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It is peculiarly incumbent upon all connected with the sea-girt isle to seek the true happiness and honour of this portion of their brethren. It is under the influence of such convictions that this attempt is now made. If it shall operate to induce others, better qualified than the contributor of this offering is, to engage in prayerful labour for the temporal and eternal welfare of our fellow-sinners who carry on our maritime affairs, he will not have come forth in vain ; and, if their exertions and productions shall be a thousand fold more 8uc« cessful than his, none will rejoice more cordially than he. It is after repeated and manifold trials that approximation to perfection is reached. It is hoped that a field almost new and unbroken will attract some of those who consecrate their literary ability to the Lord. We have Scripture warrant for extemporaneous prayer. We are enjoined *'to pray without ceasing, and in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make our requests known unto God." We have numerous in- stances of individuals and companies addressing God in language arising out of the circumstances of the moment. And the whole scope of our Lord's teaching on the subject in His Sermon on the Mount implies that the utmost freedom is allowed us of our Heavenly Father. On the other hand, we have also encouragement from the Inspired Word in favour of fr. miFACl. Liturgical devotion. From among the Psalmi that were lued as formi in the temple services he may refer to the 90th Psalm designated *' A prayer of Moses the man of God." In that inspired composition the illustrious leader of Israel sup- plicates both for himself and the congregation. Though written primarily at a time of distress and anxiety, it is appli- cable to man and the Church on earth in all generations. Viewed as a prayer of Moses, it admirably points out to every man of God, and every one of the seed of Jacob, the spirit which he ought to cherish and evince. He who employs forms of prayer should regard them as mere' helps. He should have a depth and a length, a heighth and a breadth of desires, feelings, confessions, sentiments, and aspirations which forms may stimulate, but "which they cannot supply. Prayer after all is most essentially personal converse with God. No man can adequately express all the experience of another at the throne of grace. There are secrets in the soul, hopes and fears, social affections, joys and sorrows, ten thousand emotions which the man for himself can alone express. This will help to show us of what unspeaka- ble moment is solitary and individual communion with the Hearer of prayer. However necessary and invaluable the privileges of public and social worship are (and they are so in a high degree) yet to be alone with God in prayer is most indispensable to Spiritual life and prosperity. The Divine Teacher Himself has said to every one of His followers, " But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which Is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."* When this exercise is regularly and conscientiously ob- • Matthew 6, 6. a 1 1 &t trere the 90th .. od." In ael sup- Though is appli- i irations. to every he spirit them as heighth timents, ich they ^rsonal sail the lere are joys and iselfcan 1 f speaka- • dth the hie the »j re so in is most Divine ] ,«But ! en thou et, and [ily.»»» " ily ob- . VRirACI. Y» served by the sphriiually minded suppliant, the soul will be prosperous ; when much neglected, the graces of the Spirit languish and the fruits of holiness are stinted or retarded. There can be no Dhrine life where it is altogether unknown. How delightful would it prove to be able to convey to the ** babe in Christ" an adequately correct idea of how much knowledge and wisdom are communicated to the faithful fol- lower of the Lamb when on bended knees and with prostrate spirit he is alone with God. How elevating that converse I No wonder the Christian is wiser than the unbeliever. What a flood of light is sometimes poured into the inner man when engaged in this hallowed employment ! The disciple is never more near to as his Master than there. Away from the world, away from every thing earthly, he is then truly a follower of that Jesus who was wont frequently to seek the retirement of the mountain, or the secrecy of tlie desert, or the retreat of the garden, that he might secure an opportunity for fellow- ship with His Father. And this example all His people should imitate. *' The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him ; and He will show them His covenant."* " He must be alone with God at the hour of death." At that awfUl period the tendcrest and the dearest of all earthly friends cannot ac- company us. How wise then, how urgently and impressing- ly proper to learn previously what it is to be alone with God ! Let then those who are alive unto God fear lest at any time they grieve the Holy Spirit by the omission of this im- perative duty. In prayers the adoption of a standard of character is una- voidable. That standard, the author apprehends, can only be that of one seeking Grod and therefore a child of God. So * PlBlms 25, 14. fi MIFACI, ( ' soon as any of the fallen family of mankind draws nigh to the Hearer of prayer in truth and earnestness, he is a par* taker of the life of God " Behold he prayeth** is an intima- tion that the sinner has passed from death unto life, even as the cry of the neiv-born infant is the first demonstration of its life. Obviously then in the preparation of a devotional guide it must be assumed that the offerer of prayer is a re- pentant and believing sinner. The Author has not hesitated in the following composi- tions but preferred to borrow largely from the Book of God, and especially from the Psalms, which is almost entirely a Book of inspired prayers. Many of the sentiments and much of the language are purely ''"om that source. This will be a guarantee that, so far at lei.jc, »vhat is introduced is suitable and becoming as an address to the Most High at the footstool of His throne of grace. As ha who would be strong in faith or ** noble" in the I'ratcrnity of the flock of Christ must *' search the Scriptures daily," a portion of the Divine Word is indicated to be read along with each prayer. Usually the selection for the morning is from the Old Testament, that for the evening from the New Testament. Occasionally a hymn of praise is specified which may be sung and a few ' meditations' are added with the prayers, which, it is hoped, may not prove unacceptable. Of course it is not intended that the preparation of a series of prayers for the morning and for the evening shall be con- strued as intimating that nothing more than these is needed. Undoubtedly not less than three regular seasons of private daily prayer lihould satisfy the disciple of Jesus. Both what is requisite for growth in grace and what we are taught in Scripture go to impress this upon us. Here the Psalmist's nigh to I a par« intima- fe, even istration ivotional * if a re- composi- [ of God, entirely a ind much Mrill be a suitable footstool ; in faith rist must ne Word ually the lent, that [onally a id a few hoped, a senes be con- needed, private ^th what Lught in ialmist's K PaEFACK. VU. resolution may well be appropriated, ** Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud ; and He shall hear my voice."* While such ought to be our regular, periodic, habitual practice, it is equally clear that special seasons and occasions ought alM) to be observed. How emphatically is this taught in the example of the Blessed Redeemer. Previous to setting apart the twelve Apostles to their sacred office, He spent the whole night in prayer to God.f And this is but one of the instances furnished by the Evangelistic history of the Son of Man's being watchful unto prayer. It is the author's very earnest prayer, that his work may have the effect of bringing the reader increasingly to the Word of God. One influence of the preparation of it upon his own mind has been to enable him profoundly to sympa- thise with the excellent writer who says, " In the Bibl* there is more that finds me than all I have experienced in all other books put together ;— the words of the Bible find me also at greater depths of my being. In the Bible I have found words for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterances for my hidden griefs, and pleadings for my shame and my feebleness." W^hat a running spring of devotion does the invaluable Psalter supply to the Church and children of God ! Not only does the composer of prayers find in it a perennial fountain from which to draw, but every Christian and every company engaged in devotional exercises will instinctively borrow from this hallowed sourse. It needs only be addtd that the principle, upon which the author of this humble production of Christian literature has • Psalm Ad, It. t Luke 6, 12, IS. I iii.ii;,wri'B8P : », -U ▼iU. PBSFACl. sought to go, 18 that erery member of Christ is bound to do whatever he can in his Master's cause* It is not by the seraphine alone or by the " principalities" of heaven alone that God is honoured. He graciously accepts the homage and the service of the humblest of mankind when they pro« ceed from the contrite and loving spirit — and as the high '' orders" of the celestial sanctuary have nothing to boast of when they have done all, having only rendered that dutiM tribute to the Infinite God which their position demands, so the least of the disciples of Jesus is imperatively called on to advance to the utmost of his power the glory of his Lord by the coAsecration of the whole man to God, and by striving to carry out the merciAil and elevating purpose of Jehovah, of blessing man by man, of saving the perishing sinner by the instrumentality of the sinner ahready saved. DEVOTIONS AND SERMONS. THE CREED. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth ; and in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Manr, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried ; He descended into hell ; the third day He arose again from the dead ; and ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; Uie holy Catholic Church: the communion of saints ; tiie forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. THE LORD'S PRAYER. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name* Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us notinto temp- tation ; but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amxn. PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES. Lord, Thou hast caused Thy Holy Word to be written for our instruction and salvation. In it Thou unfoldest man's disease and the remedy. ** For the sake of the Saviour of men, here revealed as the Way, the Truth, and thf^ife, pardon all my sins. Thy Word b a lamp unto my fee^w^d a light unto my path." Be pleased to bless my daily reading and search" ing of the Scriptures. May I experience their quickening and sanctifyiug influences. May they be profitable to me ** for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in right*> eousness." All this I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, my only Saviour. Amen* a2 10 DEVOTIONS. A CHILD'S MORNING PRAYER. Lordj my Heavenly Father, I praise Thee for keeping me in safety throughout the past night and this morning. I praise Thee for my life and all the blessings of life. Above all I praise Thee for Jesus Chnst, Thine unspeakable Gift. For His sake pardon all my sins. M ake me a new creature in Him, and good by His Holy Spirit. Teach me to love and to obey my dear father and mother, to love my sisters and brothers, and to be dutiful in all the relations of life. Bless all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Have mercy upon the Jews and all mankind. Graciously accept of me through Jesus Christ my only Saviour. Amen. A CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER. O Ii^rd, my Heavenly Father, I praise Thee for all the bless- ings of the past day, and for ail the blessings that flow to me through Thy Beloved Son. Pardon for His sake all my sins. Pardon the sins I have this day committed. Create in me a clean heart and make me a good child by Thy Holy Spirit. Bless my dear father and mother, all my dear relations, friends, benefactors, and well-wishers. Forgive my enemies. Look in compassion upon all mankind. Watch over me this night for good, preserve me from all evil, and, if it be I'hy holy will, may I awake and arise on the morning of a new day to praise, love, and serve Thee for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. This night I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep ; If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. 1 DEirOTIONS. 