most acute pain, or at the funeral of the most endeared relative, now burst forth in the most copious effusion. That countenance which always indicated inattention, or self-justification, is changed for the most deep solemnity; and, looking ashamed, he stands at a distance, afraid to lift up his eyes to heaven, and intercedes for pardon.

On the seventh of January last, fifty-six more were added to our number, including in the whole one hundred and ninety-six in the space of four months; one hundred and twenty-three of whom received the sacrament of baptism. Thus the church of Westown, organized with eighteen members, eleven years since, (excluding those who have died and those who have been dismissed,) now consists of four hundred and thirty-eight members. This is the Lord's doing and marvellous in our eyes. Let our hearts accord with the anthem of glorified spirits around the throne, who cry, 66 not unto us, not unto us, O Lord! But unto thy name be the glory."

THOMAS GRIER.

If there is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth," with what joy may Christians shout the praises of Redeeming Grace when the Lord pours out his spirit in copious showers, and the accounts of revivals teem with the glorious facts, that ten, twenty, fifty, and even hundreds, in a single parish, have bowed to the sceptre of the Redeemer, and laid down the weapons of their rebellion at his feet. Whatever the mere moralist, or the scoffer may say, there is a peculiar propriety in publishing these accounts of revivals of religion, when carefully and properly written, that Christians may be excited to labour and to pray more earnestly for the best gift-the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. But we would respectfully suggest to those Rev. Clergy (and others who write such accounts) whose churches are thus highly favoured, whether there would not be an equally peculiar propriety in accompanying the accounts with which they favour the public, with an announcement of the number in their congregations, or parishes, who CONTINUE to live without uniting themselves to the body of Christ-the Church? with an announcement of the entire inadequacy of the means at present in operation to bring ALL their congregations to the knowledge of the truth. Does not the present plan lead to deception? Is it not rather calculated to throw a moral polish over the surface of society, without probing the very root of the disease, and showing how utterly inadequate are all the exertions of all the christians to HASTEN the day, when "ALL shall know the Lord.”—[Ed. C. H.]

African Colony.-Mr. Rush, our Minister at London, in a letter to the American Colonization Society, states, that it has been represented to the British government by their commissioners at Sierra Leone, that a considerable diminution in the Slave Trade has taken place, which they ascribe, in a great degree, to the well directed efforts of the United States naval vessels on the coast.

Lieut. Stockton, of the United States schooner Alligator, in a letter to the Board of Managers, observes-"I am more and more persuaded of the usefulness of your Society. I believe it will be instrumental in meliorating the condition of Africa. The unfeeling clan of slave dealers are still, and more exultingly than ever, draining the dearest veins' of that country. Is such to continue to be their fate? And will not Christendom put an end to it? Are they to be torn from their homes, from their friends, from their forefathers' graves, while the vultures of the world are proclaiming freedom, and forming coalitions for its security? May the Father of Mercies take care of this oppressed people; and is it too uncharitable to hope that the bour of vengeance is approaching, when the hurricane will sweep from the deep every sail that is spread for so unhallowed a purpose?"

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

Perhaps we owe some of our readers an apology for the length of our "Miscellany" and "Review" in this number, but the interesting character of Mr. Ward's Letters induced us to crowd out several articles of "Intelligence," which will find a place in future numbers.

The Seaman's Magazine.

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. They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

THE CONVERSION OF MARINERS WILL ENLARGE THE PRAISES OF ZION.

REVIEW.

A Sermon addressed to Mariners, North Yarmouth, State of Maine, March 4th, 1821, by STEPHEN CHAPIN, Pastor of the Baptist Church in said town. 8vo. pp. 32. Portland: Thomas Todd & Co. 1821.

THE Christian public have lately manifested so much zeal for the religious improvement of Seamen, that every circumstance connected with their spiritual welfare will be noted with gratitude. An infinitely merciful God seems to be preparing the way for the dissemination of the Gospel among that valuable class of our fellow men, in a manner that, a very short time ago, we hardly dared to anticipate.

It cannot have been forgotten, how many difficulties suggested themselves even to the minds of good men, only three years ago, when it was contemplated to erect a place of worship for them in this city. It is not our present intention to enumerate the obstacles which unbelief then presented to the minds of those who were willing to find an excuse for delay. No sooner did Christians commence praying and labouring, than God had a blessing prepared for them. Christians began to feel that Sailors were the creatures of God's power, and that they might as easily become the children of His grace as other men-they have acted upon this principle, and we see the result; we see among that interesting people many monuments of His mercy, many who now stand forth as bold champions of the truth. It is God's sole prerogative to pardon sin, and he alone has the power to sanctify and save our God is the God of seamen-and we look for the time when both seamen and landsmen will become "vessels of mercy," and when the ocean and the land together shall form one great altar of praise to the Redeemer.

