them, that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing." "The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift, even the rich among the people, shall entreat thy favor.” Contributions will be made by all commercial men for the benefit of the church.

"Even

the richest among the nations in due time will submit to the Messiah, consecrate their wealth to him, and court the friendship, and desire the prayers of the church." Seamen are to have a very important part in preaching the gospel to every creature under heaven. Their conversion is intimately connected with the prosperity of missions abroad, and the salvation of the heathen. No missionaries could be sent to the "islands of the sea," or to the "far distant coasts" without seamen, nor could any supplies be sent to them, neither any returns be received from them, without the same. aid. Indeed, communication of every kind would be entirely and forever cut off between us and them, were there no seamen to traverse the trackless ocean. It would, too, be some alleviation to the sufferings of the missionaries and soften many of the pangs, which they feel on leaving their friends, their homes, and their firesides, to go to an unknown country and among a people of an unknown tongue, to preach the salvation of Christ, could they find in every sailor a Christian brother, instead of a thoughtless, blaspheming sinner, as is now too often the case. And how greatly would their burdens be lightened on their arrival among the heathen, could they find in every seamen a helper in the work of the Lord, instead of an enemy to waste and destroy? It is certainly and obviously true, that sailors, if generally pious, would be the most active and powerful auxiliaries to foreign missions of almost any men in the world. But, generally vicious, and abandoned, as they now are, they throw innumerable and constant hindrances in the way of their

progress, and do more to prejudice the minds of the heathen against the Christian religion, than all other men besides." Say the missionaries in addressing Christians, "If you wish the gospel extensively to prevail among the heathen, convert your seamen, for they now pull down, as fast as all your missionaries can build up." How vastly important then to the cause of Christ is the conversion of seamen! Great efforts should be made unceasingly for their renovation and sanctification.

III. Some methods will now be mentioned, which ought to be adopted for the spiritual benefit of seamen.

They should be furnished with Bibles and other religious books. On long voyages, seamen have much leisure time. This might be spent to good advantage in reading. By occupying their vacant hours in this way, there would be a prevention of many bad practices, common among sailors, even while "ploughing the mighty deep." A very large proportion of them are now addicted to spending these hours in idleness and gambling. Every mariner, therefore, should have in his chest a copy of the Sacred Scriptures, a hymn book, and a bundle of tracts. The Rev. Charles Buck, in his Anecdotes, records the following interesting occurrences: A worthy officer, not long since assembled all his men in the cabin, and stating the critical situation of his country, proposed to them the contribution of ten days pay as a free-will offering to the necessities of their country. This being cheerfully agreed to, he presented each of them with a Bible, desiring them to preserve it carefully, adding, "It will instruct you to fear God, honor the king, and love your country." Were every officer to do likewise, what good might we not expect.”—A minister, meeting with зome sailors who appeared to be serious, asked them if there were any more on board, who were of the same

opinion of themselves? "Yes sir," said one of them, "there are several of us when opportunity offers, meet for reading and prayer, and we hope there are six of us who are truly changed, who were all vile sinners, two years ago, but have been taught to love God by reading the Bible." What an encouragement is this to distribute Bibles among sailors!" The following testimony to the utility of the Bible among seamen, given by a ship-master, and published in the "Call from the Ocean," is worth a thousand arguments. "Every thing goes as it ought, when the Bible is regarded by the crew, the duty is cheerfully done, the owner's property is more safe, and all is smooth and pleasant." The same may be said of other religious books, so far as they are read, and have the desired effects. upon the faith and lives of seamen. It is said of Lord Nelson, who was the pride of the British navy, that he always carried with him a Bible as a cabin companion. Let every seaman do the same, and take it as his guide, and seldom should we hear of shipwrecks and sea disasters. The character and condition of seamen would be changed, and a new face of things be put upon a seafaring life.

Another method to be adopted for the spiritual benefit of seamen, is, furnishing them with the ordinances of the gospel. There should be in every port of any considerable magnitude, a mariner's chapel, on which the Bethel flag should be hoisted, and a preacher set apart for the dispensation of the gospel. This is indispensable. "In all large cities and seaports, they could not be accommodated in the ordinary churches, were they disposed to mingle with other congregations; but from the long and habitual neglect, which they have received, they are not disposed to do it. Many have often made the attempt and failed, because, in most city congregations, it would

be disgraceful to suffer," Jack with his roundabout," to sit with polite and genteel people. This the sailor knows, and he despises to intrude himself, where he is not wanted. There is this universal fact, with all the seamen's peculiarities of habit, of dress, of dialect, and even their modes. of thinking, which makes it necessary to furnish a place of worship for them." Where it can be done, churches should be organized. The Confession of Faith and Covenant, adopted by them should be evangelical, but not recognize any particular sect. Such churches have been formed in Boston, Philadelphia, and elsewhere, to good advantage.

Stated prayer meetings should be established on behalf of seamen. Christians should pray, that "the abundance of the sea," may be converted to God, and that he may become "the confidence of them that are afar off, upon the seas."

The establishment of religious libraries, would be very beneficial to seamen. There should be a depository of books and tracts, connected with the religious society, established for sailors, in every maritime place. Such libraries have been formed in some parts with manifest good effects.

Temperance Societies should be organized. The plan of total abstinence from ardent spirit, has been adopted by many, whose home is upon the mighty deep. The time was, when the use of spirituous liquors was general among them. All partook, and many to intoxication. Intemperance held dominion over the sea. Awful disasters followed. There was a great waste of property, and a great destruction of human life. But a new era has commenced. A reformation has begun. Quite a number of vessels are now navigated upon the temperance plan. The crew is shipped on condition of total ab

stinence from the use of ardent spirit. Merchants have begun to realize the importance of this measure, and to ascertain, that voyages performed with this restriction are attended with much less hazard.* It is hoped the time is not far distant, when every vessel, that is wafted upon the ocean, shall sail unencumbered with this liquid poison, either as a part of its freight, or as used by the crew.— Intimately connected with the temperance reformation, are good boarding houses for seamen while on shore. Till recently, the accommodations for sailors have been extremely unpleasant and immoral in their effects. Their "boarding houses," says one well acquainted with them, "nearly without exception, have been retailing dram-shops; which is enough to make them the nurseries of almost every species of vice. To an alarming extent they have been the patrons of gambling, profane swearing, dissipation, fraud and lewdness. In such houses the sailor ordinarily must board when on shore, because there are few, of any other description, into which he can be admitted. Often have we been told by sailors, when somewhat serious about their future destiny, that they could not become religious in their boarding houses. "Show us," say they, "a house where we can go and find pious shipinates, and landlords who will care for us, and then we will attend to religion; but as soon as we get home, our mess-mates, and the landlord, are ready to board us at once, and we cannot think seriously, or even pray for the salvation of our souls." It is therefore important, and indispensable, if we wish to do these men good, and make them virtuous, honorable and happy, that boarding houses of a different character be immediately provided for them,-houses where they may enjoy some of the common privileges of morality and religion.'