have been informed, that there was no room for sailors. Such was not the manner in which they were treated by the Son of God. On account of this treatment, many have not been to church for years. When one is thus treated, it influences a whole circle of his companions: consequently, seamen are impressed with the idea, that there is no room for them in our churches, and that their presence is not desired. By the testimony of masters of vessels, and sailors themselves, this impression is almost universal. This is the reason which they generally assign for not attending public worship. Will it be said, that this impression may be removed by making provision for them, and inviting them to attend? Suppose, that in every church in the city, there was provision for a certain number of seamen, so that in all the churches, all the seamen who come to the port might be accommodated; how could they be distributed according to the provision made in each church? They are strangers; they usually remain in port but a very short time. Should they be disposed to go at all, under such circumstances, the probability is, that most of them would go to but few places. They love to be together, they go to church in companies. In this case, a part of them would find no accommodation. They might spend a considerable portion of the time of divine service in wandering from one place to another. Should they enter a church, and not find a seat, they would be mortified. These considerations, with the fact, that they have a strong reluctance to go to a church to which others resort, would effectually close against them the doors of the sanctuary. But such provision is not made for them; and we confidently assert, that it will not be made, till that day when all shall feel, and love, and act as brethren. Further, it is the opinion of a large number of masters of vessels and seamen, who have been consulted during the past year, not only in this, but in some other ports, that this is the only way in which the Gospel can be effectually preached to seamen. Almost every individual, to whom it has 'been made known, has appeared highly gratified with the plan, and expressed a strong desire that it might go into effect. The plan has received the approbation, not only of seafaring people, but of a considerable number of respectable merchants, clergymen, and others. Were it known to seamen, that, whenever they entered a large sea-port, they would find a church, many would be induced to attend, by the influence of early education, by curiosity, a desire to see their companions, and to be like other people, or the pride which they would take in an institution of their own. Though drawn by such motives, the preaching of the Gospel might, nevertheless, become to them the wisdom of God, and the power of God unto salvation.' Many, we trust, would be influenced by higher motives; a desire to worship God in obedience to his command, to hear the glad tidings of salvation, and learn the way to heaven. "The expense of such an establishment would, at first, be considerable. But when we consider the number of seamen, and their unparalleled liberality, we cannot doubt that they would, in the end, amply support, by their contributions, the preaching of the Gospel. When we take into view the importance of the subject in all its relations, and the interest which has already been manifested, we believe that the time is not far distant, when in every large sea-port, the sanctuary will unfold its doors, and welcome to its blessings our brethren, who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters;' that, as they see the wonders' of the Lord' in the deep,' they may, in his earthly courts, behold the greater wonders of redeeming love. "But all human efforts for the salvation of the destitute will be of no avail without the blessing of God. Means in themselves are powerless. In a field like this,' a Paul may plant, and an Apollos water,' in vain: God alone can give the increase God alone can raise to spiritual life these multitudes, who are dead in trespasses and sins. We mention, therefore, as an indispensable requisite to the accomplishment of this work - "6. CONTINUAL AND EARNEST PRAYER TO GOD. From what God has revealed in his word, as well as from his dealings with his church, we have reason to believe, that prayer is the great medium, through which the influences of the Holy Spirit descend. Though the Lord promises to build the ruined places, and plant that which was desolate,' he assures us that he will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them.' With the commands of God on this subject, every Christian must be familiar. On the precious promises which he has made to support and encourage his people in their labours, and which are scattered throughout the sacred pages, as glowing gems in the midst of others of inferior lustre, all must have dwelt with peculiar delight-with lively emotions of hope and joy. It is our Saviour who hath said, That if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.' It is he who has assured his people, that their heavenly Father is more ready to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him, than parents are to give good gifts to their children. The examples of Moses, of Abraham, of Jacob, of David, of Daniel, and of a host of ancient worthies, urge and encourage us to the performance of this duty. Though Christ spake as never man spake' though he had power to turn the hearts of the children of men, even as the rivers of waters are turned,' he did not neglect to pray; he did not think of accomplishing his work without prayer. On that consecrated mount, by the devoted city of Jerusalem, he "A subscription for a seamen's church was, sometime ago, opened in this city. How much has been subscribed it is not in my power to state; enough, however, to justify the belief that such a church will be erected." This expectation has since been realized.-EDIT. spent whole nights in holy wrestling with his Father. In this, as in other things, he has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. The efficacy of prayer is strikingly illustrated in the case of the disciples, soon after they had beheld their divine Master ascend into heaven. From Olivet, they returned into the city; they went up into an upper room,' and there they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.' Immediately after this, Peter goes out, and preaches to the hardened Jews. The windows of heaven are opened; the influences of the Spirit descend-in a single day, thousands are converted, and added to the church. Similar has been the effect of prayer in every age. Never, I believe, have we, as a society, or in smaller companies, set apart a season for prayer, which has not been followed by more or less of the operations of the Holy Spirit; some have been awakened; serious impressions, which have been previously made on the minds of others, have been deepened, and individuals have been brought into the kingdom of Christ. