also, there is a direct allusion, in the water of baptism, to the Spirit and His quickening, purifying, reviving influences. "We are saved by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly." "Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name of Jesus, and by the good Spirit of our God." This appears to

be the great work of the Spirit,-certainly in the first place, to give life to the dead; and then, which is only secondary to this, to remove the pollution of our nature by sin; and thus being set free from sin, that we should become servants unto God, having our fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. Scarborough.

W. TILER.

It may be supposed that an Inquirer wishing to inform himself would, in the first instance, pay a visit to the Society's head-quarters-THE SAILORS' INSTITUTE AT SHADwell.

There he would find a large and noble building, erected expressly for the sailor's use, and in its various departments well adapted to promote his welfare. The visitor would probably first enter the READING ROOM, where he would find an extensive library, the tables covered with various magazines and other periodicals, and sundry newspapers spread upon the readingstands. He would observe a handsome set of maps and charts, a case of specimens of the Bible in different languages and styles of binding for the option of purchasers, and a set of pigeon-holes, arranged alphabetically, for the reception of letters addressed to seamen and awaiting their application. He would hear with pleasure that this room is open daily for the use of seamen, and without charge;

and that the number of visits during the year 1864 amounted to 35,344; while as many as 3,337 seamen's letters received and delivered during the same period, evince the high position held by the Institute in their confidence and esteem. He would, moreover, be gratified to find that many an incidental benefit is also here conferred. That the sailor's widow may often be seen asking intelligence of her son's arrival at some foreign port, or a captain inquiring for pious hands he wants to ship for his next voyage; or an honest tar waiting till the Librarian can spare him a few moments to pen a letter to the wife he has left anxious for his safety in a distant town.

Our Guest would next be conducted into the adjoining REFRESHMENT ROOM, where provisions of a simple description are supplied to sailors at a moderate charge; and thence into the SAVINGS BANK, in which he would find as much as £1,721 has been de

posited by seamen since its establishment.

In this office, too, would be seen the Society's SHIP LIBRARIES which are in considerable and growing request. These are neat mahogany boxes, supplied with a variety of attractive and useful volumes, and prepared for loan circulation.

Next, ascending to the Class Rooms, a number of sea-apprentices, sailors, and officers of ships would be found in the NAVIGATION SCHOOL, pursuing their professional studies under the direction of the Master, Mr. R. J. Nelson, M.A. This gentleman would state that during the year 1864 he has had 193 students under his care, and that of these, fifty-eight had passed the examination of the Marine Board; and he would probably express his regret that under the new arrangement of the Science and Art Department it had been found impossible to continue the school for boys as heretofore.

A visit to the LECTURE HALL would close the round of inspection. Here the Rev. George Wilkins and the Missionaries divide between them the three Sunday services and those on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and though the attendance is necessarily affected by the number of places of worship in the neighbourhood, yet the grand total on the year amounts to nearly 5000. The Friday evening lectures of the past season were discontinued somewhat earlier than usual in consequence of a diminution of the audience; but the weekly Temperance and other meetings held in the Hall from time to time, have been, and continue to be well attended.

Our Visitor may be supposed as appropriating another day to the inspection of the work of the SOCIETY'S MISSIONARIES in London. To do so effectually, he would have to be early by the river side, and stepping into the missionary's boat, he would be conducted from tier to tier of coasters and colliers as they are ranged up

and down the Pool. He would there find fruit vessels from the Mediterranean, grain sloops from Yorkshire, and fleets of general traders from Scotland, Yarmouth and Ipswich, from Plymouth, Falmouth, and Bristol, and numerous other ports in England, Ireland and the islands of the sea; besides a forest of colliers laden with black diamonds, from the North. Passing from ship to ship, the missionary would be found actively engaged in speaking to the crews as he may have opportunity on the great topics affecting their spiritual interests, and setting before them Christ and the salvation of God. Now, he is distributing tracts amongst a few stragglers on deck-now, he is selling a Bible in the cabin-now, he is down in a forecastle reading a chapter to the hands below, and spending a few moments with them at the Throne of Grace. But having at length secured a couple of vessels, on board of which services may be held at night, he hands out his flag to be displayed in the meantime at the masthead, and then he returns on shore.

Or, our friendly Inquirer may accompany the WELSH AGENT in his visits to the shipping of the Principality, and hear him discourse, or in the evening conduct his service, with characteristic pathos, in terms as strange and unfamiliar as the accents of a foreign tongue.