11 A SEAMAN'S PRAYER ON CHRISTMAS DAT. Read Matthew, Chap. 2nd, God of my life and sahation, I beseech Thee to enable me now to engage in Thy holy worship. Give unto me that faith without which it is impossible to please Thee ; for *' he that Cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re- warder ofthem that diligently seek Him." May I not only have faith in God, in Thy existence, perfections, and government ; may I also believe in Jesus Thy Beloved Son. 1 hrough faith in Him may I be enabled to draw nigh unto Thee as a lov« ing child to my Heavenly Father. Blessed be the name of God, that, though in my first fedelral head I became a sinner, by the second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, I obtain regeneration and life eternal; How glorious is that promise which Thou didst give to fallen man, that the Seed of the woman should bruise the Serpent's head. This gracious intimation, oft repeated, with ever increasing clear- ness, animated Thy children before the beatific day arrived when Christ was born. O God, I am reminded this day, which 1 in Thy good providence am permitted to see, of Thy faithfulness, truth, and redeeming love. When the fulness of the time had arrived, Jesus was born in Bethlehem according to the prediction of the prophet. Praised be Jehovah for the birth o( this Incarnate Son of God. He came to publish peace on earth and good-will to the children of men. O may I have tiie blessedness of the people who know the joyful sound. Thou faithful and covenant-keeping God, I praise and mag- nify the riches of Thy grace, that I have seen the day of the Son of man. What kings, and prophets, and righteous men of old desired to see and hear. Thou hast vouchsafed unto me even on the stormy deep, when " the fresh sea sprinkles the sloping deck." O that I may be faithful to the obligations under which I am laid by Thy goodness and grace. May Jesus be my Saviour. May I ever have room for Him in my soul, in my dwelling, in my business, in my life, in my joys, in all things. 12 SSVOTIONf. Lord,*T2ioa hast, indeed gtymi atrong consolation to tbem who hare fled for refuee to Uie Hope set before them in the Gospel. Glory be to Him Tvho came in the name of the Lord to saTcf sinners. In Him Thou, O Eternal Father, art ever well pleased. In Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. O I adore Thee for this embodiment o( Thy Divine attributes in the man Christ Jesus. How happy for poor darkened sinners I He that hath seen Thee, O Adorable Saviour, hath seen the Father, for Thou art in the Father and the Father is in Thee. Without this manifestation I never could have known God. May I now contemplate the beauty of holiness as exhibited in my Lord and Redeemer, and be enabled by His faith to grow up unto the measure of the^ stature of a per* fett man in Chriit. Maj the return and associations of this day be salutary to all who celebrate it. May all Christians r^oice holily in Him who is <* the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.'' May the salutation of the High Priest of His people be everywhere diffused throughout the earth until all nations and people shall bow down to Iramanuel. , And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost shall be the glory, world without end. Amen. A SEAMAN'S PRAYER FOB THK LAST NIGHT OF THE TEAB. Bead Pscdms 90 and 103, MEDITATION. How similar is the year to human life on earth ! Both have their youth and their early joys. When spared to maturity of age, man looks back and remembers his youthful days when the spirits were light and hope was high, when the eye was bright and the cheek unfurrowed, when the disappointment* and sorrows of the world had not impressed anxiety on the countenance or driednip the warm aflfections of the heart. How affectingly does the time call for self-examination, re- pentance, and renewed dedication unto God ! Have I indeed been pardoned freely through the redemption that is in Christ 1 And, if I am a recipient of such inestimable felicity, what re- turn have I made to my Gracious Saviour 1 Have I been re« DSTOTIONf. 13 deeming the time io tliat I miglit be a strong man in Christ 1 Have I carefully prated and contributed, and laboured, and striven for my Christian and for my unsavcxl brethren ? O what entreaty of Divine mercy, what humbling of myself, what godly sorrow, contrition, repentance should such en* quiries awaken and produce. PRAYER. Lord, Thou hast been the dwelling-place of Thy people in all generations. Thou art the everlasting God. Ofolahast Thou laid the foundations of the earth ; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt en- dure *, yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment : as a vesture shdt Thou change them, and they shali be changed; but Thou art tlie same, and Thy years shall have no end."* I meditate with admiration and delight upon Thy forbear- ance, love, and compassion to man. "Like as a fatlwr Sitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 'or He knoweth our frame ; He remembereth that we are dust. As for man his days are as grass ; as a flower of the field so he flourisheth ; for the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But tfie mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children, "t What solemn thoughts, O God, does the close of the year bring with it t Grateful homage and praise are due to Thee who hast kept me in safety throughout the days and nights oi the year that is now closing. At sea and ashore, when tossed by the terrific storm and when sailing with the fair wind filling my sails, God hath been with me, — with me for good, multi- plying loving-kindness and tender mercy unto me. And now, O Heavenly Parent, I have an enhanced feeling of Thy good- ness bestowed upon me every morning and every moment, every evening and every hour of the year that is so rapidfy hastening to its end. Glory, glory be ascribed to Thy most Gracious Name. So teach me henceforth to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. • Psalm los, 2.9, 2r. t Psalm M)9, 13» 17. 14 DEVOTIONS. How soon irill my last day come ! How soon shall I stand at the judgement-seat of Christ \ How soon shall all my conduct and character be unrolled before an assembled uniyerse ? God of my spirit, God of my salvation, who hast loved me with an eternal love, prepare and make me ready for that day of days. May the time to come be better spent than that which is past. May the coming year if I should be spared to enjoy the precious blessings of life during its course, be the happiest of my experience. Most devoutly do I seek to praise Thee for Thy compassion and grace during the days that are ended. Thou hast sustained me in safety and health, from injury and death throughout another year. Thou hast led me by a way that I knew not, Thou hast satisfied all my returning wants, filling! me with food and gladness. Thou hast also been the Gracious Father providing for the necessities of my soul. For the sake of Thy Beloved Son Thou hast given me ThvWord and ordinances, Thy Sabbaths, Thy throne of grace and Thy Holy Spirit. What shall i render to the Lord for all His benefits 1 I mourn over my shortcomings and my sins; alas I how' few and imperfect my fruits of righteousness ! let not another year pass over my head without great spiritual im- provement. How many, who began the year with as bright a prospect of seeing its termination as I had, are now lying in the house appointed for all living ! — in the grave — where there is no work, wisdom, knowledge, nor understanding ! O as the living may I ever praise Thee by my life. Bless my beloved friends and relations. May those who are not in Christ hasten to Him for pardon and salvation. Lord, ma.ce speed to save them, make haste to help them. Bless the Tract Society. May it be increasingly honoured and useful. Bless those Bible Societies to which it gave the first impulse. Bless all Christian enterprises, labourers and associations, for Thy glory and the good of mankind. May Thy special favour rest upon my fellow-seamen with whom I sail and ail our brethren. May the new, the coming year be a period of great good to them. May many be everlast- ingly saved. And unto I'hee the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be all glory both now and for ever. Amen. '■ shall I 1 shall all H wembled H vhohast fi eadyfor f ivhich is 1 to enjoy ■ happiest ■ Ihee for B e ended. ' ■ jury and I »y a way I ^ wants, I been the oul. For ^ord and liyHoly tenefits 1 us ! how' let not tual im- IS bright lying in :re there ! Oas ■ )se who 1 ion. ^^m p them. ■ onoured ■ ;ave the 1 era and ■ . May 1 1 whom 1 ng year 1 verlast- 9 ind the 1 men. 1 DKV0VI0N8, 15 A SEAMAN'S PRAYER TOR THE riRST DAT OF THE TKAB. Almighty and Everlasting God, Thou hast in Thy great goodness permitted me to enter upon a new year. In Thy good and merciful Providence Thou has given me to see another of those epochs that make up the life of man in this world. I hope then that I, a frail and sinful mortal, can repoice in Thy Eternal and Unchangeable existence ; " For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it b past, and at a watch in the night."* Enable me to begin this year aright. I believe that noth- ing is so appropriate to the incjming of the moment of a New vear as prayer to God. And the first day of the year should be one of special prayer; I would this day dedicate myself anew to Thee, the God of my life and salvation. Keep me this day from sinful levity and godless mirth. While I may on a New Year's day participate with gladness and gratitude in the social enjoyments that are uLtural and suitable to the season, may I ever chiefly and above all things seek after spiritual improvement and holy nearness to my God. May the love of Christ constrain me to judge that Christ died fnr me that 1 who live may not live unto myself but unto Him who died for me and arose again. O satisfy me early with Thy mercy that I may rejoice and be glad all my days. Grant unto me the fulness of pardon that is sealed to the believer in the blood of Christ. And grant unto me a vivid sense of the reception of this pardon. May I realise this precious boon and that right early. Even now. Heavenly Father, bestow it upon me. Let not this day, this hour, this approach unto Thee pass away witliout my ob- taining it. I (.esire with all my heart to love Thee supremely and to turn from all my sins. Give me Thy spirit and grace that 1 may be altogether conformed to the image (x my Saviour. Forbid that I should henceforth walk in con- formity with the world. May I be transformed in the renew- ing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Thine. From this day forward * Psalms 90, 4. 16 oivoTioirt. may I fenre Thee with that holy joy which is the Hirthrleht dT the new creature in Christ Jesus. May this grace of Tny Spirit be e?er more my happiness. May it be mine in the day or earlv and of more advanced life, in tlie day of health and that of sickness, in prosperity and adversity ; in all my cir- cumstances may it be my blessedness to possess it. May this j^ushing fountain of rejoicing in my soul console me at all times. I pray for blessings upon those with whom I am connected by nature, friendship, and grace. I thank thee for them* Alas ! how death assails tiie dearest ! I already know what it is to have lost the friends of my childhood and youth, and I shall more and more feel of the separation caused by ^e in- satiate archer that I am a stranger on the earth. Sanctify, O God,^all the relations of life to me. Ard sanctify those by Thy Spirit to whom I sustain^these relations. May the new and now revolving year be one of increased blessings to us. May Thy love fill our hearts. May we repent more thoroughly and live more godly in Christ Jesus than in days gone»bye we have done. For Thy temporal and spiritual mercies of the past year I desire to give Thee glory and praise. Pardon my misimprove- ment of them. How often may I have been as the unfruit- ftil tree that was in danger of being cut down as a cumberer of the ground. God, give me grace to walk in newness of life. Be pleased to bless the nations of the world. Bless my countiy. Bless the Church of Christ throughout the earlh. Bless tiiat portion of it to which I belong. M ay zeal fbr Thy glory and love to souls stimulate her to increasing labours. May the population at Home and that of the world at large engage her prayers, her alms, and her efforts. May Jew and Gentile be everlastingly l>enefited by her. May her pastors be wise to win souls and watch as they that must give account. May her office-bearers be actuated by the spirit of Christ. May her members be truly Christian, ready to distribute and willing to communicate. May she be a blessing to great multitudes far off and near. Regard with Thy pity the poor and needy. Compassionate L DKTOTIONS. 