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to an infinite God and an invisible world. No consideration, derived either from man's capacities and position in the universe, or from any thing that unaided human reason has ever, in point of fact, effected, affords any ground for men trusting much to their own reason in regard to any thing connected with their relation to God, and to an invisible state. The great point to be ascertained is what is the will of God as to the way in which he is to be worshipped, served, and enjoyed; and if men had no other means of discovering this except the exercise of their own reason upon the works of creation and providence, they would, of course, be bound to act upon the conclusions which, in this way, they might have formed. But, if God has given us a written revelation of his will, for the very purpose of making known to us fully how we may glorify and enjoy him, then this rule must be supreme and paramount, every other must be practically abandoned, and the conclusions which we may have formed in the exercise of our own reason, except in so far as they harmonize with the discoveries of revelation, must be at once renounced as erroneous. Men are very prone to error. God cannot err. Men can know nothing of him but what he is pleased to make known. If he has given us a written revelation of his will, that must be at once the fullest, clearest, and most authoritative discovery of what he would have us to believe and to do, or, in other words, the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

By men who profess to regard the Scriptures as the Word of God no other rule has been put forth as possessed of any thing like co-ordinate authority, except those whose claims we have considered and refuted. There is, indeed, another notion very prevailing in the present day, which seems to hold up conscience as the supreme rule by which men ought to be guided in regard to religion, although it has scarcely been propounded as a distinct and definite doctrine. This is evidently a mere fallacy, although we fear it produces extensively very injurious effects.

When men talk of their own conscience as being the rule which they are bound to follow, they can mean by their conscience only the opinion which they sincerely entertain, and seem to forget that while, in a certain sense, they may be bound to follow their own conscientious convictions, and while it is undoubtedly true that God alone is Lord of the conscience, that is, is alone entitled to exercise jurisdiction over their opinions, or to require them to believe and act in a certain way merely because they are so required, it may still be a question, whether their conscience is well or ill informed, whether the opinions they conscientiously entertain are well or ill founded? Now this very obvious consideration shows that there must be a higher standard than conscience by which men should try all their opinions, however conscientiously they are held, and that therefore conscience cannot be regarded as a standard of opinion and practice in any such sense as to interfere with the

supreme and exclusive authority of the Word of God, or to release men from the obligation to regulate their whole opinions and practice by its statements.

Let us all cherish a deeper sense of the paramount and exclusive authority of the Bible, in every thing bearing upon the great end of our existence; let us receive all its statements not as the words of man, but as the words of the living God, and let us cultivate the habit of bringing its statements to bear more faithfully upon the forma tion of our opinions and character, and the regulation of our whole conduct.

It was fitted by its divine Author to be a "light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our path," and the more carefully we study it, and the more fervently we pray that God would accompany it with his Holy Spirit, the more shall we find it fitted to guide us in all circumstances, to direct us amid all our perplexities, to make us thoroughly furnished unto all good works, to lead us in green pastures and by still waters, and to enable us to grow up in all things unto Him who is the head, until we come into the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

TO THE EVENING STAR.
WRITTEN AT SEA BY AN EMIGRANT,

FAIR is thy light, thou star of eve,

When through the clouds thou lift'st thy head, And the dark waves thy beams receive After the raging storm is laid. Fair is thy modest, friendly glance,

That tips the foam-topt billows white,
When o'er the sullen wide expanse

Thou shed'st thy silver twinkling light.
How my fond thoughts delight to stray
To scenes I ne'er must visit more:
Oh! shed thy kindest, mildest ray,

Upon the Evon's humble shore!
Where, rushing through the hazely braes,
To Forth with tributary stream,

It leaves the spot in other days

Where oft I've watch'd thy wish'd for beam.

Majestic through the silent deep

The vessel's bow scarce stirs the sea;
The careless sailors, wrapt in sleep,
None wake, save the hoarse watch and me.
They, heedless mortals, tread the deck,
With thoughtless mirth, and footstep gay;
But I could hail the storm or wreck
With as unmoved a breast as they.

I go to torrid climes unknown,
To breathe far from my native glen,
An outcast wanderer,-alone,
Amid a wilderness of men.
Alone! Thou sparkling gem of night,
Thy pure soft spirit on the wave,
That trembles to thy gentle light,

To me a blest sweet answer gave.