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.' Let us, like the disciples, continue in prayer; let us also, like them, be of one accord. Respecting union in prayer, we have much reason to be encouraged. Our brethren, in other places, unite their prayers with ours, on occasions like this*. Let us, then, be deeply impressed with the sentiment, that the work in which we are engaged is the work of God; that without his blessing it can never be accomplished. Let us remember, that it is in our closets that we are to gird on the armour - that it is there we must gain strength to wield the weapons, to fight the battles of the Lord: 'Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.' • More If we can engage God to be with us, we need not fear. are they that are with us, than they that are against us.' Though the enemy should come in like a flood, the Lord will lift up a standard against him.' Before we, in any way, engage in this holy warfare; especially before we visit the habitations of the poor and vicious, let us, with our Bibles and tracts, retire to our closets, and there endeavour to gain some idea of the magnitude of the work of the wretched state of those whom we are about to visit; and, in view of their present misery, and that to which they are approaching in view of that great day, when we shall meet them at the bar of God-and in view of our own insufficiency, let us lift "The societies which have been formed for the same object in Boston and in Charlestown, Mass., and it is believed, the one in Charleston, S. C. have their quarterly prayer meetings on the same day with the society in New-York. Should other societies be formed, it is hoped that the prayers of all will, at the same time, ascend as incense, and mingle before the throne." up our hearts to God for his Spirit to prepare the way before us, and render the means effectual. There let rivers of waters run down, because of the slain of the daughter of God's people - there let us mourn over the ravages of sin, the desolations of Zion; and while we look around upon the slain, and ask, with heartfelt solicitude, And can these mould'ring corpses live, let us, with holy importunate resignation, exclaim: -- 'That, mighty God, to thee is known, That mighty work is all thine own. if thy Spirit deign to breathe, Life spreads through all the realms of death, They move, they waken, they rejoice."" With this important admonition, equally applicable to English as to American Christians, we must, however, again quit for a while this interesting stranger, in order to lay before our readers extracts from a variety of communications, with which our transatlantic friends and correspondents have furnished us since the appearance of our last Number. And we would first advert to the proceedings of the General Association, held at Colchester, in June of the last year, from whose minutes we extract the following resolutions; as honorable to the ecclesiastical body by which they were passed, as they will, we doubt not, appear singular to most of our readers, as little familiar as we confess ourselves to be with the proceedings and deliberations of such assemblies :— "The Rev. Messrs. Taylor and Hewitt were appointed a committee, to devise means for the suppression of the intemperate use of ardent spirits. The committee reported the following resolutions, which were adopted: "1. That one minister in each district association be appointed an agent to collect information, within his limits, on the subject of the intemperate use of ardent spirits; and to communicate the same to the committee named in the next resolve. "2. That the Rev. Messrs. N. W. Taylor, N. Hewitt, and C. A. Goodrich, be a committee, to present to the agents the several topics on which information is desired; to receive such information; and make report to the General Association, at their next annual meeting. "Voted, That this association view, with pleasure and approbation, the efforts which have been made, by benevolent individuals and peace societies, in this country, and in Europe, to lead Christians to a consideration of the real spirit of their holy religion, and of their true interests on this important subject." [pp. 6, 7.] In the same spirit they remark, in their report on the state of religion: "The General Association have still to mourn, in many instances, the intemperate use of spirituous liquors; and an increasing disposition among many to violate, and in others to tolerate the violation of the Lord's day; and other vices, which threaten the best interests of civil society." [p. 22.] We wish that the same evils were less prevalent on this side the Atlantic, and that more trouble were taken to point out, and to correct them. Conceiving also that they have a like general application to the present state of religion, religious controversy, and philanthropic exertion, in England as in America, we extract for the entertainment, and, we hope, it may prove for the edification of our readers, the following useful admonition, contained in the pastoral address of the General Association of Massachusetts, assembled at Beverley, June 27, 1820: "We feel ourselves obliged most solemnly to warn you against the influence of those fashionable errors, which, as they are specious in their pretensions, accommodated to the pride and indolence of the heart, insidious in their progress, and paralyzing in their effects, threaten, in modes extremely various, and many of them perhaps unsuspected, your faith, your purity, and your happiness. In the neighbourhood of enemies of the Gospel, in whose affability, boasted liberality, and high claims to literary distinction, you find much to divert your eye from the corrupt mass of their principles, you are liable to lose, by degrees, that keen and vigilant perception of the value of truth, without which, evangelical doctrines can have no fixed hold on the understanding, the conscience, or the affections. It is thus, we doubt not, that many orthodox men, and orthodox churches, have been carried, by imperceptible gradations, from the firm basis of scriptural Christianity, to that deceitful ground, where every step is hazard, where confidence perpetually yields to distrust, and where the hopes of a religion for sinners, are dissipated and forgotten, amidst the enchantments of a visionary philosophy. Were not the task invidious, we might illustrate this observation by examples; we might point you to individuals, and to congregations, over whose ruins Piety now weeps, as she remembers the glory whence they have fallen. With these instances before you, you will not think us too apprehensive, or too importunate, when we press upon your solemn attention, the injunctions of inspiration to stedfastness in the faith, and its warnings against apostacy. Buy the truth, and sell it not.-Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.-If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.' |