ancholy truth, that we have been regardless of their salvation ourselves. It is a fact, many of us have been so notoriously wicked as to insult the great Captain of salvation, by challenging him to destroy our souls. With shame I confess that I have been thus vile, and yet God has spared me even unto old age. Where sin abounded, grace hath much more abounded, through the blood of Jesus Christ, and not to me only, but to many other sailors of my acquaintance. "There is forgiveness with him," even for sailors, "that he may be feared."

There has been a material change in society within the last thirty years. There are now many, very many, who pay for the salvation of sailors, both in Europe and America. Bible societies have done much; the bethel flag has been unfurled in the principal ports of England and America.

Many tracts have been written to attract your attention, improve your morals and excite in you a proper concern for the salvation of your souls. The au

thors of those tracts, whether converted seamen or pious landsmen, that they might more readily excite your attention, have illustrated important truths, in term phrases, familiar to sailors.

I cannot feel less interested in your welfare than others. Permit me then to remind you, that the period cannot be far remote when your "dust must return to the earth as it was, and your spirits must return to God who gave them." Unless you are "born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." I beseech you not to trifle with these important truths. You are exposed to unhealthy climates, the perils of the sea and dangers of battle.

"The living know that they shall die," saith Solomon. Eccl. ix. 5. And we are told by Paul, that "it is appointed for men once to die, and after death the judgment." Heb. ix. 27. "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Rom. xiv. 10. "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." Ps. i. 5.

Inasmuch, then, as we must all die and come to judgment, is it not useless to insult the Judge? Useless did I say? it is presumptuous, it is criminal. Could sailors

expect their officers to bear with them if they should treat them with such insolence as they frequently manifest towards Almighty God, who has expressly told us in the third commandment, "the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Intemperance is another vice, to which many sailors are addicted. The consequence is frequently immediate death, usually the loss of character and health, often of the vessel and crew. The practice of the various vices which prevail among sailors, "drown them in destruction and perdition." 1 Tim. vi. 9. The scriptures declare that " no unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

Shipmates, we must become subjects of the kingdom, or we shall never fetch the port of eternal safety, and let go our anchors within the vail, that is the holy place or heaven. The voyage cannot be made in any other vessel than the ark of safety, which is Jesus Christ. Brother sailors, will you not endeavor to get a birth on board this vessel, which will ensure you a safe passage to heaven and eternal felicity. You have run large or before the wind quite too long already. You cannot weather the cape of good hope, without beating against wind and tide, or in other words, without repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bear a hand then, my good fellows, and stand by to about ship. Repentance, my brethren, is like beating. against wind and tide. It must be exercised with a humble reliance on the merits of Jesus, resisting the world, the flesh and the devil.

And a hundred to one, but you will make some leeway after all; but if you mind well your compass the Bible, and keep a good look out and a good helm, you will shortly have both wind and tide in your favor.

Brethren, both officers and sailors, permit me to recommend to you the Bible, because it is the word of God. Read it frequently, and pray to God that he will give you an understanding. Remember that in the New Testament, God speaks to us by his Son Jesus Christ. In it he testifies unto us that "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

My brethren, we are all by nature the children of wrath, condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth upon all who are yet in unbelief. We must be born again, that is, we must have a new heart. Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost: that we may be saved, he has told us to repent and believe the gospel, and that except we repent we shall perish. You must deny yourselves, and take up the cross. You must restrain your tongues; you must restrain your passions. Hear a word from the Apostle James, my brethren.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned by a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. The tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men who are made after the similitude of God; out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

I venture to say, brethren, if you properly restrain your tongues, you will not find it very difficult to restrain the wicked propensities of the heart. Will you not read those various little tracts which are sent you? Will you not remember the Sabbath day, and whenever the Bethel flag is displayed, will you not go and endeavor to get your shipmates to go where prayer is wont to be made? Will you not improve all the opportunities you have, to hear the gospel preached, and look unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving? Remember that Jesus has told us, "If ye who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask him?" May God graciously grant that you be no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. So prays your shipmate, ANDREW SHERBURNE.