"Man, never, never is alone!

The POWER that lights me in the sky, TO HIM each want, each wish is knownPervading all, to all is nigh.

Roam'st thou, like Scotia's daring child,"
Amid the Afric desert bare,
E'en in the waste some flow'ret wild,
Blooming, proclaims His presence there."

Mungo Park.

J. AIKMAN.

to which unsanctified prosperity too often leads, seldom fails to afford some degree of alleviation under the pressure of misfortune. When we can no longer take credit to ourselves for what we are, we naturally refer with complacency to what we have been, if we may thereby expect to appear to greater advantage. This

ON THE TRANSMISSION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT tendency of human nature, which is so strongly felt in

SCRIPTURES, FROM THE TIME OF EZRA TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

PART I.

BY THE REV. ROBERT SIMPSON, A. M.,
Minister of Kintore, Aberdeenshire.

THE Hebrew Scriptures themselves contain sufficient evidence of their preservation to the time when God ceased to speak to his ancient people by inspired messengers. While a succession, from age to age, of these holy men continued, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, their appeals, on every occasion, to the Sacred Record, as the undoubted standard of truth, proved that it still existed in an uncorrupted form, though often perverted by false expositions of its import, and too much overlooked as an obligatory rule of life. But after the voice of prophecy became silent | in Israel, a long interval elapsed before the words of inspiration began again to be heard from the lips of our Lord's forerunner, John the Baptist, the illustrious harbinger of the Gospel dispensation. During this protracted period, so full of peril and vicissitude to the Jewish people, the books which contained the hallowed doctrines of their religion, and the eventful history of their race, were exposed to many dangers. We know, indeed, that the same divine Providence which had watched over them hitherto was able, and pledged, to | preserve them for the accomplishment of its own glorious designs; and we have infallible testimony directly given to assure us that they were transmitted pure and entire to Christian times. The explicit recognition of their authority, which we find in the New Testament, is of itself satisfactory and decisive to every follower of Christ. But, while we cannot be thankful enough for so plain and convincing an attestation of their heavenly origin and unimpeachable purity, it may yet be a very profitable exercise, as tending to fortify the grounds of our faith in the Volume of revelation, and enlarge our views of the divine procedure, to mark distinctly the course of God's dealings, in reference to this important subject, and to consider the several guarantees or securities which we possess for the safe transmission of the Old Testament Scriptures from the time of Ezra to the days of our Lord. To state and illustrate the more essential of these guarantees will be the object of the present communication.

1. The intense interest with which the Jews continued to regard the past events of their national history tended to render them extremely anxious for the preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The contrast between present meanness and former glory is doubtless the reverse of agreeable. And the consciousness of having been the cause of our own degradation must always add to the humbling and painful feeling it occasions. But still the recollection of a lustre and greatness which have passed away, if these were not founded in guilt, even though their loss may have been the just consequence of the ungodly courses

the case of individuals, was, no doubt, experienced by the Jews as a nation after the captivity. We have indeed many convincing proofs that it was so. Their descent from Abraham, through a line of illustrious ancestors, and the ancient glories of the house of Israel, were themes on which they delighted to expatiate. Would not, therefore, this much cherished remembrance of their previous independence and distinction powerfully contribute to make them exert the utmost care in preserving those writings in which exclusively their past history was recorded? But while motives of mere vain-glory would operate in this way to inspire the worldly-minded portion of the Jewish people with a high regard for the Scriptures of the Old Testament, considerations of a holier character would have a similar but still more cogent influence on the sincerely religious amongst them. Their zeal for the purity and entireness of the Volume of divine truth proceeded from principles of piety; and it was steadfast as well as fervent. They not only valued the books of Moses, and the other productions of the inspired penmen, for the sake of the interesting information they contained respecting the secular history and national institutions of the Israelites, but also regarded them with the profoundest veneration as the foundation of their faith, the rule of their worship, and the guide of their conduct. They felt all the solemn responsibility of those to whom I were committed the oracles of God." And in reference to the preservation and transmission of the Sacred Records, they, under the special direction of Providence, acted as became those "to whom pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises, whose were the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ was to come, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

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2. The ardent expectation with which the Jews looked forward to the advent of the promised Messiah, and the glories of his kingdom, led them to watch over their Sacred Writings with the most jealous care.

