Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

The following, dated February, 1822, was received by the same person, and gives the pleasing intelligence, that religious subjects have had more or less effect upon the minds of nearly all on board.

"DEAR BROTHER,-I thank you for your kindness in sending me so many books. One of our seamen told me, that when he read the Guardian, it drew tears from his eyes. If you knew what blessed effects the books have had on board this ship, you would not think it strange that we express our thanks for them, and to the societies which publish them.

"Since writing the letter, December 26, two of the young men, then anxious, have been released from the law of sin and death, through faith in the Lord Jesus. They don't appear to be so much elevated as some you may have seen, but they have an energy of heart which lifts them above the things of the world. They are very attentive to the Bible, and endeavour to wear the armour of the Gospel, and stand before their enemies. We take a little time in the evening, or in the night, to converse on the things of the kingdom. O how pleasant is an hour spent on the mighty deep, in pious conversation! Verily, God is every where present. I believe the Lord has given us favour in the eyes of the seamen. We have no slurs thrown upon us, except by one or two young men. To them we endeavour to be faithful. Profane language is going quite out of fashion with us.

There seems

O how

to be a measure of solemnity upon the minds of all on board. deep are the counsels of God! his ways are past finding out, and his footsteps are not known. In our meditations, we find comfort from creation and providence. The starry heaven shows forth his praise; and in the element beneath us we behold the wonderful works of God. Even the finny tribe we are taking, teaches us lessons of wisdom. We have noticed, that always when they are seized with the pains of death, they turn their heads to the sun, and seem to yield up themselves with reverence to Him who made them. This has excited the wonder of some infidel minds, while we have endeavoured to make some useful comments upon it.

"O how pleasant it is to see these young men taking an active part in our holy religion! But our situation is very different from being in the bosom of the church; wherefore we solicit a continuance of your prayers for us, that we may be enabled to stand fast and show that there is a reality in the religion of Christ."

JOURNAL OF THE BETHEL FLAG.

(Continued from page 672.)

Tuesday, Jan. 28.-Two Seamen addressed the meeting this evening, and were listened to with devout attention. Three prayers and three exhortations having been made, the Rev. Mr. Truair read the 4th chapter of Acts, beginning at the 23d verse," And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God, which has made heaven and earth, and sea, and all that in them is; who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" &c. &c. He then made some practical and feeling remarks on the above, of which the following is a part: "The unity of spirit and feeling in these meetings must agree; if there is one present who cannot unite in our prayers, and what is said, it is needless for him to be here, for we have come for the sole purpose of lifting up our voices to God, for seamen and others. And you, brother seamen, with us can say, why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" No doubt some or all of you present, have seen them bow down to their idols, and lacerate themselves almost to death, supposing their idols could help them. No doubt you have said to yourselves, these are vain things.' But O, where is your God, who has made, supported, and protected you? If you could realize this question, it would produce groans unutterable." I hope what he said on this important subject," says the chairman of the committee, “will have its desired effect, on all those who have seen the heathen rage, and bow down to stocks and stones. A sailor lately called on me for a Bible. He had been sixteen years in the India Ocean and China Seas, and two years on the Island of Japan, where he saw nothing but idolatrous enthusiasm, which he treated with derision. Although he saw many gods, and many who bowed down to them with the greatest sincerity, he never thought of worshipping his God, because he was invisible and could not be worshipped.' I asked him if his views of the Deity were still the same? "O no: I returned from India by way of Europe; there I saw people assemble to worship my God which I had so long neglected to do, it made some serious impressions on my mind. After I returned to New-York, and to my parents, who are pious, those feelings which I had in England increased, and more so by the reproof of a brother only twelve years of age, who often told me I was going to hell! for I was a heathen, for I would not go to the Mariners' Church nor Bethel meetings. Although I never saw him before, what he said affected me very much, and I complied with his request, and at one of the Bethel meetings I felt much distressed, and have been so ever since, and I am now determined to worship the God of my fathers all the days of my life, and will endeavour to be as zealous in that as the heathen are to their idols.'' Mr. Truair then led in prayer-the Rev. Mr. Chase made a solemn address and prayer, which, with the doxology, concluded the devotions. Many tracts and reports, with the Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazine, were distributed.