Christians must begin to feel, and to act, as if the brightest honour attainable here was, to be the humble instruments of good to the souls of men. The conquests of kingdoms, and the slaughter of armies have heretofore engaged with peculiar interests the attention of mankind. No herald was grateful to the ear unless it proclaimed the exploits of the victor, the sufferings of the vanquished. The revolutions of mighty kingdoms, bearing down in their resistless course every thing which was beautiful or venerable, prostrating temples dedicated to religion and virtue, and hurrying thousands of immortal beings into the presence of their Judge, with all their sins heaped upon their guilty heads, have been witnessed with a steady and delighted eye, and rung throughout the world with demonstrations of the liveliest joy. The destruction of human happiness in the wars of conquest and ambition, and the distinctions conferred by murderous victories, have received the praises of poets and the honour of nations.

To subdue rival powers has been considered the noblest effort of human great ness, and those who have achieved it, have received the "laurel wreath and the civic VOL. VIII.

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crown." But let it ever be remembered, that those laurels have been bedewed with the tears of the orphan and the widow, and those crowns have been purchased with human blood.

The Philanthropist and the Christian are looking forward with delighted anticipations to the promised day when the horrid scenes" of war and bloodshed" shall no longer afford cause of rejoicing-when other objects shall be pursued, other maxims adopted, and holy duties practised throughout the world.

It is the Christian's delight and privilege to look for this period, and no less his duty to use every authorized means for its advancement. The time will come. The night is far spent, and the day is at hand-the lights of prophecy encourage the hope, and the promises make it sure. God has arisen, and will have mercy upon Zion, for SAILORS begin to crowd her temple gates. "The days (says an eminent divine, of our own city) are rolling rapidly on when the shout of the isles shall swell the thunder of the continent-when the Thames and the Danube-when the Tiber and the Rhine shall call upon Euphrates, the Ganges, and the Nile, and the loud concert shall be joined by the Hudson, the Mississippi, and the Amazon, singing with one heart and one voice, hallelujah! salvation-the LORD God omnipotent reigneth!" The moral revolution which has taken place in the world, in favour of immortal beings, is truly wonderful, and affords a most animating and delightful spectacle. Now we can listen with enraptured feelings to the Reports which tell us of the triumphs of the Cross, and the victories of the Redeemer. In the extension of his kingdom, he usurps no power, he subverts no governments, overturns no empires, but those of sin and satan.

But it is time we turned to our author. The title informs us on what occasion the sermon was preached, and from a note, affixed to the title, we learn that it was published at the request of a committee of the Mariners in North Yarmouth.

He has chosen for his text the fifth verse of the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah,-" Then thou shalt see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee."

After a brief exposition of the text, our author states, that it suggests this doctrine,

"THE CONVERSION OF SEAMEN WILL ENLARGE THE PRAISES OF ZION." And inquires,

"I. For evidence that mariners will be converted unto God." And

II. Assigns" some of the reasons why their conversion will give enlargement of heart to the people of God."

That those who sail in ships will be called into the kingdom of Christ, he argues, 1. From the evidence we possess, that the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all professions of men."

"2. Christians are now offering up fervent prayers for the salvation of seamen, and are making charitable exertions to promote their future and spiritual welfare." "3. That God will pour out his Spirit on seamen, and convert them for the good of his people, is evident from scripture."*

II. Our author next assigns "some of the reasons, why the conversion of mariners will awaken the joy and the praises of the righteous." And,

"1. Such conversions will enlarge their hearts with love to God for such displays of his grace; love to the truth of scripture, which long since predicted the gathering of mariners into the kingdom of heaven. Grace expands the soul. And those who

*See Isaiah lx. 9.-xvii. at close of the chapter; and 1st, 2d, and 7th verse of chapter xviii. with Bishop Horsley's comment. Psalm lxxii.

are favoured with the richest degree, possess the most ardent desires that others may share with them the mercy of God."

"2. Their hearts will be enlarged to praise the wisdom of God in selecting the best instruments to be employed in his service. The highest wisdom consists in using the best means to obtain the best end."

Men of other professions will be employed by God to spread the gospel, but sailors alone are prepared to navigate ships to bear God's messengers to pagan nations; and when they become the subjects of grace they are pre-eminently qualified for this service.