Or, he may choose to join the Society's FOREIGN MISSIONARY, as with knapsack stored with Scriptures and religious tracts in various languages, he boards the Baltic corn and timber ships in the Commercial Docks, and those from other lands in the London or St. Katherine's; where German, Norwegian, Swede, and Dane, and Frenchman hear in succession from his lips, each in his own tongue, the wondrous way of salvation; bowing the knee with him as he finds opportunity to tarry with a willing crew in the course of his visitation, or accompanying him to the Society's new

There, in the evening, will be sure to gather a company of foreign captains and sailors to read and write, as in the Institute at Shadwell; and amongst them, in all probability, he will conduct Divine worship in either Swedish or Norwegian. It would be worth while, too, to note in passing, that the amount realized by the sale of Scriptures has been exactly doubled during the past year, and that this result is owing almost entirely to the large number disposed of to these foreign sailors.

Instead of going afloat, however, it may be preferred to join the missionary in his work on shore, visiting from ship to ship in the various Docks; accompanying him to the SHIPPING OFFICES, where a word may always be dropped to good effect amongst the loungers waiting for engagement, or for the receipt of wages at the end of a voyage; or to the SAILORS' LODGING AND BOARDING HOUSES in the neighbourhood of the river; then attend the dinner-hour service held amongst the Royal Naval Volunteers in the vicinity of their training ship, and witness the marked attention with which some sixty or seventy of these brave fellows listen to the proclamation of the Gospel; or take a stand by him, as amidst the surging abominations of Ratcliff Highway, he lifts up the standard of the Cross, and points the passers by to Him who died thereon. But whatever the visitor may choose to witness during the day, he should certainly form one of the little group meeting in the evening on board the ship bearing yon Bethel flag; for there, at a service conducted in greatest simplicity, he will witness the becoming deportment of a little audience of hardy tars, gathered in homely garb, at the close of the day's work, in the cabin or hold of the vessel; he will hear their fervent outpourings of soul in prayer to God, and their hearty songs of praise and worship. Per

and falling tear, and hear that cry so sweet and musical in the Divine esteem, "God be merciful to me a sinner!

Should the Friend, interested by what he may have already observed, desire to acquaint himself with THE SOCIETY'S PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS, he should proceed northward by rail or sea to NEWCASTLE, where, upon the "coaly Tyne," he will find an earnest Christian seaman still occupying the sphere of labour amongst his brethren which he has filled most honourably and successfully for many years, visiting from ship to ship, and quay to quay, and holding meetings both on Sundays and week nights with many evidences of the Divine approval.

Passing over the district of coast supplied by the Port of Hull Society, (which is cordially recognised as a sister Institution), a pause must be made at YARMOUTH, where will be found another zealous and useful labourer, who gave up the command of a ship and left the sea that he might spend and be spent in seeking the salvation of his brethren. Nor without large results-for God has greatly blessed his work, as well amongst the beachmen as the sailors, and especially the preaching at the Bethel rooms, of which there are two, both extremely well attended.

At the adjacent town of LOWESTOFT it would be found that marked blessing has rested upon the work. Besides liquidating the debt upon the new Bethel, another has been erected at the neighbouring fishing village of Pakefield, and paid for; and by means of private donations from many sympathising friends, the missionary has been enabled to furnish and open a house hard by the Bethel as a SAILORS' HOME AND REFUGE FOR THE SHIPWRECKED. During twelve months 133 wrecked men have found shelter here, and on one occasion, thirty-four in a single day. At this station there would be found much to interest and

elicit thankfulness from any Christian visitor.

Coasting southwards till GRAVESEND is reached, there would be found a large and important sphere welloccupied by a missionary, who was formerly a seaman in the Royal Navy; and who, entering into his work with great earnestness, is labouring with marked success on shore, both at the Bethel and in the homes of the resident watermen, and afloat, in Emigrant and Troop Ships, Merchant Vessels, Coal Hulks, and Foreign Men-of-War, all of which are found at this station.

CHATHAM Would next be reached, where the agent is employed every Lord's Day in furthering the objects of the Society-then ROCHESTER, which, though a station but recently occupied, bids fair to prove one of much usefulness.