17 the fatherleu^ the widow, and the stranger. Be the God of the mariner on the periloua deep, and of all who trarel br land or sea. Comfort the mourner, succour the distressed, roUeve the suffering, and prepare the dying for etemitj. Have mercy upon those who are living without Qod in the world. Confirm and perfect Thy work where there is some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel. " From lightning and tempest ; iVom plague, pestilence, and famine ; from battle, and murder, and urom sudden death. Good Lord, deliver us." Even now. Heavenly Father, be with me. The longer that I live, the more may I be ready to die and meet for the in- heritance of saints in light. And now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invinble, the Only- Wise God be glory and honour, dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. A PRAYER SUITED FOR A DAT OF HUMILIATION, FASTING, AND 8BKKINO QOD WITH BENEWED BEPENTANCE. lUad Hosea, Chap, 13th, God my Heavenly Father, I now repair to the footstool of Thy throne that I may pour out my soid before Thee. Like Israel of old I too am a backslider. I have fallen by mine iniquity. My ingratitude and want of supreme and constant affection to Thee are rebuked in the language Thou didst em- ploy to Thy peculiar people. '* 1 drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." Thou didst draw me also '* with cords of a man ;" for by Thine own Son hast Thou spoken un- to me, by His life in human nature. His sufferings, His death. His resurrection. His ascension to the right hand of The Ma- jestyfon High, the outpouring of His purchased Spirit/Hislall- prevailing intercession. His providence, — by all that pertains to the Mediator, Son of God and Son of man, hast Thou drawn me and sought to draw me more to Thyself. *' With bands of love" also hast Thou designed to comfirm me in love to Thee, the God of love. By all the manifested love of Thy Only- Begotten Son j and especially by^His dying and deathless love, hast Thou been uniting me to Him who is One with Tliee, the 18 DCrOTIONf. Father, in the everlasting covenant of love not to be forgotten or broken. But alas ! though, I trust, I may say I have tasted and seen and felt that Thou art gracious, yet how much have I to mourn over. Even since I believed in Thy Beloved Son, how much of backsliding has characterised my course. This has retard- ' ed my progress in the Divine life. Alas ! Every day of even mv regenerated state has shown a series of departures from Thee, the fountain of living waters. Yet through Thy mer- ciful forbearance and restoring Spirit I return to Thee ; for, my Father, I cannot remam away from Thee. "As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul for God, the Living God.'* This is Thy doing. Lord. Thou still drawest me " with cords of a man, with bands of love.'* Hed^ my backslidings and love me freely. Pardon all my sins, and sanctify me wholly. How great is Thy loving-kindness ! Thou teachest me in Thy Word what as a returning sinner I should pray for. May 1 take with me words and plead with Thee for remission of guilt and the renovation of Thy Spirit that I may be able to render Thee " the calves of my life" in fervent praise. Lord, help me. Send help from on High. Save Lord or I perish. Work in me both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure. Divine Spirit of Christ, incline and enable me to be entirely conformed to the image of my Lord. It belongs to I'hy work to aid the striving sinner that his heart and mind and life may correspond to Thy revealed Word. My trust is in Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the God of my salvation. Enable me, O Lord, ever to choose Thee and the things of Thy kiagdom for my chiefest joy. I would prefer ** the dew of heaven to the fatness of the earth" — to " plenty of corn and wine." Give me those graces of the Spirit which are the manna hidden in the dew. Give me out of the infinite fulness of Christ even grace for grace. ' Henceforth may I walk more worthy of my high calling. And to Thy great name. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost shall be all the glory, world without end. Amen. BZVOTIORS. 19 seen for, A MEDITATION. Home, Chap. 1 3. Thii Chapter affbrds admirable matter fbr the child of God returning in godly contrition to his Heavenly Father. Venie 3rd is capable of exquisite analogous sugges- tion. ** Assher shall not sare us ; we will not ride upon horses ; neither will we say any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods." These had been prominent sins of Israel. How obvious the lesson to the repentant believer t This chapter should also induce a yearning desire and prayer- fulness for the time when God will most fully be as tiie dew unto Israel. How glorious is the Father's promise to the Son.—** Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness as from Uie womb of the morning i Thou hast the dew of Thy youth." The chapter appears suitable for a day or season of fasting } and fasting will always be binding on tke Chriitian so long as he has to mourn an absent or an offended Lord. PRAYER FOR A SEASON OF SPKCIAL THANKSGIVING. Read Revelation, Chap* 22nd. Thou God of free and sovereign grace, with feelings ci adoration and gratitude beyond what I can express would I now approach unto Thee. O Thou blessed Jtedeemer, what words do flow from Thy lips I They are sweeter than honey to my taste. What soul-striving, spirit-elevating testimony hast Thou caused to be inscribed on the page of Inspired Truth ! I there hear Thee saying—** 1 am the root and the offsprine of David, and the bright and morning star." O how affecting ! How drawing ! How irresistible to me I I would respond, ** Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for Thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of Thy good ointment Thy name is as ointment poured forth."* How precious is Thy name, O Immanuel ! — ** the root and the offspring of Uavid, and Uie bright and morning star !" To Thee, O Jesus, David's Lord and David's Son, the origin and the offspring of David, to Thee I owe every thing. * Song of Solomon, l, 2, 8* 20 DKTOTIONf. To Thee erery belief er owes all that b good andfelicttoua in man or to man for time and for eternity. To Thy Incarnation, O Thou Eternal Word, we are indebted for the rerelation of Divine Truth in the Holy Scriptures, for pardon of sin, illu- mination of tlie fOul, holinesa and eternal life. To Thy bleaied work of redemption, pledged in the couniels of eternity, is all the aalfation of sinners to be ascribed and the glory of it for erer. What Iotc can be compared to Thy love 1 It is love unparalleled. How infinitely beautiAil as s^n in the promised Deliyorer on the day of man's first transgression and onwards to the hour in which Thou didst bow Thy head on CalTanr's CrcNis and pronounce respecting Thy undertaking, ** It is fin- ished !" To Thy mediation are owing all the agency, and all the machinery, and all the instrumentality by which such poor sinuOTs, as I am, are invited and broueht to Thee for life ever- lasting;. Thou art the Fountain of llring waters, the Rock of Safration, the ReAige and Dwelling-place of Uw returned sinner. To Thee we owe the gladsome inyitations of the Gos- pel—so free, so uniyersal, that whoever wili may take of the water of life freely. Henceforth may my life be hid with Christ in God. As for whatever others do, O may I live to God and be entirely consecrated to Thy gloiy. I would live looking for the second coming of my Lord. Make me ready for that glorious ap- pearing. May every duty be discharged, ev6i-y pleasure en^ Joyed, every privi* ge improved, under the influence of His coming, "with ■<. sin unto salvation." '* Now unto Him that is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faults less before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the Only* Wise God, our Saviour, be glory a >cl majesty, do- minion and power, both now and ever. Amen." A SEAMAN'S PRAYER IN SICKNESS. Read Hebrews, 12th Chap, Enable now, O Lord , a ^ruilty creature such as I am to draw nigh unto Thee, the G«t^ with whom I have to do. In Thy hand are the issues oC Hie T' ou kilhst and Thou makest alive. From Thee comodr tho bright c!iy of health and pros- perity, and the dark day of adversity and sickness. All things i DITOTIONf. 91 come of Thee. I am TMne, O Lord. By Tfaj goo<^n6M I At firit breathed the breath of life and beeame a liring crea« ture. Thy piteinal proTidenee hath erer watched over me and sHPtv'r'Mi uie. Though I have often forgotten Tlicey Then l:a.4 >r ^t forgotten me. Alaa I how I hare for- gotU 11 Thee, mj DiviiM Benefactor. I have been ungratefiil to ilo ' jiintain of all my bleasinga. CompaMionate and rt rdon for Jefui Chriat'a sake the una of my life, my mur- iuiirings, and all the iniquitiea of my past life. It beioraes me on Uiis day of sore trial and sadness to hum- ble myself and to repent in dust and ashes. I know that '* affliction cometh not Arom the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. I would therefore ** seek unto God and unto God would I commit my cause : Who doest sreat things and unsearchable ) marvellous thines without nuinber } Who givest rain upon the earth, and aendeat waters upon the fields : To set up those that be low } that those which mourn m^ be exalted to safety." Lord, Thou art now dealing with me. Thou art speaking to me in this affliction* O may I {properly liear what God the Lord doth speak. May I be wise to know. For Thou speakest peace to Thy people who return not to folly. O that I may be among this number t Make this, most merciful God, for the sake of the Saviour who shed His blood for per- ishing, guilty sinners, not only a day of rebuke, may it be a day of mercy to me, and may meicy ngoice against judgement. Whom Thou lovest, most Wise Father, Thou chastenest, and scour^est every son ivfaom thou receivest. Give me the adoption of Thy children. Pour out upon me the Spirit of viirist that I may cry unto Thee, Abba, Father. But woe is me I have resisted Thv Spirit, and des^eed the blood of the everlasting covenant, die only blood that can take away sin. I have loved evil rather than good. I have sinned against light and love. This day my aum-^eem to rise up in judgement against me. I have deserved Thy wrath, O Thou Holy One of Israel. Yet spare me. Remember Thy mercy, and that Thy Only Son died for hell-deswing sinners. Draw me, O Jesus, and I will run after Thee, for in Thee tkme have I pardon, righteous^ ness, and strength. Hast Thou not declared that whosoever 22 DEVOTIONS. cometh unto Thee, Thou wilt in no wise cast out 1 Blessed Lord, I now come weary and heavy-laden. for justification and peace in believing ! Give me the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, to keep my heart and mind. Free me from all my sins. Deliver me not only from hell and punishment, but from the sin of my soul in all its ..spects. I see and feel something of its odiousness. It is infinitely hateful. O save me from it. The burden (jf it is intolerable to me. rny Redeemer, Thou sayest " Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden.*' Thou promisest rest to them, Lord Jesus. I now come, I fully believe that " Thy yoke is easy and Thy burden light." Overrule this trouble for good. If consistent with Thy holy will, spare me a little longer upon Thy footstool. I would praise Thee in the land of the living. If Thou, O Lord, art f>leased to restore me, may I valk before 1 hee in newness of ife. I now commend my soul and every thing that concerns me into Thy hand. M ay transgressors learn Thy law ; and be turned unto i'hee. O may Thy glory be declared in great multitudes being saved. Listen, Heavenly Father, to these my impei feet supplications, and grant me an answer of mercy and love for the sake of Thy Only Begotten Son, my only Saviour. Amen. PRAYER SUITABLE FOR THE OCCASION OF A FUNERAL AT SEA. Read I Corinthians, Chap, 15. Sing Paraphrase 8, 1 1 . O Everlasting God, ** Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Iteturn ye children of men. Thou carriest them away as with a flood." Verily, O Lord, ** we spend our years as a tale that is t(Jd." How solemn is the time ! How solemn is the place ! How solemn are our circumstances ! How solemnising this awful hour and this sad duty that we now perform ! It has pleased Almighty God, the Author and the Disposer of all existence, with whom are the issues of life and death, to take from this mortal life the soul of our poor dear brother. He hath de« parted from among us, and from among all the living. His DEVOTIONS. 23 spirit hath returned to God who gave it. And yve now com- mit hia body " to the deep to be turned into corruption" un- til that glorious day when the dead shall arise and the sea shall give up the dead that are in it, when '* this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immor- tality." O God of the spirits of all flesh, Thou omniscient witness of the whole man, Thou knowest how powerfully and sadly we are at this moment afflicted. How lately was our brother one of us. He partook of our joys aud sorrows. But now he hath no longer " a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Death hath claimed him for his prey* The insatiate archer hast pointed his unerring anfi fatal dart. Our brother hath gone the way which all the living in their turn must tread. He shall not return to us,n)ut we shall each follow him. We do now commit his mortal remains to this watery grave. And all our consolation and hope are in I'hee, O God. blessed Jesus, Thou canst disperse the gloom of this terrible hour. Thou canst cast light even upon the dark caverns of the tomb. Thou didst Thyself sleep in death and lie in the grave, and Thou hast triumphed over and overcome both death and the grave as well as every other enemy on behalf, and as the representative of Thy people. Thou givest to Thy disciples ** the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life." May we, the living who know that we must die, lay i^ese things to heart. Thou hast the keys of the in- visible world and of death. The world of spirits will at the appointed period yield the souls of Thy ransomed children, and the grave, whether in the depths of ocean or in the sepulchres of earth, shall yield their precious deposits, and soul and body be reunited in a felicity without imperfection and without end. O Thou, most Glorious Jehovah Jesus, may each of us now be washed from our pollution in Thy all-cleansing blood, made one with Thee and holy as Thou art holy, having Thy Spirit abiding with us, that we may be found among the number of ** the blessed" when Thou shall appear in the judgement. And the glory shall be all and eternally thine. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. 24 DXV0TI0N8* AFTER INTERMENT. God with whom we have to do, we adore Thee as infinite- ly wise and good. We know that death hath passed upon all men because all have sinned, We bless Thy name for The Re- velation of Thy love in Christ Jesus. In Him we know that whosoever liveth and believeth shall not die eternally. may we be partakers of spiritual life in Thy Son. May He be " the Resurrection and the Life" to us. For whatever is comforting in connection with our dear deceased brother, we do now give Thee humble and hearty thanks. Sanctify to us who yet remain this awful dispensation of Thy providence. Be Thou the God of hope to us. Teach every man of us to say, ** To me to live is Christ and to die is gain." O give us that holy faith so beautifully displayed by the patriarch, and enable us to say with him," I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upou the earth. And^ though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."* What shall we render to Thee, O Lord, for tfie glorious and abundant promises of Thy Holy Word with respect to the future 1 May we henceforward live under the influence of the Archangel's trump. We know that the hour is coming when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man and shall come forth. They too that sleep in the un- fathomed caves of the sea shall hear it and respond. Praised and glorified be the God of all grace and salvation, that among the most august of all congregations, when all shall stand at the seat of Christ, and when the Judge shall issue His decision, then will be found men of the sea, poor sailors, who will be comprehended in the beatific sentence ** Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." O God, grant that we may be among the number through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. • Job 19,25,2r, DKV0TI0N8. DAIIiY PRAYERS. 25 FIRST DAY, MORNINO PRATER, WEDNESDAY. Read Isaiah, Chap, 45. Almighty and most ^lerciful Father, I desire to draw nigh unto Thee with the profoundest reverence and humility, that f may call upon Thy most holy name with adoring supplica- tion, devotion, and praise. I would come now and ever rest* ing all my hopes of acceptance, pardon, and holiness upon Jesus, Thy Beloved Son. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits ! How great has been Thy goodness unto me, O Thou God of my life, in days that are pas'. ! It is of Thy mercies that I am not consumed, because Thy compassions fail not. '* They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul ; therefore will I hope in Him."* Above all things would I praise Thee, Eternal Father, for Jesus Christ, Thine unspeakable giifl. Blessed be He who came in the name of the Lord to seek and to save lost sinners. I come unto Thee, Fountain of purity, deeply convinced of my sinfulness. By nature I am corrupt and vile, unfit for the soci^ ety and not meet for the inheritance of saints in light. By prac- tice and habit al^o I am sinful. Adored be the God of con- descending and most amazing love, who encourageth such sinners as I am to trust in the Divine Saviour whom He hath sent into the world. I hear His voice in the Word of Revelation saying, **Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.''* Lord, I am earnestly solicitous to obey the gracious mandate and by a living faith appropriate Him who is omnipotent to save. I believe that He and He only is able to meet the case of any sinner. And I cannot doubt His willingness who gave Himself a sacrifice and a sin-ofiering for guilty man. O Thou, Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, save me, I beseech Thee, a most guilty and wrath-deserving rebel. Surely, O my Saviour, I am moved by Thy love. Draw me and I will run after Thee, for Thou art the Lord my righteousness and salvation. * Jeremiah, 3| 23, 24. A3 I 26 DEVOTIONS. I hare again, Heavenly Father, in Thy Providence been enabled to enter upon a new voyage. I have seen the shore and the places of busy concourse receding from my view* I am now again for a season to be as if secluded from the society of men in general. My fellow-seamen and I are tc be companions. May He, who is the God of the sea and ot the dry land, bless us and make us blessings to one another. When I look around and behold only the firmament of heaven above and the deep blue sea around me, it becomes me to be deeply awed and solemnised. When I reflect upon the past, O what devout gratitude should I feel towards Thee, my un- wearied Benefactor and Preserver. Many who began the voyage of mortal life along with me are now tenanting the hpuse appointed for all living. Some of them are reposing beneath the clods of the valley and some in the depths of Ocean, O may the living and may I lay the solemn thought, that we too must rapidly follow, to heart. Give me grace, God of all grace, to prepare for the future and to be ready for the summons of the last messenger. When I shall stand at the jud£ement>seat of Christ, may I be found washed in His precious mood and clothed with His pure righteousness. At whatever time I shall sleep in death, may I fall asleep in Christ. Even now I hear my Lord saying, '' Lo ! I come quickly." With humility, faith, and love I would respond. '* Even so come. Lord Jesus, come quickly." That I may be thus blessed, be pleased to bestow upon me. Hearer of prayer, the indwelling and influences of Thy Spirit. May the character of the man be mine who '^ walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of 8in^ ners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful ; but his delight is in the law of the Lord $ and in His law doth he meditate day and night"* While I implore from Thee ability to consecrate myself to Thee in profound love, I also fervently supplicate Thy rich blessings to descend upon our Commander, ship's crew, and all on board. Speed and prosper us, if it be Thy holy will, with favourable breezes; above all send us, Good Lord, '^Fslams, i, 112. DSTOTIONS. 27 spiritual life and prosperity. May we all rercrence Thy name, sanctify Thy Sahbath, and attentively read and hear Thy holy Word. May we be the prayerful disciples of Christ. I now commend me, (Giver of all good, to Thy paternal direction and favour this day. Keep me from sin. May I be enabled to honour Thee in the proper discharge of every du- ty and in the proper enduring of every trial. Be graciously ever present as the God of love and peace with those who are especially dear unto me. And may many come from the East, West, North, and South, who shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven. Mer« cifully accept of me and answer my prayer through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. FIRST DAY, EVENING PRATER, WEDNESDAY. Read Eph£sian8f Chap. 5. O Thou^whose I am and whom I serve, do Thou bend a sracious ear to the voice of my humble prayer. By the Spir- it of Christ outpoured may I be enabled to worship in rev- erence, faith, and love. With Thee, O God, is the fountain of life, in Thy light shall I see light. I come unto Thee that I may confess and forsake my sins. I acknowledge that I am by nature sinful, that my heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and that I have committed in my practice the two great evils of forsaking Thee, the Fountain of living waters, and of hewing unto myself cisterns, — broken cisterns that can hold no water. Deeply sensible of my guill, I desire to humble myself before Thee, and to repent in dust and ashes. Give me that repen- tance that needeth not to be repented of. When I behold what sin is, as seen in the suffering and death of my Redeemer, how can I but hate and turn from it 1 Especially would I do so in my own case. Adored be Thy name, O Thou against whom I have sinned, I have Thy prom- ise that, confessing my sins. Thou art faithful and just to for- give me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.* • 1 John 1,9. s» DBVOTXONf« Thou art inviting'and oommanding me to believe for pardon and eternal life in the name of I'hy • 'nly-Begotlen Son. Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief. Grant me true repentance and the assured reroiseion of my sins. May I walk in the fiiar of tlie Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. May grace and peace be multiplied unto me. I entreat Thee, Heiivenly Father, to bless me throughovt this voyage. During the days and nights of its continuance may I advance in all goodness, righteousness and faith. Dailv may I prayerfully peruse and search Thy holy Word. May it be my counsellor and the rule of my conduct. May I drink deeply of its spirit. May I be sanctified through its truth. Impress upon my heart the lessons I have just been read- ing- May fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness \3^ far from me. May I also avoid filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting, which are not convenient. Forbid that whoredom or intemperance should ever take away my heart. May I keep myself pure. May I be truly awakened from the sleep of carnal security and the death in trespasses and sins. Vuy Christ be in me my life. May I walk circumspectly, not as a fool but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. May my life henceforth be *< by the faith of the Sor. of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." May I be one of Hii true and lively members. Bless all who are very dear to me. May they be partakers of Divine life in their souU. Multiply grace, mercy, love and peace unto Israel. Have compassion upon all mankind. Holy Father, I now commit me to thy guardianship and love. Protect and keep me through the night-watches. May I awake to praise Thee. ** Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only- Wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." DEVOTIONti 29 SECOND DAY, MOBNINO riATBRy THURSDAY. Read 2nd Chroniclet, Chap, 26. Enable mo, O most Gracious God, to approach and worship Thee in spirit and in truth. I come unto Thee in the name of my Glorious Mediator, Christ Jesus, 1 belieTe in Him as « the Way, the Truth, and the Life." God of everlasting love, I am amazed at Thy goodness and compassion in having provided for such a guilty rebel and lost sinner as I am the Son of Thy love to be a High Pri)est such as is fitted for mj nature and wants. On His sacrifice and all-prevailing intercession I do now entirely rely. In myself not only am I vile, I am helpless also. I am both without good and incapable of doing good. But in Thee, O Lord, is my heljp found. 1 am taught by my Heaven- ly Master—" Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye riiall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : For erery one that askelh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; asM to him that knocketh it shall be opened."* may I know, Blessed Jesus, experimentally the beauty of the precept and the faithfulness of the promise. 1 feel, O Thou Holy One of Israel, an earnest and a longing desire to do all that is right in Thy sight. Enable me to do this not merely according to any religious education I may hare received, but according to the spirit and tenour of Thy Holy Word. May the Holy Spirit savingly discover to me its spiritual bearing. May I understand the length and breadth of Thy law. When Thou sayest unto me, *' My son, give Me thine heart," may I most coi^ially reply, " Take me wholly. Lord, in soul, body, and spirit — a Kving sacrifice accep- table through Jesus Christ." When Thou seyest unto me, "Seek My face," my heart'responds, " Thy face, Lon", seek will I." Surely it is Thyself, Lord, that hast worked in me to will. And surelv, O Thou that hearest prayer, Thou wilt answer my supplication and work in me to do thy holy pleas- ure; this is the carrving-out of Thine own work. May that • Matthew 7, 7, 8. 