Inured to fatigue and to the vicissitudes of climate, they are ready to brave all dangers, to endure all hardships and privations, to employ all their nautical skill, and characteristic generosity, in spreading among all nations the good news of eternal life. How brightly, then, will the wisdom of God shine in preparing this portion of our race to perform such a noble part in the cause of Christ! Between christian and pagan nations spread wide and dangerous oceans. The Jews are scattered to the four winds of heaven. They, according to prophecy, are to be converted, and re-assembled in Palestine. It is manifest the Gospel can never be conveyed to all the nations of the earth and islands of the sea, and the outcasts of Israel can never be returned only through the medium of ships and mariners. If God do not convert seamen, then the heralds of truth must be carried out, and the ransomed Jews brought home, in profane vessels, manned by unbelievers; or else the pious on shore must leave their occupations to learn the mariner's art, and become skilful navigators. How much wiser to enrich those with grace, who, by spending their days on the water, are at once ready to perform these essential services for the people of God.

Their hearts will be enlarged to admire the power of divine mercy. Sailors are men of like passions with ourselves, possessing by nature no superior proneness to immoral habits. Their excess in sin must be attributed to local causes, and to the peculiar character of their profession. They are in a great measure deprived of the soft and refining endearments of a paternal home; destitute of those means of moral and religious instruction, which are possessed by those who dress the soil; spending much of their time amid the perils and noise of the seas, or in distant lands, far removed from the inspection of parents, guardians and friends; exposed to the peculiar vices and fascinating charms of populous cities, rendered doubly tempting by previous confinement and privation, during long voyages. While in foreign ports, their reputation is unknown, and in the eye of strangers they have no character to preserve or lose. Among men thus circumstanced, we need not be surprised, if we find very painful specimens of that guilt and wretchedness, into which the power of sin may sink the human character; especially when we reflect how long sailors have been neglected, and how little has been done in years past for their religious improvement. But, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, there are among them an honourable number, who are eminent for piety, and who are governed, not by the eye of the world, but by the fear of the Lord. The ocean has long groaned under a burden of wickedness, and its waters have been crimsoned by piratical murders, or conflicting navies. How joyful will be the victories of mercy, when every sailor shall become a saint, and every ship a float

ing chapel, enclosing a little church, who live in the continued interchange of all the endearing offices of christian kindness, and daily invoke the name and sing the praises of Jehovah!

In the "improvement" of the subject, Mr. Chapin justly remarks, that in this light,

We discover, that when God bestows converting grace on individuals, or classes of men, his object is to prepare them for public usefulness. After Christ had richly imparted spiritual knowledge to his disciples, he remarked to them, "no man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light." Thus he taught them, that he had illuminated their minds, not simply for their private interest, but that they should employ their talents for the benefit of mankind.

Will God convert seamen that they may perform essential services for the church, then navigation is an important art. It has been studied either to complete a classical education, or for the practical purpose of traversing the sea; either to indulge curiosity in making new discoveries, or to accumulate wealth for the gratification of avarice, luxury, or pride. But the time will soon arrive, when this branch of knowledge will be gained for the noble design to enable the possessor of it to conduct ships to foreign lands, for the purpose of conveying the glad news of salvation through the Saviour's blood. The knowledge of navigation is not only of great use in the commercial world, but it is indispensably requisite in completing the scheme of redemption. The Jews can never be carried home to Palestine, the gospel can never be proclaimed in all the islands of the sea, without the skill of mariners. With joy we anticipate the day when the pious shipmaster will study the naval science with the same motives, and with the same conviction of its necessity, that the minister of Christ pursues his studies in theology. It will be learnt because without it the objects of mercy can never be obtained. "Happy will it be," says the late venerable and pious Scott, (Isaiah, lx. 9. Prac. Ob.) " for themselves, and for multitudes, when merchants shall consider the conveyance of the light of divine truth to the most distant lands and newly discovered countries, as a primary object of their attention. Then their ships may sail more richly freighted, than if they were laden with the gold of Ophir ; they may safely be committed to his care, to whose glory they are devoted; and he will surely honour those who thus honour him."

Will God convert the abundance of the sea for the purposes we have mentioned, then we have good ground to believe, that some among them will become more distinguished for grace, than those christians who will remain on the land. The ships of Tarshish, or the persons who man them, are to be among the first and most zealous to obey the mandate of Heaven, to bring home the people of God. "Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, (or among the first,) to bring thy sons from far."

We shall close our extracts for the present with one or two, which suggest the motives to pray for the prosperity and salvation of mariners.

The present character of our seamen serves to strengthen very much the prejudices of the gentiles, and thus it throws up a strong barrier against the spread of the gospel. It is no stretch of charity to say, that