If the ancient people of God in their depressed condition derived a mournful solace from the consideration of their former prosperous estate and national distinction, they doubtless drew a much more effectual support from their prospects of returning power and splendour. The memorials of their previous renown imparted, as it were, a melancholy grandeur to their decayed circumstances; but though these would contribute to sustain them under the extremest reverses, they could afford no assurance of approaching relief. The predictions of their prophets, however, inspired them with the most cheering anticipations of future greatness. The Jews were thus taught to expect an era of peace and happiness in which they should enjoy entire exemption from all the evils that pressed upon them, and a higher degree of honour and felicity than they had ever yet experienced. To men in the depth of adversity how reviving is the prospect of a happy

ambitious, who would have set light by the prophecies concerning the Messiah in their true spiritual import, and might have neglected the volume which contained them, were, by an overruling Providence, rendered zealous for the safety of the inspired Record, because upon it they founded all their expectations of returning national glory.

termination to their troubles! And how greatly miti- | that very class of the Jews, the worldly-minded and gated does the heaviest affliction become, when softened by the promise of deliverance out of it! But if such is the value usually set upon the well-founded expectation of renewed and increased prosperity, surely the ground on which it rests will not be lost sight of. The guarantee of such hopes will naturally be prized and cherished. If, while in a state of adversity, we had reason to look forward to a brighter period, would not the earnestness with which we desired the favourable change make us careful to preserve all the intimations and pledges we might receive concerning it? Every hint we could obtain as to a matter so interesting to us we should treasure up with the utmost avidity. If our expectations were grounded on documents in our possession, would we not use every means to secure these

from danger or deterioration? Such was precisely the

situation of the Jews at the time referred to, with regard to the Old Testament Scriptures; and we may warrantably conclude that they would be influenced in the way we have described. The books of the Hebrew canon formed the sole foundation of their hope of a speedy and glorious restoration to the highest rank among the nations of the earth; we may, therefore, confidently infer that those books would become more and more the objects of their most watchful solicitude. They, no doubt, erred much in the worldly expectations they entertained concerning the Messiah's reign, but their mistakes on that subject do not weaken the force of the present argument; for the only principle that could be suspected of leading to an opposite result was thus brought to operate in confirmation of our views.

CHRISTIAN TREASURY.

The Effect of Prayer.—Prayer makes man and things recede, and it brings forward God. It changes the alarmed inquiry, What shall I do hereafter? into the submissive question, What wilt Thou have me to do now? It turns our thoughts from wearying conjecture to hopeful action. It draws the curtain over the undistinguishable prospect, and brings us to sit down quietly and wait for its clearing up-wait peacefully, because it is not chance which is at work, but Godwait patiently, because his work he will accomplish in his time. He will make all things work together for good to them that love him. Ile will bring the blind by a way they have not known. He will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. Christian reader, be not curious about the future, but commit your way unto the Lord, and he shall bring it

to pass.
Trust him for whatever interests you-your
health, your comfort, your support, your family, your
friends, your reputation, and your life. Be not dis-
mayed by the shadows of coming evil. Even what
inconceivably small !) of God's whole purpose towards
seems to you unavoidable is but a small part (O how
you. You look out only on the immediate future;
and you forget the infinite futures which stretch out
behind that future. You see before you, perhaps,
necessary effects of now existing causes; but you con-
sider not that those effects will in their turn become
causes of still subsequent effects which may be alto-
estimated in themselves alone, but in their relations—
their innumerable ramifications their interminable se-
quences. But those relations are every moment chang-
ing. God is every instant modifying them. And
therefore an occurrence which to-day lours upon us as
an evil, we may see to-morrow brightening up into a
leaf, or fragrant blossom. From the gloomy cloud may
good. Out of the bitter root will spring the medicinal
fall the fructifying shower, and this again give place
to the enlivening sun. Besides suppose certain se-
quences of things to be indeed inevitable-suppose
that pious wisdom rightly calculates concerning them,
and that they will come. They will not, and they can-
not, come exactly as they now present themselves to our
objects, all modified and coloured, by our present
imagination. We are looking only on one class of
humour; but they will be surrounded, when they
come, and thereby be modified, by unimaginable other
objects. We calculate on meeting them with the
mind and feeling which oppresses us at present; but
we forget that we ourselves are changeable, and that
our state of mind in actual contact with the future,
may be altogether different from that with which we
are now anticipating it. Above all, we are looking at
them as distinct from God-let loose to work their
fury on us, at their will-careering in the untamed
wildness of tumultuous chance ;-but what does faith
assure to us? what will prayer enable us to feel? what
will the spirit of a trustful and a hopeful child be
satisfied of? That, when they do come, God also will
come with them—will grasp them in his mighty hand-
adjust them by his wisdom-turn them at his gracious
will-ride on the whirlwind and direct the storm !-
REV. THOMAS GRIFFITH, M.A. (The Spiritual Life.)