30 DEVOTION!. work of sanctification be carried on until the day of Jesus Christ. Unless I'hou accomplish all this, I shall come ruin- ously short. But my hope is in the Lord } from Him cometh all my expectation. May I be enabled to follow Thee fully, God of all grace. I am prone to rest satisfied with the gill and ungratefully to forget the Divine Giver. By Thy preventing grace, O Hear* venly Father, deliver me from this sin. May I daily deny myself, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. May I crucify the flesh with all its afl'ections and lusts. Enable me to slay every idol, whether pride, vanity, ambition, love of the world, whatever it may be. Let me have no reservation either in striving against sin or in an entire surrender of the whole man to Thee. Should it please Thee to visit me with advancement ar^ success in life, may I never forget to whom I owe it all, the responsibility that attaches to superior trust, and the ac- count wliich I shall have to render of my stewardship when I shall be no longer a steward. May it be my aim to glorify Thee in all things. May my conversation be such as be« cometh a ransomed member of Chriiit. I pray, Gcd cf the Bible, for Thy effectual blessing to accom- pany my reading of Thy Word this morning. O may I ever be humble and contrite. By nature I am the subject of a leprosy more Althy and dreadful than that which the pride of his heart entailed upon king Uzziah. O may I be washed and may I wash again in the all-cleansing fountain of my Ransomer's blood. And, after I have plunged in the Jordan of death, may I be separated from all remains of my spiritual plague and be made perfectly holy for ever. Be with me for good this day to the beginning of which Thou ha^t in Thy goodness kept me. Bless my shipmatesj relatives and friends with the joys of Thy salvation. May a glorious company of the human family be made partakers of life everlasting. And the glory shall be Thine, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. DEVOTIONS. 31 SECOND DAY, EVENING PRATER, THUB8DAT. Sing Pmlmt 146, 8. Rea^ GalatiuM, Chap, 3. Unto Thee, L n J Fathek', I this evening draw nigh in the name of Thy Only-Begotten Son. Enable me by faith to behold the Lamb that was slain. May I feed upon Him as " the Bread of life." May He be made of God unto me wis- dom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. I adore Thee, God of salvation, for Thy wonderful and mys- terious method of saving the sinner. How glorious is that Blessed Gospel by the faith of which the Jew and the Heathen, they that are far off and they that are nigh at hand, they that dwell on the land and they that sail on the sea, are saved, i praiseThee that Thou didst before the advent of Messiah make the promise of His coming conducive and effectual in the sanctification of believers. How beautiful and grand the company that even then looked to Him and were saved ! I praise Thee for the record of the faith of Abraham, for the preaching of the ** good news to the father of the faithful." May I be blessed wiih faithful Abraham. May I be a partak- er of that faith by which he was justified without the deeds of the law. May the law be my schoolmaster to bring me to Christ. In it I see the purity and the perfection which Thou demandest of Thy rational and moral creatures. Nor has sin changedthe nature and extent of these requirements, though it brings me under the curse of that law which is holy, just, and good. I feel that so far from having continued in all things written in the book of the law to do them, I have vio- lated the spirit, if not the letter of all. Out of Christ, I must sink under the terrible curse which Thy justice denounces against transgressors of Thy law. O Lord Most Merciful, O God Most Holy, forbid that I should be out of Christ. There is no condemnation to the sinner in Christ Jesus. In Him may I have pardon and righteousness. How innumerable and various have been my sins of thought, word, and deed, of corruption and desire, of lust, anger, and selfishness^ of want of love to Thee and to 32 DSVOTIONf. my neighbours, I am lost if held to that covenant of works whose terms are—*' the man that doeth them shall live by them*" But I betake myself to Jesus as my Saviour. I take hold of that better covenant than that made with Adam, —of the covenant made with the man Christ Jesus for man, —of the covenant of eternal love made with Thv OnIy-Begot« ten and Well- Beloved Son on behalf of all believing sinners. may I by the Spirtt of Thine Anointed be enabled to say, " Christ hath redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me And, while thus enabled to cleave by faith to my crucified Redeemer, grant that I may also, by tlie sanctifying operation of His Spirit, become righteous even as He is righteous. May I be strong in Him and in the power of His might. May I be taught to say — '' In the Lord hkve I righteousness and strength." Father of all, I earnestly supplicate the same blessing for my dear friends, relatives, companions, and especially for those of this ship's company. May they awake to righteoi'!*ness and sin no longer in the sleep of carnal security and uncons eem. Watch over us this night. May goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives aud may our dwell ing-plaoe be in Thy house for ever. May my repose be healthful and hallowed. May I awake and arise on a coming day, if it be Thy holy will, to serve and,'glorify Thee. And to Thy gre5Lt name. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, shall be ascribed the king- dom, the honour and the glory, world without end. Amen. THIRD DAY, MORNING PRATER, FRIDAY. Read Psalms, Chape. 7 and 8. With profound reverence. Almighty God, would I now draw nigh to Thee, and worship at the footstool of Thy throne. Thou graciously encouragest the sinful children of men to come unto Thee in the day of salvation. I believe, O God, that this is the day of my merciful visitation. In it may I know the things that belong to my peace. Justified by faith, may I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ. '* The entrance of Thy word giveth light, it giveth under- standing to the simple." Accompany, O Lord, my reading of DBVOTIONft 3S it with the laving influences of Thy Spirit. May I be enlight- en* d, convinced, quickened to newneu of life, and carried forward in progressive sanctification by His Divine agency in my soul. How glorious, Eternal Father, is Thy everlasting love to man ! Thou didst not withhold Thine Only Son, but didst give Him up to the death that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. Praised be the risen and glorified Redeemer who commanded the Gospel to be E reached to all the world. *' Blessed are the people that now the joyful sound " Grant unto me, I beseech thee, Heavenly Father, that a holy life may evidence that I know the glad tidings and am being sanctified through the Truth. From day to day may I in- creasingly experience the renewing of the Holy Ghost. May I be strong in faith and fervent in love. May the Spirit of all grace seal me un*.o the Day of Redemp- tion. May He enable me to cry unto Thee, Abba, Father. Lord, receive me into Thy family as one of Thy adopted chil- dren. Whether I am the son of Thy handmaid or bought with Thy mercy,— whatever plea I can urge, oh let nothing keep me in a state of separation from Thee. Hast Thou not sent Thy Son to seek and to save vile, hell-deserving sinners, ready to perish, such as I am 1 Therefore save me, I implore I'hee. Behold, O God my, shield and sacrifice ; look upon the face of Thine own Anointed. Thy propitiation is infinitely sufficient and valuable. For the sake of His atonement and meritorious righteousness may I be accepted in the Beloved. O Lord, Thy children ** are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from their vain conversation, but with the precious blo^ of Christ as of a lamb without blem- ish and without spot.'' O give me to know that I am so ran$>omed. for the continued witness of Thy Spirit to bear testimony with my spirit that I am a child of God. Make me at last " a babe in Christ." Adored be Thy nanie, the sins of even the " little children" are forgiven from the hour of their new birth by the Spirit of Jesus. May this beginning of all spiritual and heavenly blessings in the soul be mine. May my sins be forgiven. May I be able to rejoice evermore 34 DEVOTION!. and pray without ceasme, until prayer in the world that now if be merged in the praue of " the world to come." Bless and be with mc ^bi« day. I thanic Thee for ttie good- ness and mercy of the past night and this morning. Enable me faithfully to discharge every duty. If it be Thy holy will, may I have favour and good understanding in the sight of man as well as in Thy sight, God. Bless my associates and all who sail with mc. Bless those at home whom I love. Bless with increase of grace and comfort I'hy people every* where. Have compassion upon a peril hing world. All that I ask is in the name of my Only Saviour. Amen. THIRD DAY, t BVBNING PRATER, FRIDAY. Sing Psalm 11, 3. Read Oalatians, Chap. 6. With profoundest reverence, O Lord, do I now seek to {trostrate myself at the footstool of Thy Throre. How excel- ent and adorable art Thou, the infinite fountain of all good ! In Thy presence all Heaven fall? prostrate} all holy angels and blessed spirits, all cherubim and seraphim, aU orders, principalities and powers worship Thee. In this they delight, by this they are exalted — becoming men like the God whom they worship and love ; they thus drink of the river of the pleasures which make glad the city of Jehovah. They never grow weary of inhaling the sweet odour of tliat atmos- phere that continually reminds them^of Thyself^ the source of all happiness and honour. Lord, what am I that Thou permittest, nay dost most gra- ciously encourage me to draw nigh unto Thee 1 Glory be to the God of sovereign grace, who hath revealed His Son as the Great High Priest interceding on behalf of poor, guilty, repentant and suppliant sinners. How precious is that coun- sel of Thine which teaches the abased transgressor to flee for refuge to the Hope set before him in the Gospel ! Adored be Thy name, the terrors of wrath that were rear!y to descend upon him shall never come near him. In Jesus Christ the Righteous he finds " the propitiation for his sins," his ''Ad- DEVOTION!* 86 voeattt" with the Father, hit ** Hiding place" from the itonr, and his conformity with Thy holy law. God, may I be among the number of those who are en- abled to appropriate the consolations of such blissful truth. May I in reality be Christ's. Sufl'er me not to deceive my- self with a name to live while yet I am spiritually dead. Let me not think myself to be a member of Christ if I am ** nothing" in Him. I would examine myself whether I be in the Faith. I know that I shall stand at the judgement* seat of ** the Son of Man", and that He as the unerring Wit- ness and Judge, will recompense me according to the deeds done in the body. O forbid that I should then have to bear the burden of my sin and guilt. Rather, I most earnestly beseech lliee, grant that I may now know what it is to " groan being burdened," so that I may personally and for myself obtain deliverance in my Crucified Redeemer. Give me. Thou Giver of all good, the Spirit of JeMis. May the same mind be in me that was in Him. Truly I think I love all those who are His members for their love and likeness to Him. May the law of brotherly kindness and charity be in manifest operation in the followers of the Lamb. May they bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of their exalted Head. As I have opportunity, enable me to *^ do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the house- hold of faith." O make me. Heavenly Father, conscientiously devout and diligent. Pardon the sins and short-comings of the past day. May every new day, that it may please Thee to add to my life on earth, find me growing in grace and improving in aU things. May I never lose sight of the Rock, — the Foundatf ^ upon which I am built. May I be a lively stone of tl.at glorious spiritual fabric which Messiah is now erecting up*e the inhabitants never weary in their felicity and enjo^^ ) . All this I humbly ask in the name and for the scJke o^ Js ;/ j Christ, my Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. EIGHTH DAY, EVENING PRATER, WEDNESDAY. Read Ut Peter, Chap. 4th, Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth. ! Thou hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Yet adored be the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, it hast pleased Thee out of the mouth of babes and sucklings to per- fect praise. Whilst Thou hidest the tuaysteries of everlasting love from the wise and prudent. Thou revealest them to every one that is humble and contrite, that trembleth at Thy Word^ and seeketh as a little child to enter into Thy kingdom. O Jehovah Jesus, Thy disciples arc composed of these in whom there is this spirit of humility, self-abasement, and sub- mission to Thee. To such are the consolations and promises of Thy grace addressed. O associate me with this class. By Thy unmerited love and life-giving Spirit,be pleased to include me in their happy number. O Spirit of the Lord, accomplish in me the convictions,manifest unto me the truths of Salvation, and shed abroad in my heart that love of God— which are all marks of the believer in whom Thou dwellest. Teach me to pray, and intercede for me " with groanings tliat cannot be uttered." 