February 4th.-The Bethel meeting was held (as usual on Tuesday evenings) at Mr. W.'s Sailor Boarding House, No. 317 Water-street. The room was filled with seamen, their wives, and others; and a most solemn season of prayer, praise and exhortation was enjoyed. There was much fervent suplication for seamen on the ocean, on the land, and in all circumstances. The report of this meeting expresses great enPouragement in the success of the Gospel among our maritime brethren.

Journal of the Bethel Flag.

703

11th. The Committee were highly gratified in seeing a large number of mariners present, and some who had not attended before. The exercises commenced with singing the 77th hymn in the Seaman's Devotional Assistant, (The Star of Bethlehem,) and there was a union of feeling and utterance in all the exhortations and prayers. A sea captain was present, who never was at one of these meetings before; by request he took a part in the exercises, and gave an appropriate address-stating that he was a stranger to all present, and but little known by any in the city of New-York: he said his heart rejoiced in what his eyes saw. The hymn which had been sung, suggested to him that it was the "Star of Bethlehem" which had directed him there: "While walking the streets this afternoon (said he) a paper was put into my hand by a stranger. It read as follows: A Bethel prayer meeting will be held this evening at No. 317 Water-street,' which has brought me here. I am filled with wonder at what the Lord is doing for seamen." He brought to view the wonders and dangers of the ocean; and his observations were designed to show, what not one present could deny, that of all the people on the globe, none need to be more pious than seamen. He could mention from the experience of many years, the various dangers, in storms and tempests, rocks and sands, to which the sailor is exposed, and his frequent speedy flight from time to eternity.

Two young men were present, who are preparing for the Gospel ministry, and took a part in the exercises.

Four prayers were offered up to Almighty God, and five addresses, suitable to the habits of seamen, were made, begging them in the most affectionate and solemn manner possible, to comply with the invitations of the Gospel. It is now generally known, a seaman cannot be easily frightened about his body or soul: his feelings must be wrought upon by bringing to his view his awful situation, which he will listen to-that will affect his heart and subdue his will.

Many tracts, Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazines, reports of the Marine Bible Society, Bethel Union, and Port Society, were distributed.

18th. An aged captain commenced the exercises with the following address: "My dear seafaring brethren; no doubt some meet with us from week to week, who were never here before, and are unacquainted with the design and purpose of these meetings, and it may be so this evening. I tell you, they are for the benefit of the souls of seamen; it is not for your bodies, but for your souls: we know you care but little for your bodies yourselves, and less for your souls. You do not care for honour nor riches; you care but little for God or man; many have no desire to be officers or commanders of vessels. What do you care for? You cannot answer this question. I will answer it for you-it is for dissipation and debauchery, regardless of money, body or soul; you traverse the ocean for months and years, return to your port, receive your wages, and in six days you are penny less; this I know to be a fact with respect to many who have arrived in New-York.

"Now why will you not become pious, and the disciples of Christ? and follow the example of the apostles, who were nearly all seamen ? When you are at sea, refrain from swearing; read your Bibles, and pray

two or three times every day; and when you are on shore, abandon the houses of dissipation and ill-fame,-and take up your abode in such a house as this, and with others who are willing and desirous to have Bethel meetings. You might then become the happiest and most pious people on the face of the earth; you might set an example, for landsmen, and follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and become the inhabitants of the upper world."