The ardour with which the Jews looked forward to the advent of their Messiah, as a temporal deliverer, is manifest from various circumstances. Herod's easily awakened jealousy betrayed his knowledge of the exist-gether of a different character. Events must never be ence of a very strong impression, or rather conviction, on the subject. The numerous followers who so readily joined themselves to the false Christs that arose from time to time supply another proof. But the attestation of heathen writers of the highest character to the same fact constitutes the most remarkable evidence, clearly showing the expectation cherished by the Jewish people to have been so openly professed that even other nations were cognizant of it. As to the source of this widely prevailing opinion no doubt can be entertained. Its origin is obviously to be traced to the Sacred Writings of the Hebrews. Where, but in the pages of the prophets, did the chief priests and scribes find their ready and explicit answers to the inquiries which Herod made at the suggestion of the wise men from the East? And upon an evident misconstruction of the meaning of these most cheering predictions, the Jews built all their fond hopes of restoration to temporal prosperity and splendour. Some of them, indeed, who were more spiritually-minded than their brethren, took the proper view of the promised redemption and salvation; such were Simeon, and Anna, and Joseph of Arimathea. But the great body of the nation put upon them a very different interpretation. Even our Lord's disciples, we find, entertained erroneous opinions on this point, as appears from Cleopas and his companion, and from what is recorded, (Acts i. 6.,) as being addressed by the apostles to the risen Saviour, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Thus

Obedience to the will of Christ.—Implicit obedience to him who has been given by the Father's love, as a leader and commander to his people, should ever be the Christian soldier's watchword. Yes! Oh my Saviour, wherever thou commandest me to go, thither do I desire that thou wilt enable me to proceed, and thither do I desire to advance with cheerfulness and alacrity, though the world should stand in arms against me, and though Satan should meet me at every step with his most fiery darts, and with his fiercest enmity! for thou doest never command thy people to go forth in their own strength, but thou dost impart to them thine own; thou dost arm them with the shield of faith, so moistened with thy most precious blood, that it can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and thou, who art greater than the world, and stronger than Satan, dost guard the footsteps of hy people in every path through which thy wisdom has directed them to walk-sustaining their sinking faith by seasonable communications of thy grace-expelling their sinful fears, by mild and gentle remonstrances-imparting fresh courage to their souls, by constant manifestations of thy sympathy and love, and enabling them, in holy rapture to exclaim,-"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us!"-Rev. DANIEL BAGOT. From the Disciples in the Storm."

Sanctification.-Nothing, nothing but sound sanctification will abide the Lord's fan.-RUTHERFORD.

"For

while in hell one is totally and finally separated from
him. On the other hand, weigh sin in this balance;
and though now it seems but a light thing to you, ye
will find it a weight sufficient to turn up an eternal
weight of wrath upon you. Even idle words, vain
thoughts, and unprofitable actions, weighed in this
balance, and considered as following the sinner into
eternity, will each of them be heavier than the sand of
the sea; time idly spent will make a weary eternity.
Now is your seed-time: thoughts, words, and actions
are the seed sown,-eternity is the harvest. Though
the seed sown lies under the clod unregarded by most,
every the least grain will spring up at length, and the
fruit will be according to the seed. Gal. vi. 8.
he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap cor-
ruption; and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the
Spirit reap life everlasting." Weigh in this balance
your time and opportunities of grace and salvation, and
you will find them very weighty. Precious time and
seasons of grace, Sabbaths, communions, prayers, scr
mons and the like, are by many now-a-days made light
of, but the day is coming when one of these will be
reckoned more valuable than a thousand worlds by
those who have now the least value for them. When
they are gone for ever, and cannot be retrieved, those
will see the worth of them who will not see it now.
BOSTON. (Fourfold State.)