54 DEVOTIONS. Lord, my Heave / Father, 1 have sinned and done ini- quity in Thy sight. All my transgressions have been against Thee. Yea, against Thee, Thee only have I sinned. enter not into judgement agahist me. I could not answer Thee for one of unnumbered thousands of my sins. My own conscience tells me that I am guilty, Thy holy law condemns me, and Satan joins against me as an accuser. This great enemy of my soul seems to insinuate that, seeing I have so provoked Thee in childhood, youth, and manhood, Thou wilt be to me a God of retribution and not a God of pardoning love, blotting out in everlasting oblivion all my sins. I feel as if He brought up continually my pollutions buore me. When tried by difficulties, by the treatment or slights of men. He appears to suggest that these are not the discipline and loviiig chastisements of a Redeeming and Covenant God, but the award of an angry Judge who hath forgotten to be gracious. And, when 1 call to mind how unworthy a servant 1 have been, how I have dishonoured Thee ever since I knew the Truth and embraced Thy Son, O I am deeply. Thou know- est how deeply I am cast down. But, O Lord most Merciful, O God most Holy, O Righteous Father, hast Thou not Thyself made me a partaker of that faith which believes that the blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son cleanscth from all sin 1 O then give me the comfort and happiness of this holy faith working by love, purifying the heart and overcoming the world. Give me peace in believing. Justified freely by Thy grace through the Redemption that is in Christ, may a sense of pardon and of the light of Thy reconciled countenance lifted up upon me enable me to rejoice with a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. Henceforth, O God, may I abide under the shadow of Thy wings. May I have the assurance of Thy love. May I walk in growing holiness. And finally may I be admitted to the house of many mansions which my Redeemer hath gone before to prepare for his Church and children. May this also be the portion of those beloved ones who are very dear to me and of all for whom [ ought to pray. I now commit me to Thy Divine guardianship this night. Never leave, nor forsake me, be my God and guide wliile 1 live, my confidence J at m DEVOTIONS. 55 at the hour of death, and my eternal portion vrhen time to me shall have terminated^for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. NINTH DAY, MORNING PRAYER, THURSDAY. Sing Psalm 15. Read Isaiahf Bbth Chap. Almighty and ever Blessed God, with profoundest reverence ;vould 1 ni}w approach the footstool of Thy throne and invoke in the name of my Glorious Mediator and Intercessor Christ Jesus, the outpouring of Thy Holy Spirit. Most ardently do I desire to be holy as Thou art holy. Thy will revealed is that Thy children be holy as their Father in Heaven is holy. O may the felicity be mine of reaching this grand attainment. For this purpose may the Spirit of thy Son dwell in me, working in me all the good pleasure of thy goodness. May I be " filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." O Lord, grant unto me the character of the man " that walketh uprightly, and worketh ri^!;teousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to liis neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against hib neighbour : in whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord."* O fulfil in my happy experience what it is to be thus conformed to thy law. May the image of Christ be formed in me. Blessed Saviour, by the power of Thy Spvit Thou canst cause even me, poor and guilty as I am, to reflect it. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, may I be changed into the same image from glory to glory, evert as by the Spirit of the Lord. May the model of goodness, as delineated in the Holy Scrip- tures and embodied in the person of the man Christ Jesus, be copied by a mighty multitude whom no man can number. O how spirit-stirring — how exhilarating to anticipate even the coming to Zion of this ransomed throng, — the sons and the da Jghters of the Lord Almighty, with songs and everlasting * Psalm 15, 1,4. 56 DEVOTIONS. rejoicings ! Adored be '^ Father for His pledge to the Son, — " Thy people shall b: illing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holine^'is .;om the ivomb of the morning."* O God, my earnest prayer is that many of this ** willing people'* may be brought from among those who " go down to the sea in ships." Bless for this purpose the Christian exer- tions that are put forth for the temporal and eternal good of seamen. May prayer be practised among them and profane- ness be repulsed o£f with Godly sorrow. May they be delivered from uncieanness, intemperance, Sabbath-breaking, and all unrighteousnei;s. May purity, chastity, sobriety, the sanctifi- cation of the Lord'3 Day, and whatsoever things are just, true, honest, charitable, generous, lovely, of good report, be strenu- oudly aimed at and by Thy all-sufficient grace realised. Bless Thy poor servant this day, Lord. Be with me all the day bng. Accept of my hearty thanksgiving for the peace, and preservation of the past night and this morning. Guide me by Thy counsel while I live and afterwaroj receive me to Thy glory with all Thy ransomed children through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen. NINTH DAY, EVENING PRATER, THURSDAY. Read John, 18 and 19 Chaps. Ever Blessed and most Holy Lord God, I adore Thee who art just, true, and merciful. I behold Thee in Jesus as the Just God whilst Thou art mindful of Thy covenant and the Saviour of guilty man. How affecting is the record of what my Substitute suffered when he offered Himself a sacrifice for sinners ! Eternal glory be ascribed to the Father of Salva- tion and to the Lamb that was slain, who as the Surety of His people failed not to pay the full ransom-price of their Kedemp- tion and to drink to the dregs the cup of wrath which their sins had merited. May that *' blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel" be applied to me by God the Holy Ghost. * Psalm 110, 3. DEVOTIONS* 6t iie Son, iwer, in willing clown to m exer- good of )rofane- elivered and all sanctifi- ist, true, i strenu- !d. h me all for the norning. i receive through lee who IS as the and the of what rifice for Salva- y of His iedemp- heir sins peaketh God the O may I indeed belong to that holy Church of blood-wash- ed, Spirit-sanctified members who are one with and in Christ. Lord, enable them to exhibit the unity of the living, mystical body. May peace and love reign in their hearts. Praised be their adorable Head, their unity will ever bo maintained as was that of this seamless, symbolical coat. O may this unity be increasingly cherished and its beautiful compactness illus- trated. Accept, Heavenly Parent, of my heart's gratitude for Thy providential goodness throughout the past day. Thou art preserving us in health and prospering us in the way we go. Thou art animating us by Thy kindness in speeding us on our voyage. Thou art keeping us in perfect safety. Thou art m;:ltiplying Thy blessings unto us. To Ihy great Name be glory and praise. Bless and keep as the apple of Thine eye all who are espec* ially dear to me. Bring them with all I'hine elect children and Thy unworthy suppliant to life everlasting through the merits of our Redeemer. Amen. . A MEDITATION ON READING JOHN 18 AND 19. How unspeakably grand are the scenes whose enactments are here registered ! I behold Him in whom the Father de- lighted, the Man of His counsel, — Him whom legions of angels would have rescued, had He sought or suffered them to do so; I see Him betrayed by the perfidy of a professed friend and follower, arrested and seized by His enemies under cover of night, conducted by a ruthless band to the palace of the high priest and thence to Pilate's judgement-hall. In the next act of this most dreadful tragedy the Son of God b seen ** scourg- ed'^ by an unprincipled and unjust judge, insulted by an in- furiate rabble, mpcked, buffeted, spit upon, smitten by the hands of a profane soldier, at length condemned by the un** righteous administrator of law, suspended upon the accursed tree where in addition to the sufferings in the garden during three terrific hours of darkness He endured the agony of the wrath and curse of God by whom he was " forsaken" for a time, and finally closing -his' eyes in death. f, 68 DEVOTIONS. Yet even in death faith discovers the sufferer victorhus. By death He vanquished all His and His people's enemies. " For*as-much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same ; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondaii^e."* I admire the minute narration of the disciple whom Jesus loved. He shows the fulfilment of Prophetic Scripture in the death of his Lord ! How wonderful are the ways of God ! I see a delightful illustration in the open, courageous, and loving avowal and respect rendered by Joseph and Nicodemus in the burial of Christ. How honourable are these good men in their pious conduct ! May God bless their noble example to me and many, many more. TENTH DAY, MORNING PRATER, FRIDAY* Read Psalm 25. I desire, Almighty and Everlasting God, to come unto Thee this morning with most solemn reverence and humility. I praise Thee that Thou hast sustained me throughout the hours of darkness and sleep. Thou keepest us in safety amidst the perils of the deep. Vouchsafe, Lord, to keep me this day from sin. Enable me now to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, in faith and love. May my sacrifice be that of a contrite spirit trembling at Thy Word. And may it be graciously ac- cepted through the merits of my Redeemer. ** Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. my God, I trust in Thee." May the Spirit of love dwell in me. May my mind be sound in its views and operations. May my communion be with Thee the Father and with Thy Son Christ Jesus. May I be fully possessed with humble and believing confidence in Thee. Give me to know that Thou art not an* gry with me, that Thou art pacified towards me. Thou art in Christ reconciling a guilty world unto Thyself, not in\puting. * Hebrews 2, 14, \5, SBVOTIONS, 69 iclonous. enemies, 'flesh and me ; that power of 'ough fear lom Jesus Lure in the I of God ! ;eou8, and >licGdemu8 good men e example unto Thee mility. I t the hours amidst the s day from d in truth, a contrite iously ac- my God, I me. May May my Son Christ 1 believing irt not an- 'hou art in ; in^)uting. unto men their trespasses. O Lord, I confide in Thee as a God of mercy. I trust in the all-cleansing blood of the Lamb that was slain. I acknowledge, Lord, that in my daily progress through afe I continually contract defilement. Adored be the God of mercy and grace, I am encouraged and commanded to wash again in the Blood of Atonement. " He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit."* Wash thou me, Lord, and I shall be clean indeed. Heavenly Father, the sins of my youth and of my riper years frequently come before the vision of my mind, the iniq- uities of my days of unregeneracy and my oft unworthy conduct even since Thy Spirit hath quickened me : — all seem to rise up agauist me as pleading for my condemnation. O Father, whatever chastisement it may please Thee to visit up- on me, correct me not in wrath, but in love, O Thou tender- est and wisest of Parents. Blessed be Thy name, the Atones ment is infinitely adequate for my guilt. Take away then all my sins. JVlake my repentance more thorough, so that temptation may not overcome me. M ay my faith be simple and strong, may my obedience be loving, consistent, and progres- sive. Be pleased to bestow the blessings of the Covenant of Thy Love upon those whom I in particular love. Have mercy up- on mankind. Establish Thy people in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation. And the glory shall be Thine, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. A MEDITATION ON BEADING PSALM 25. Verse 2. The child of God here manifests saving and ap- propriating faith. *' O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed." Here is the confiding love of faith. Here is the spirit of adoption — " my God,'* We should fervently and untiringly seek for this temper and spirit* We should, if by grace we have attained it in any degree, cultivate it more and more. We should fear losing it in all the fulness of its con- * John 13, 10. 60 DEVOTIONS. solation. We incur this clanger by grieving the Holy Snirit. Carelessness, neglect, coldness, formality, and the preralence of the carnal mind — all oppose the indwelling and influences of the Spirit. Verse 14. ** The secret of the Lord," here spoken of, implies a clear and correct knowledge of the saving truths of the Gospel such as they only who fear the Lord and are spirituallyminaed ever experience. The love of God reigns in the heart. His love is manifested to the soul. ** For the froward is abomina* tionto the Lord : but His secret is with the righteous."