The Rev. Mess. Truair and Chase were present; also a number of sea captains, three of whom engaged in addresses and prayers; one of them was never at one of our Bethel meetings before. What he said appeared to affect the hearts of all present. After making an apology for his inability to give a suitable address in such a meeting as that, and in the presence of divines, he began to relate what a vile sinner he had been: it was a wonder, he was not now lifting up his eyes in endless wo! and crying for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue! for he had often been exposed to precipitate death, with many who were taken away on the right hand and on the left. In a late yoyage from Newport to Havanna, one of his men was aloft taking the royal out of the bicketts on the topgallant yard, fell on deck and was dashed to pieces. This was on a Sunday morning, and although he had a thoughtless crew, it was as solemn a day as he ever saw, and not a smile was to be seen on the countenance of one on board.

His prayer was very affecting; and all the exercises of the evening were very solemn and interesting.

25th. One hundred ears were open to receive instruction concerning what the Lord says in his holy word to sinners The Bible and Christ was the theme of all the exercises, directed principally to seamen, at the meeting this evening. "O most wretched and foolish sinners, (said one of the committee) why do you not look forward, and prepare yourselves for the day of the righteous judgments of God: the more you indulge yourselves in sin, the more severe must be your punishment; the pains will arise from every man's sins, overwhelmed with waves of flaming fire. One hour of torment there, will be more insupportable, than a hundred years of the severest penance in this life; no respite of pain, no consolation of sorrow, will be found. If you are able to bear but little now, how will you then bear such amazing and lasting torments? He that loveth God with all his heart, fears neither death, judgment, nor hell, because, perfect love casteth out fear.

"Blessed is the man who loves Jesus: you must relinquish the love of yourself and all creatures, for Jesus will be loved alone. No doubt many of you have profaned his holy name. O love him and cherish his

love, who, though the heavens and the earth should be dissolved, will not forsake you, nor suffer you to perish; permit him to have the sole possession of your heart, and he would dwell with you continually. When Jesus is present, all is well, but when he is absent, the least adversity is found insupportable."

The exercises were as usual, and much devout attention was paid. A collection was taken up for a poor Sailor's wife, whose husband was then laying dead in her house, and who left her with several helpless children.

To be continued.)

[blocks in formation]

MEMOIR OF MRS. HANNAH GAMAGE.

THE subject of this notice was the daughter of Mr. Hen. Ten Brook, and the wife of Mr. Amory Gamage of this city. Her parents were members of the Unitas Fratrum, or Moravian Church,-a denomination of Christians, never to be forgotten, but always to be esteemed and loved, while missionary labours among the perishing heathen, hold their just value and importance among the followers of the Lord Jesus. From her earliest years she displayed an amiable temper and no ordinary mind. In her external deportment "she feared the Lord from her youth," so far as the judgment of charity could determine; but it was not until her eighteenth year, that she manifested any special attention to the interests of her soul. She then ardently hungered and thirsted after righteousness, and became scrupulously attentive to her public and private religious duties. Having received a religious education, and her habits having been strictly moral, there appeared nothing remarkable in her conversion unto God. She was awakened by "the still small voice," and like Lydia, her heart was opened to the things which belonged to her peace. Conscious of her lost and ruined state by nature, her hope of pardon and acceptance with God rested entirely on the righteousness of Christ, apprehended by faith.

She was married in the autumn of 1812, and in the spring of 1813, joined the communion of the Presbyterian church in Cedar-street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Romeyn.

Humility was the most conspicuous feature in her Christian character; and to glorify God her most ardent desire, Her chief enjoyment seemed, next to fellowship with her reconciled Father, to render herself in the highest degree useful to others, and contribute to their happiness. For this purpose she spent as much of her time as she could in reading the Scriptures, and pouring forth her soul before the Throne of Grace in prayer.

The fruits of her religious exercises in private, appeared in her charity to the poor, and sympathy with the afflicted. Besides her prompt attendance on the public and family ordinances of worship, she was for many years a member of two female associations for prayer, with whom she met twice in the week when her health would permit. The hours thus spent, she considered among the happiest and sweetest of her life. Her believing sisters still surviving, 89

VOL. IX.

« AnteriorContinuar »