The Strait Gate.-The gate is wide enough to admit any sinner; too narrow for the admission of any sin. HOWELS.

LORD'S DAY.

INTENDED FOR MERCHANTS, OWNERS, CAPTAINS, MASTERS, SEAMEN,
AND OTHERS CONNECTED WITH THE SHIPPING INTEREST OF
GREAT BRITAIN.

ALLOW a few friends, who desire to promote the due
Observance of the Lord's Day, to address you on the
subject. We are aware of the important concerns in
which you are engaged, and commend you, when you
appear anxious to seize every lawful opportunity for
carrying on your business: the Bible itself commends
you. "Not slothful in business," is one motto for
the Christian merchant and mariner; but "serving the
Lord" is another and equally important. And when
we carry the business of the week into the Sabbath,
we carry it where God forbids; we incur His dis-
pleasure, and can have no divine blessing on the labours
of the other six days. May not this be the secret cause
why some of you, who strive and toil, early and late,
heaping up riches, not knowing who shall gather them,
are constantly meeting with disappointments and losses,
and so often find embarrassment, where you anticipated
nothing but success? A secret something hampers the
machine and makes it drag on heavily. May it not be
this,-that, though diligent and conscientious in mat-
ters of business, yet you are neglecting God on his
holy day?

Balance of the Sanctuary.-Some things seem very ADDRESS ON THE OBSERVANCE OF THE weighty, which, weighed in this balance, will be found very light. Weigh the world and all that is in it, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, and the whole will be found light in the balance of eternity. Weigh herein all worldly profits, gains, and advantages, and you will quickly see that a thousand worlds will not quit the lost of the eternity of woe. For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. xvi. 26. Weigh the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, with the fire that is everlasting, and you must account your selves fools and madmen to run the hazard of the one for the other. Weigh your afflictions in this balance, and you will find the heaviest of them very light in respect of the weight of eternal anguish. Impatience under affliction, especially when worldly troubles so embitter men's spirits that they cannot relish the glad tidings of the Gospel, speaks great regardlessness of eternity. As a small and inconsiderable loss will be very little at heart with him who sees himself in hazard of losing his whole estate, so troubles in this life will appear but light to him who has a lively view of eternity. Such a one will stop and take up his cross whatever it be, thinking it enough to escape eternal wrath. Weigh the most difficult and uneasy duties of religion here, and you will no more reckon the yoke of Christ unsupportable. Repentance and bitter mourning for sin on earth are very light in comparison of eternal weeping. To wrestle with God in prayer, weeping and making supplication for the blessing in time, is far easier than to be under the curse through eternity. Mortification of the most beloved lust is a light thing in comparison with the second death in hell. Weigh your convictions in this balance. O! how heavy do these lie upon many till they get them shaken off. They are not disposed to fall in with them, but strive to get clear of them, as of a mighty burden. But the worm of an ill conscience will neither die nor sleep in hell, though one may now lull it asleep for a time. And certainly it is easier to entertain the sharpest convictions in this life, so as they may lead one to Christ, than to leave them fixed for ever in the conscience,

If you neglect the Sabbath, you lose that rest and refreshment of body and mind which are necessary to enable you to follow your pursuits with spirit through the week. You lose that domestic comfort which real Christians enjoy in meeting their family for religious instruction and Christian converse on the Lord's Day. You lose that retirement for private prayer, the study of Scripture, and self-examination, so exceedingly necessary amidst the cares and temptations of life. But the worst losses are to follow. You lose the golden opportunities of Public Worship. Great things are transacted between God and his people in public worship. Prayer and praise ascend to his throne-the word of life is read and preached-the Holy Spirit. works-sinners are humbled and convinced the glori

ous truth is declared, "Believe on the Lord Jesus | wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts xvi. 31. And whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, thus God is glorified amongst us. But where, mean- saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. lvii. 20. while, are you? You are out of the way, and there- You who are officers of ships, occupy a station of fore you lose those blessings, for the loss of which no awful responsibility. Your good or evil example must worldly gains can compensate. make a deep impression upon the seamen under your command. We would, therefore, affectionately remind you, that the interests of all committed to your charge will be greatly promoted, both as relates to this world and the next, if you "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." The orderly conduct and cheerful labour of the ship's company; the neatness and cleanliness of the vessel; the easy and quiet government of all on board; esteem and regard for the officers; a conscientious attention to the interests of the owners; mutual affection and good-will; all these and many other bless