* Such persons obtain increasing conviction and satisfaction respect* ing the truth of Christ (John 7, 17). They are made to participate more and more of the Holy Ghost. Fijsrther *' the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him" as to their own election. What a source of unspeakable comfort is sometimes afforded to the child of God by this doctrine, when otherwise desolation and sadness would pervade the soul. The knowledge of the believer becomes a sort of natural instinco tive perception of what is holy and what is not. The con- firmed Christian has the testimony of God*s Spirit witnessing with his own spirit that he is a child of God. (Romans 8. 16, Ephesians 1. 9, 18, Revelation, 2. 17. TENTH DAY, EVENING PRAYER, FRIDAY. Sing Psalm. 146. Read Acts, Chap. 3rd. Most Merciful Heavenly Father, I would now come before Thee to praise Thy name and supplicate blessings through Jesus my Mediator and Intercessor. All Thy works praise Thee. *' Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live praise the Lord, I will sing praises unto God while I have any be- ing."! O Grod of Jacob, may the happiness and the hope be mine of the man who hath Thee for his help. Thou art the Maker of ♦ Proverbs 3, 22, t I'salm 146,2. OEVOTIONS* 61 all things visible and invisible. Thou keepest truth for ever. For the sake of the Divine Angel of the covenant hear my prayer. May I as one of the seed of Jacob prevail in prayer. May the Angel that blessed and redeemed Jacob bless and save me. May I be one of the spiritual children of the father of the faithful. May I be strong in that faith ivhich Abraham ex- ercised when he was made heir of the righteousness of faith. May Thine ancient people soon be convinced that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob hath glorified His Son Jesus. May they see in the crucified Nai^arene the Messiah promised unto the fathers. And may they repent and be converted that their sins may be blotted out. Together with all Israel maT the fulness of the Gentiles be speedily brought in. Bless all Christian and prayerful exertions that are used for this pur* pose. Bless the enterprises and the labourers. Maythetime^ the set time to favour Zion, soon be fully come. O Thou who hast given me to be united to Thy ransomed Israel, accept of my devotion. Blot out my innumerable sins. If it be Thy will to lengthen my days of life, O may the future be holier than the past. Into Thy keeping I commend me. May I be visited with refreshing and invigorating repose. May a devout influence rest upon me when I sleep and when I awake. " Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer*" Amen. ELEVENTH DAY, MORNING PRATER, SATURDAY. Read Psalms 29 and 30. God, I adore Thee as the King Eternal, Immortal, In- visible, — " God only wise." Thou art great, and greatiy to be praised, Thou art to be feared above all that have sway or sovereignty on earth. *' Honr *r and majesty are before Thee, strength and beauty are in Thy Sanctuary. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad ; let the sea roar and the fulness thereof."* * Psalm 96, 6, 11. 62 DKVOTIONI. I remember, JehoTah, with awe and admiration that, though Thou art High, Thou hast respect unto the lowly. Though Thou inhabitest eternity's praises, and dwellest in the High and Holy Place, Thou condescendest to dwell also with " er ery one that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirif of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." O how affecting is this goodness of God to fallen man ! Though Thou art worshipped, served, and glorified by the unfallen and loftiest of created beings with all their pure affections and supernal intelligence, yet dost Thou, O Best of Parents, humble Thyself to come nigh to and bless the unworthy children of men. Love and tenderness, compassion and forbearance characterise all Thy procedure towards re- pentan^, returning man. To bring him into this state and the blessedness of which it is the precursor. Thou didst not spare Th^ Son, — Thine Only Son whom Thou lovedst, but didst deliver Him up to the death for us all. What majesty, mercy, and love Divine are conspicuous in the mission of the Incar- nate Saviour. Eternal glory be ascribed to the Father, tlie Son, and the Holy Ghost, the God of our salvation. Heavenly Father, may the Spirit promised by Jesus be poured down upon me. His indwelling and influences have been experienced by many a sinner rescued from perishing and made an heir of the Heavenly inheritance. May He dwell in me and walk with me. Thou hast taught me that He despises not neither abhors the clay tabernacle of man's body, but sanctifies it as His temple that the soul may as a holy priest offer unto the Lord devout and acceptable sacri- fices. May I knoi: this experimentally. May the >pirit of Jesus reveal to me more and more Him who is *' the Way, the Truth, and the Life." I thank Thee, Giver of all good, that Thou hast refreshed me with healthful and comfortable sleep. Thou hast enabled me to open my eyes upon the light and happiness of a new day. Thou art very gracious and full of pity to me. I might have been visited as was Thy a£9icted servant of old, who said, ** So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointea unto me. When I lie down, I say, when shall I arise, and the night be gone 1 and I am DEVOTIONS* 63 ftill of tossings to and iVo unto the dawning of the day."* How different has it been with me ! And yet how incom- parably was he a better and a holier man than I am ! Lord^ make me most humble and grateful. Be with me for good throughout the daT. Bless abundant* ly all with whom I am associated. Qod of all grace, ma:.e them partakers of Divine life in their souls. May a!l profane speakinff and evil words be done away with. May prayer and praise, proceeding from the new heart, be upon our lips Turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Listen, Hearer of prayer, to these my pleadings and thanksgivings through Jesus Christ my Lord. ^men. ELEVENTH DAY, BVENINO PRATER, SATURDAY. JR«ad Luke, Chap, 13. Unto Thee, Lord, would I now draw nigh with senti- ments of profoundest veneration, with feelings of awe, love, and adoration. In and through the merits of my Intercessor I have boldness to come into Thy immediate presence. Re- lying solely upon His Priestly and all-prevailing Advocacy, I prostrate myself at the footstool of Thy Throne. (> enable me to appear before Thee with a true heart in the full assur<* ance of faith, having my heart sprinkled from an evii cm- science and my body washed with pure water. How glorious art Thou, Almighty God, in the manifesta- tions of Thy omnipotence and wisdom ! All nature proclaims Thy Divine Excellency. The grace and grandeur of I'hy character are still more illustriously displaye Ih gnthorcd tho wind in His fists,'* Ho ** hnth cstnblishe nil tho ends of the onrtli.''& ** Thy wny," snys tlw devout K*snlmiatf ** is in tho bca, and Thy path in tho gronl waters, and Thy footsteps are not known."|| L ot mo join covdiully in tho rapturous address. ** Praise tlio Lord from the cnrth, ye dragons, and all deops. Firo and hail, snow, nnd vapour, stormy wind fuKilling Ilis * Book of Common Piayfi. t Mn»ih««w I, S, •«, ^ Pi'ovpibs SO, I. II rHiilm 77,4, iiaii ■■*>iii'» mm DNVOVIONI. «f> word. Doth yniinff tnoti ititl mnldenN \ old mflti, and ohlt- (iron ) Lot Mioin prniio Uin nntno of tlir. liOrU ; for IIU riutno ftlone Im cixculloni) Ilitiglory li nbovc tho (mrlli nnd heuv tin*"* May I iii ti raniutnud ilnnor bo onubled to unite In llio Mitorod niulodyi SECOND SABBATH . MOnNINO PHAYICH, TW».f.rTII DAY. Sing Vmlmn n, 1, and\'M)t !• Read dcimin, '2nd Chap. Almighty and Kvor DloNxod (Uu\f on thli tho morning of Thiiio own hnllownd Day, would I draw nigii unto 'J'hoo with tho voicu uf nduration und tliunkMu;ivin|{, of supplication ond confuMaion. ThU In tho ditv whidi tho Lord hath made and «ot apart for IIU own aiiiiocial honour. Thin doy commemo* ratoi tlic complution of Thy crtmtlvo whdruii and goodnoMt* Thou, < i Great I'nriuit of tho univorno, diditt with perfoct patornnl lovo and ItindnoMi from tho boginninu; cntublivh and Initituto tho HacnHlnoMM of orio day In Movon by 'l^hlno own oxnmplo. I'hou didttt bloMN the Movent h day. and lanctify It } becauMo that In It 'Ihou haditt roMtud from all Thy work which Thou had«t creatod and made. And thl« day commemorate! a Rtiil greater aehioveinont. It wai upon tho morning of thli lirst dny of tho week that my Itodnetuer aruMo, a crinqueror over death and tlio grave. It wos upon tho Lord'f Day that my Saviour was declared to bo tho Son of (Jod with power by tho rciurrcetlon from the dead. I'tcrnal glory be ascribed to tho undivided Trinity fur tho Aninhcd work of inan'i re- demption. Accept of my grateful praise, T^ord, for Thy preserving kindness amidst tho night-watehcs. Thou hast kept me in perfect peace and safety. I laid mo down and slept, I have orison in health and strenstlt because tho Lord hath lustaln* od mo. God of the soa, I thank Thee for the favour Thou art showing us. Thou ort guiding our ship on tho watery abyst, and speeding hor on her way. I may think of her as *riulm 148, r,B, I?, 19. ee DiVOTtONI. a noble and gaHant bark and admire her ploughing the foam- ing bUlows. But to Thee, the Ueayenly Pilot, I know that alfthe homage and the heart'? topreme affection are due for theae and all our blessings^ Thou too art our Protector and Phyaician. Thou hast kept from accident and injury, from sickness and death, all on board. . That eye which never slumbers and never sleeps hath been upon us for good. Without Thy power and compassion the watch is set and the watchmen watch in vain. Praised be Thy most Holy Mame for all Thy goodness and lovuig-kindness. Pour out upon me, most Merciful Father, for the sake of Thy Beloved Son, the grace and influences of Thy Holy Spuit. May He enable and teach me to pray. My heart's aspiHition is that I may worship Thee in spirit and in truth. *' Give ear to my words, () Lord ; consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry^, my King and my God ; for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."* Enable me, God of the Sabbath, to enter into the very spirit of its observance and sancUfication. Thou hast com- manded all men to *' remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." I thank Thee that even at sea I am privileged to abstain from all my ordinary labours, and that only works of necessity and mercy are required on board of our ship. May I be kept from sinful words and sinAil thoughts as well as from sinful labour and pleasure. O deliver me from secu- larity of spirit. Alas ! Lord, I have often profaned Thy Sacred Day by business, amusement, conversation, and the prevalence of Uie carnal mind. O enter not into judgement with Thy servant. Blot out, for the sake of what Jesus hath suffered, all my sins. Renew me after His image by the in- dwelling of Iliy Spirit < being."* I feel how " happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God : which made heaven, and earth, Uie sea, and all that therein is : which keepeth truth for ever.^f I entreat Thy blessing, Almighty God, to accompany my reading of Thy Holy Word from day to day. Bless especially my reading of it ihis day and all my exercises. O, for entire conformity with Thy Holy Will. Most blessed Lord God, I desire earnestly to intercede on behalf of Zion. ** Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Visit and refresh Thy -tveary heri- tage. *' Oh that the salvation of Israel were "come out of Zion I When God bringeth back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad."f May it please Thee to reinvest Thine ancient people in th3ir privi« leges. May they repent'and believe in Jesus of Nazaretli. May they look upon Him whom their fathers crucified and mourn with godly sorrow. May they see in the son of Mary the True Messiah promised of God and the glory of His peo^ pie Israel. How felicitous will that era be to the Gentiles ( May the Lord hasten it, that all Heathen lands may be light- ened by Him who is the True Light of men. Regard, O Lord, with Thy favour and compassion those that go down to the ej^a in ships. May their ignorance of Divine things give place to saving knowledge and Heavenly wisdom. May they become prayerful, sober, just, holy, temperate. Bless them and make them blessings' to their fellow-men. • PsHlm 146,2, t Psalm 53, G. ' . .'