thou with us, and we will do thee good."* The What I have now stated are painful truths, which many may be offended in hearing, but cannot disprove. Christian sailor weeps over these things with poignant sorrow, and like Jeremiah, he says, "Oh! that my eyes were fountains of tears that I might weep day and night" for my miserable brethren; they are dreadfully degraded, but know it not; they are as insensible as the adamantine rock upon which the frail vessel is cast by the furious deep. Alas! alas! the heart of these "sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead." + If we turn our attention to the good+ Eccles. ix. 3. * Numbers x. 19. ness and long-suffering of God toward sailors, we shall find that he deals not with them as with common 66 men. 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."* But they are like Pharaoh, continually beholding the power of his mighty arm, and enjoying the favours of his delivering hand, yet say with him, "who is the Lord that I should fear him ?" God calls upon them in various ways to love and seek him. He spreads forth all the glories of heaven, and the beauties of earth, to invite their regard; he carries them to distant lands, and shows them all the wonders of nature, to raise in their minds exalted ideas o fhis glorious Majesty ;-he ex * Psa. cvii. 23, 24. poses them to the dangers of the deep, to make them feel their insecurity;-he sends the frightful storm to show them how soon he could hurl them into destruction; and he suffers the raging deep to swallow up hundreds, that others might take warning, and not likewise perish. Ah! foolish people, and without understanding, for you the Lord does great things, but ye have revolting and rebellious hearts. Sailors of every degree! let me implore you to think of these things. Answer faithfully before God; are you not the characters I have described? You have long been the "fools that make a mock at sin," but do you think that you can finally escape punishment? The vengeance of the Almighty is delayed, but you will experience it, in all its severity, unless you repent. God D is very forbearing with you, not willing that any should perish, but if you disregard him he will visit you in wrath at the last great day, and then you will find an awful reality in those things which you now treat with contempt. Your present course is as degrading to yourselves as it is offensive to God; and by always following it, eternal damnation will be the consequence. You belong to an exalted nation on earth; oh! make it your chief concern to belong to that glorious and happy kingdom which is above, and shall remain when all the kingdoms of this world "Flee from the wrath to come," and pray earnestly that the holy Spirit may lead you to "the Lamb of God. which taketh away the sins of the world." Let me entreat you to reflect seriously on what the word of are no more. God 66 says respecting the wicked; " but the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."* Oh most blessed God! be pleased to enlighten, and convert my poor brother Sailors. Though in times past thou hast seemed to pass them by, now appear in all the glory of thy power, and turn them effectually unto thyself; that the ships of our land may be freighted with heaven-born, and heaven-seeking souls, who in visiting foreign countries, instead of conveying the seeds of evil to render nations miserable, may carry the blessings of the gospel to make them happy. When * Rev. xxi. 8. |