Rounding the Foreland, RAMSGATE might be visited, and here it would be found that through the lively sympathies of the superintending clergyman, the Rev. T. Hart Davies, and other friends, and the zealous exertions of the missionary crowned with the blessing of God, a happy change has been wrought in the character of the seagoing population, and the Sailors' Room at the various services crowded to overflow.

Thence on to DOVER, where a convenient room has been recently erected as a Bethel, and a former coastguardsman, now, and for some years past the local missionary, may be found successfully reaching the ear and winning the heart of many a hardy tar; whilst ofttimes a captain driven in by stress of weather, thus finds the entrance to the port of lasting rest.

[The sketch then carries the visitor to Southampton, Weymouth, Devonport, Falmouth, Padstow, and Ilfracombe, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Holyhead, Dublin, Jersey, and Guernsey.]

Reaching the coast of France, the Port of DIEPPE might be entered.

The missionary (himself by previous life a sailor) would be found under the direction of the resident English clergyman, visiting the ships and holding his meetings on board under the Bethel flag; or sitting by the bedside of the sick stranger in the hospital, teaching him to look away from his sins and sorrows to the SaviourJesus. His pilotage may be accepted to ROUEN, where also he occasionally labours, and where a congregation of French Protestants kindly afford him the use of their church for services for the sailors.

Now,

Thence crossing the Bay of Biscay and voyaging by the coasts of Portugal and Spain (in which country almost the only missionary work done at all seems to be effected by the persistent yet self-denying and perilous exertions of godly seamen who visit its ports), the trip may be pursued along the shores of the Mediterranean. passing Gibraltar, Marseilles, Genoa, Malta, and other ports, in which were its funds equal to the additional outlay, the Directors of the Society would be but too happy to place missionaries without delay, ALEXANDRIA is at length reached, where, as the result of a work commenced and fostered by this Society, a missionary continues to labour.

A short cruise to, the Baltic and the coast of NORWAY and SWEDEN, would close this exploratory tour to the stations occupied by the Society; and it could hardly be terminated without exciting emotions of gratitude to God that a system of such wide-spread beneficence, and that of the highest order, should be in active operation; and eliciting earnest prayer that not only might the means employed be crowned with yet more abundant blessing, but that the good Lord would be pleased to enable the Society, through the liberality of the stewards of the golden talents, to send forth quickly more labourers into so hopeful a harvest-field.

Dr. VAUGHAN spoke as follows:-My dear and honoured brethren: I have come very far to see you, to look you in the face, to shake you by the hand, and to tell you of the friendly thoughts and of the honest sympathies which are cherished toward you by multitudes in the land that I have left. Our Assembly, representing the Congregational Churches of England and Wales, appointed my friend Dr. Raleigh and myself as delegates to this body-calling us from our homes and our work solely that we might appear in your midst; and we are here, rejoicing in the thought that in you we see the representatives of nearly 3,000 American Congregational Churches; and we feel thankful in being able to assure you that in us you see the representatives of nearly the same number of Churches of the same faith and order in the old country. Those Churches have deputed us to express to you on this occasion their most cordial greeting. They have laid it upon us to assure you of their sincere sympathy with everything touching your welfare as American Congregationalists, and with everything pertaining to the social and to the religious interests of your great country. I ought to assure you that the members of the Congre gational Union of England and Wales are men who always have been, and are now, so far as my knowledge goes, to a man, opposed to the slave system-men who have pronounced it to be an unchristian,

unrighteous, and iniquitous system, that should die, that must perish. They did not all of them see, as you may perhaps have been aware, in the earlier stages of your struggle, what policy was the best for your country and for the slave, but there was no difference in them, arising from one portion being friends of your country, and the other not. No such difference existed. They were all your friends, whether mistaken in judgment or right in judgment; and now, to a man, they receive the issues of your great struggle, looking upon them as having come to pass under the influence of a higher hand than the hand of a man. They congratulate you upon the extinction of that system that brought on the war, and rejoice in the prospect of the better days which they believe to be awaiting humanity here and humanity everywhere, through you. Mr. Chairman, in brief, there are not upon God's earthno, not upon God's earth-hearts beating more truly toward this country, more as a brother's heart should beat, than the hearts of the men who constitute the Congregational Union of England and Wales. Being confident of this, I feel it laid upon mo truly to say it.

And now, Sir, when I look upon this vast assembly, and remember what is represented by it, I have some memories rushing npon me-thoughts which I should like to find words to express, but which I am sure I cannot find words to