 per cent. ; the number of insane 104 per cent. ; of convicts 135 per cent. Of the workmen who die in the hospitals, 80 per cent. are said to be habitual drunkards. Such facts are a startling testimony to the ravages strong drink makes upon society, and illustrate the necessity for vigorous resistance being made to its power.” [We can in some measure confirm the above. During our life in Antwerp, we noticed nearly every new house erected by the dock was an Estaminet. The drinking among working men exceeded anything we saw in any other country.ED.) BEDFORD CHAPEL. HERE is another needed centre in the N. W. of this mighty London. Since the great pulpit orator, Thomas Jones, preached in Bedford Chapel, much has changed. Close by people need evangelizing as much as in the East of London. Friends have died, or left the neighbourhood, as thelate Mr. Bedford; but several as Messrs. Nash, Lydell, Homan, Goodman, have stuck to the old ship. There is too much running away in the present day. The Rev. J. L. Phillips is the eloquent preacher, and we are sorry only to be able to give a mere scrap from a sermon on “ Sowing and Reaping in two Kingdoms.” If such preaching is backed up by mission and evangelistic efforts, there must be, as there is already, some good reaping in this neigh. bourhood. “ For in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Yes; there is no uncer. tainty about this harvest ; we shall reap if we faint not. In regard to other things, our most persistent labours may fail. The richest fields of the husband. man may not bring the corn to the earing. The fabrics of the manufacturer may prove a drug in the market. The argosies of the merchant may founder in the ocean. But in this work of the Lord there are no possible disappointments. Here we do not merely hope, but know that our labour is not in vain. When Alexander the Great set forward upon his great exploits before leaving Macedonia, he divided amongst his captains and nobles all his property. On being rebuked by a friend for having, as he thought, acted so foolishly in parting with all his possessions, reserving nothing for himself, Alexander replied, “I have reserved for myself much more than I have given away: I have reserved for myself the hope of universal monarchy; and when, by the valour and help of these my captains and nobles, I shall be monarch of the world, the gifts I have parted with will come back to me with an increase of a thousand-fold.” So it is with every work of faith, every labour of good, every self-denial, every act done for Christ-it shall not be lost. It shall, like bread cast upon the water, be found after many days, in a rich and plentiful harvest. Nor, indeed, is the Christian's hope such as Alexander's, which depended on the uncertainty of war; but such as is founded on the veracity of the great God that cannot lie. In due season ye shall reap." Had an angel of God assured Columbus, that he would discover a new world, his heart would never have been chilled in the murmurs of his ship's crew. Had Napoleon relied on a positive promise of God, his eagle eye would never have grown dim, even when his banner went down in that most terrible of battles. But here the Divine Christ sails with us on the sea. Here the Omnipotent God goes before us in the battle. Hence the spiritual mariner must come safe to land, and the spiritual warrior must come off more than conquerer. Oh, what poor fools we are to grow weary in well-doing; to scold and find fault when urged either to speak for Christ, or give to His cause! See in the very next verse, Paul terms these constant, ever-repeated calls on Christian benevolence, not importunities, but “opportunities ;” and opportunities they are. Opportunities !-scenes and seasons befitting a great purpose. Opportunities ! -times and conditions most favourable for some glorious work. And what a work this is ! Sowing seed for an eternal harvest. Working out in the mortal, tbe destinies of immortality. Saving the lost-glorifying our Redeemer-making our own heaven more rapturous. Opportunities ! Do not talk of these calls to give and to labour as the opportunities of solicitation. They are the visits of angels, bringing you golden keys of new treasure vaults in the Kingdom of God. A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED. WE refer our readers to Miss Skinner's touching little article on A grain of Mustard Seed. And it will give a good idea of her public-house mission. The article is pushed out at the last moment, but will appear in next issue. This is certainly a very remarkable work. I can only give one quotation from the report. "May 21st.—Met more people at the Great Western Station even than yesterday, and followed them into the public-houses. Had a long talk with a sailor just come from Egypt: he told me he was not fond of drinking anything but milk. I gave him a tract, and pressed upon him the necessity of doing as the tract told him, and that was to trust Jesus-only trust Him. He said he wished he could as much as some of his mates did. He told me there were a few men had a prayer meeting on board his ship, which he often attended, but could never have nerve enough to pray before them, but when he went back he said, he was determined to make a firm stand. I encouraged him with the Lord's own words, • Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven.'" CARDIFF SAILORS' REST. We are glad our Capt. Sharples lends a hand in this great centre of usefulness. Miss Tilly, the hon. superintendent, sends us this peep of how they spend an evening at the Rest. "At 7.30 the meeting begins with a hymn and prayer. Especially do we remember those who are far away, in danger or temptation; and it is touching to find how the men themselves cling to the thought, that whilst they are absent, prayer is being offered for them night after night at the Rest. Then follows another hymn; a passage of Scripture; and one of the lady-workers speaks to them in simple words of man's need and of God's love. They did not want “ sermons," it must be very unconventional talk to reach these restless souls, just as one would talk to children, with many illustrations and homely words, for many of them are very ignorant; but it must be heart speaking to heart, in all earnestness and love. “ Meanwhile a meeting for Scandinavians, and sometimes one for French, Germans or Spaniards, has been going on upstairs; and the men are coming in or going out, some tired of sitting still, others obliged to go to their work or business. After another hymn, a gentleman comes in and addresses themeither minister or layman-and sometimes a Christian captain will give ready help. At 8.30 the meeting is closed with prayer; and afterwards, whilst the men continue singing, the workers get amongst them and speak to any strangers, or to those who need help or counsel. Some people have a dislike to “After Meetings," but it may be that sailors are unlike landsmen, for it is a rare thing to find a man who objects to being spoken to, and few ever leave when the meeting proper ends. At 9.0 o'clock the Doxology is sung, and the meeting is over. Some come forward to sign the pledge, and others to say good-bye before sailing with the morning's tide, and thus the day's work is finished.” can : THE BORROWED AXE. Copied from Quarles' Divine Fancies, for Chart and Compass, by A. Guerritore, 2 Kings vi. 107. The borrowed axe fell in; 'twas lost, God can save man without the help of lamented; man, The Prophet moved; the workman But will not, wills not always what He discontented; A stick however, cut by the Prophet's Something is left for us, we must not hand, lie. Thrown in ; the axe did Aoat and come In the ditch and cry; and if we die, we to land. die. And why a stick ? had that the power We must not lie like blocks, relying on to call The workman's axe, there's something The massy iron up ? sure none at all. must be done, Moses must use his rod; Moses I doubt The workman's axe, perchance, had never been Had been but lame, but impotent with Recalled again, if not the stick thrown out it. in. Nor could that rod have scourged We must be doing, yet these deeds of Pharoah's land, ours Had it been waved by another hand; Have no more virtue, nay, less powers God often works by means, and yet, not To save, as than that stick had to reso, call But that He can as well without them The axe from the deep bottom of its too. fall. NAPLES, March 31. |