And what, if to all these losses is to be added the loss of the soul? If the Sabbath be neglected and abused, a plain command of God is broken; sin is committed; and we know that the wages of sin is death. If the Sabbath be neglected, we are quite sure that Prayer, and the Scriptures, and the Sacraments, and the other appointed means of grace, are neglected likewise. If the Sabbath be neglected, Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, is neglected also; and without Him there is no salvation for any of us sinners. Now pause, and remember our Lord's solemn question,-ings are sure to follow, whenever the officers and mari"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

You who are Owners of vessels may do much to promote a holy reverence for the Sabbath amongst seamen. You may manifest to them your own respect for the command of God, by insisting that on the Lord's Day no vessel of yours shall commence her voyage; no part of her cargo shall be moved; no work shall be done on board; no passengers received; no unnecessary labour required from the seamen. So long as the vessel remains in port, you may secure facilities for all connected with her to attend the public worship of God. You may also exhort the commander and seamen even when at sea to respect the Sabbath.

You who are seamen should remember that affecting portion of God's Word which teaches us, very plainly, that He who rules the winds and the waves is well acquainted with the seaman's toil. "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves there of. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted, because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm cvii. 23-31.

Where is the seaman that has not witnessed the truth of the above passage of Scripture? You have seen his wonders in the deep, and he has preserved you amidst many a danger. Does not gratitude, therefore, require you to love and obey him, in return for his wonderful goodness and loving-kindness to you? Have you not peculiar reasons why you should delight in keeping his holy commandments? If you neglect the Sabbath you are without excuse; for there is no class of men who have better opportunities of keeping it holy. You are generally far away from the busy scenes of life, and the temptations of the world. You have much time for reading and reflecting on the Word of God; and you can assemble together for public worship. If you take proper care, you can serve in ships where there is no obscene language, drunkenness, or quarrelling, permitted; but where the Lord's Day is kept holy, and the captain is as the father of a family, and the crew as obedient children; all parties exerting themselves in acts of brotherly love and kindness, and joining at proper seasons in the service of their great Lord and Master. You can avoid the ships and company of the irreligious and profane; remembering, that "The

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ners determine to keep the commandments of God, "and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable." Isa. lviii. 13. Divine service can always be performed in the cabin, or some other convenient place. No work should be done except what is necessary for the present management of the vessel. Officers and men should cease from their labours, and devote that day to the service of their Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer. The Bible will then be frequently in the men's hands, and its blessed pages will supply many occasions for giving useful advice and improving conversation. The voice of thanksgiving may be heard, and the hymn of praise may ascend from many a hardy crew. Then will the ship become an ark on which the blessing of God will constantly rest, as it floats upon the troubled waters. And within those wooden walls many a tossed and weary sinner may be brought to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and acknowledge him as the only anchor of his hopes; and when, amidst the wreck of navies, others are sinking in the quicksands of despair, he will cling closer and closer to Jesus as the Rock of his salvation.

The Word of God has declared that "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Let British seamen, then, perform their part. They have often carried forth the Missionary, and thus have been humble instruments in the hands of God for conveying the glad tidings of salvation to the most distant parts of the earth: and, oh! may they be no longer, in any instance, ignorant of Jesus Christ! My dear brethren, consider your high calling; and while you are conveying the knowledge of your Redeemer to distant realms, beware lest you yourselves be cast away through unbelief. Let not your bad example cause any to despise or neglect the commandments of God; but do all in your power, by a holy life, to extend the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth, whereever the winds shall carry you. When on shore, in England, consider it a blessing to be able to spend the Lord's Day in the service of God, and in his house of prayer. When you arrive in a foreign port, remember the Lord of the Sabbath still, whom the winds and the sea obey and whilst you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on God's holy day." (Isa. lviii. 13,) you will be showing forth a sign in the face of all men, that you indeed count yourselves to belong to the Church of Christ: and that you are indeed subjects of that Britain where God is still feared, and loved, and worshipped. May all the blessings, both temporal and eternal, connected with a holy keeping of the Lord's Day, rest upon you, is our earnest prayer!

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