.I *>/ w DEVOTIONS. €9 ^ I pray for my country ; may she ever be characterised by that righteousness which eialteth a nation. Deliver her from those sins that are Uie reproach and tend to the ruin of any peoile. Maintain and increase among the nation pure and undefiled Christianity. May superstition, idolatry, i^nd anti' Christian error never again darken and degrade the land. Deliver us from that drunkenness which is our national dis- grace. May abstinence and perfect sobriety prevail. Re- claim the drunkard. Let not the young and the unwary pre- sumptuously go in the path of temptation. Bless our Queen and her august Partner in life and all the members of their illuBtrious house. May the highest family in the land be a pattern of godliness, self-denial, humil- ity, faith, charity, and good works. Counsel the Queen's counsellors ; teach her senators wisdom. May the places of trust and influence be occupied by the great and good. Moy the nobles possess the nobility of the Bereans of old. May the people fear and love the Lord. I commend to Thy Fatherly pity, Gracious'God, the afflicted and the sorrowful. Prepare the dying for eternity. Teach ttie living to prepare for death and the Judgement-Seat of Christ. Now, O my God, I leave me in Thy keepingv^ May Tliy loving guardianship be around mc this night, and, if it be Thy Holy Will, may I be refreshed with heuthful and hallow- ed repose for the duties of the coming day. All that I ask is in the name and for the sake of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour. AmeU', A MEDITATION FOR THE EVENINC^ OF THE LOBD^S DAT. How important is it to exercise devout and humble, yet strong and confiding failh ! The way to attain this is to live near to God in secret and holy communion with Him. He, who has his communion and fellowship wiih the Father Wild with His Son Jesus Christ, will be steadfast even in the day of darkness and saddest trial. We have a beautiful instance of this kind in the Prophet Habakkuk. Dejected and perplexed at beholding the triumphs of the Chaldeans over the covenanted people, the man of God almost falters I; 70 DBVOTIONE. and slips. But he speedily recovers his footiTig, j30 to Hpeak, by remembering the unchangeablen^ss of Jehovah and H|b eternal rectitude, who would be faithiul »nd true to His prom^ ises. To hU oum God he goes in dev')lional pleading, and reinyigordies his faith in converse with the Most High. '^Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my Go*^, mine lioly One I we shall not die. O Lord,Thou hast ordained them for jt^dga- ment j arr!, Mighty God, Thou has established theiii for correction."* Be it my aim to 1,0 a b« uover o\ this stamp. What a beautiful specimen of the ^hM ot God is seen in the Psalmist when he says, ** 1 cned With my ^hole heart; hear me, Lof d : I will keep Thy ictatutes. 1 cried unto Thee; sare me, and I shall keep' Thy testimonies. 1 prevented the dawning of the mornine, and cried : I hope in Thy Word. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word."t THIRTEENTH DAY, MORNING FRATBR, MONDAY. Read Exodus, Chaps, 33 and 34. Merciful God, enable me now to approach unto Thee, re- joicing in the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Thou art good and art continually doing me good. For my preserva- tion, safety, and comfort do I praise Thee. For what we constantly enjoy of Thy Providential blessing I praise Thee. Thou art guiding our ship over the trackless Ocean, keeping us from accident and injury in the midst of danger, and vouchsafing to us health and many eujoyments. *' Hear me, O Lord ; for Thy loving-kindness is good, turn unto me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. "| I am a sinner exceedingly before Thee. My own conscience convicts me. I could in no case stand before Thee, wast Thou to insist upon justice without mercy. ** If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand V* AdOred * Habakkuk I, 12. t Psalm 119,145, 148, t rsalm 69, 16. i< Art DEVOTIONS. 71 be '.Viv name, " Mercy rejoiceth against judgment." In the Sou oi Thy love '* There is forgiveness with Thee, tiiat Thou mayest be feared." May His all-prevailing Intercession be employed on my behalf. By His stripes may I be healed. In the fountain of Hia blood may I wash and be cleansed. By Hid Spirit may I be righteous even as He is righteous. Most Merciful Father, bless to me the reading of *' the Holy Scriptures." SanctiTy me through Thy Truth. O Lord, Thou knowest that I am striving to sin not. Glory be to Thy Name for the encouragement afibrded to every sinner seeking salvation in the Advocate we have,—*' Jesus Christ the Righteous, the Propitiation for our sins." I would ear- nestly entreat, as did Thy most distinguished servant of old, ** Show me now Thy way, I beseech Thee show me Thy glory." O may Thy '' proclaimed" name be life and vigour to my soul. Be with us. Almighty God, this day. Prosper our going. In due season may we arrive at our desired haven. Bless ul on board with the blessing of Thy chosen children. Bless all for time and for eternity who are dear to me. Bless dl the true and spiritual Israel with increase of grace. Add to the number daily. Bless Thy Church on earth. Bless all Bible and Missionary Societies, and make them successful in their glorious aim of bringing back man to God, perisliing man to God our Saviour. And unto Thee the Father, the Son, and Uie Holy Ghost shall be all the glory, world without end. Amen. A MEDITATION. How exceedingly estimable and admirable is the character of Moses ! How emphatically may he be designated <* the man of God." While meekness is his predominating grace, what disinterestedness, self'^sacrificing generosity, unselfish- ness, most noble demeanour do I behold in him ! Where can such a patriot be found ? The annals of mankind fail to furnish his equal, if we except the great Paul of the Gentiles, who certainly was not a wMt behind the very chiefest of the Apostles, and who alone, it seems to me, can stand as fully the equal, possibly the superior, of the unrivalled leader and 72 DEVOTIONS. lawgiver of Israel. What patriotism zad piety are implied in the appeal to the Lord of the King in Jeshurun, recorded Exodus 32, 31, 32. '* Oh, this neople have sinned a zreai sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin ; and, if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written." May I be enabled to copy His excellencies. His prayerfulness ought to be re- marked, for doubtless it was in answer to prayer he became so distinguished. The meekest of men seems to have been naturally impetuous and irritable. It was Grace Divine that made him what he became. How observable it is in both Moses and Paul that they sought not their own glonr. God was all and in all to them. " Cod forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of Christ by which the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world" should be the heart's cherished sentiment of every Christian. How harmoniously does the amiable and grace- adorned Jeremiah accord with the principle, (see Jeremiah 9, 24. ) *< But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he und^r- standeth and knoweth Me that I am the Lord,*' &c. THIRTEENTH DAY, EVENING FRAYEH, MONDAY. Read Matthexo, 5th Chap. In the spirit of devout gratitude and profoundest veneration enable me. Heavenly Father, now to offer unto Thee my evening homage of adoration, praise, and prayer. Thou art God Thyself alone, and besides Thee there is none else, the Living God, the Eternal God, the God of Covenanted Salvation to the followers of Jesus. " He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re warder of them that diligently seek Him." Lord, I believe in Thy existence as Eternal, Uncreated, infinitely Glorious and Perfect. Thou art the Underived Author of all being. I also believe that Thou art Holy and that witiiout holiness no child of humanity shall behold Thy glory in Thy august Temple on High. Thou lovest holiness and rewardest graciously every sincere endeavour on the part of fallen man Ise, the vation r of all 1 ^lUlOUl nThy 1 nman 1 DEVOTIONS. 73 to attain unto it. In Thy wor**. :.;.i by Thy Son from Hear- en Thou hast ei\joincd this character upon all Thy children.* May my faith be both Godly and Christian. While I be- lieve in God, may I also savingly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Spirit of Christ rest upon me. It is the Spirit that sanctifieth. Most graciously do Thou send forth Thy Spirit into my soul. For this I do now most earnestly supplicate. Grant me what I ask for the sake of the merits of Him whom Thou hearest always and on whose interces- sion I rely. Father of peace and God of love, may I be ena- bled to cry unto Thee in the spirit of adoption, Abba, Father.»» ** Oh ! how great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid-up for them that fear Thee ; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men."t lor Thy good- ness, truth, and tender mercy which I have experienced, I do now again most gratefully praise Thee. For all personal and social benefits, for' mental endowments, for my opportu- nities of Spiritual improvesient, for Christian privileges and for Thy grace in Christ Jesus bestowed upon me, accept, O Lord, my humble and hearty thanks. I beseech Thee now, Lord, to blot out for Jesus' sake all the sins which I have committed during the past r.ay and throughout my past life. O pardon my unfruitfulness, cold- ness, neglect, carnality, dulness in the things of 1'hy King- dom, my hardness of heart, and my want of becoming and fervent love to Thee. I would lie down this night praising Thee for all the blessings of the past day. May the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Visit increasingly with this inestima- ble blessing all Thy people. I comprehend my people amons Thy people. " God be merciful unto us and bless us ; and cause His face *n shine upon us ; that Tliy way may be known upon earth; Thy saving health among ail nations. Let the people praise Thee, God ; let all the people praise Thee."t May the words of my mouth and the meditations * Leviticua 19,2, tPaalm, 8l, 13. t Psalm 67, 1, S. c 74 DEVOTIONff. of mj heart be accentable in Thy sight, Lord, through Jeiui Chriit, mj Strength and my Redeemer. Amen. FOURTEENTH DAY, MORNING PRAYKK, TUBlDAT. Read Pialm$ 35 and 36. God» I adore Thee as infinitely glorious. All perfection adorns Ihy nature. Thy goodness, wisdom, ana oinnipo- tency are inscribed upon all the works of Thy Hand. 'J hy glory is manifest in Creation ; as the Author, the Architect, and the Upholder of the universe, Thou art Divinely glorious. But Thou art yet more glorious as revealed in Christ and the Redemption wrought-out by Him. be Thou glorified in making me a partaker of this great Salvation. Heavenly Father, my weakness and sin, my felt inability and vileness often induce in me sad and cheerless thoughts. When 1 foil to discharge aright my duty, when perplexing cares crowd upon me, vmon I see not how to accomplish what I ought to do, when troubled on every side, fightings with- out and fears within, my heart is apt to indulge despondency. But, O Gracious Father, Thy renewed and renewing grace, as I think I experience it this morning, comes to me as Thy Voice saying, " My grace is sufficient for ihee, for My strength is perfected in weakness.'* Praised be that God whose mercy, faithfulness, and love never fail. 1 am delighted, O Lord, with the thought that all Thy per- fections are on tlie side of the contrite sinner. Thou givest him to know Thee as a Reconciled and Loving Father in Chrbt, so that amidst Creation's glorious lay Thou never for- gettest the child of clay. O may I be undoubtedly united to Christ, for then all things are mine. Dilay I ever cleave to Him as my Saviour and Master, my King and Bridegroom. May I be a true member of that Church of which He is the Head nnd for which He is Head over all things. Gnu: t, O Lord, that I mav be so filled with the influence of these truths that I may sail over life's tempestuous sea with humility, gratitude, joy, and constancy. May my life be hid with Christ in God. May the life that I now live in the 1 DEVOTION!. 75 flesh be one of rafth in the Son of God who loved me and tave Himself fur me. O that I may adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour by a conversation bcconiiitu; the Gospel. Bless abundantly my dear iellow-seamen. Teach them to name the Name of Jesus and depart from iniquity. that mariners in general were men cf prayer ! Banihli from them thoao sins which predominate in them and prevail Hgainst them, whether at sea or on shore. Bless my dear relations and friends. Bless with more and more of Thy Spirit the followers of the Lamb upon earth. Have compassion«on the world. that every sea and continent, every island and shore, were vocal with Thv worship and praise. Mercifiiily accept of me, O Lord, and answer my humble supplications through the merits of my Mediator and Redeemer. Amen* FOURTEENTH DAY, BV£NINO PRAYER, TUESDAY. Sing Psalm 148, 1. Read JlctSf Chap* 9. Lord, my God, Thou hast taught me that that man is blessed who walketh not in the way of the wicked and ungodly, ** but his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.*' May Thy testimonies be *'my delight and my counsellors." 1 adore and praise I'hee, O Most High, for the consolation afforded to Thy children in Thy glorious character and per- fections. Thou art Supreme in power, Unerring in wisdom, Sovereign in grace and mercy. Amidst tumults, commotions, and trials Thou art a fountain of comfort to the believer. Thou hast revealed to him the, Man Christ Jesus ** as a hid- ing-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place \ as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."* In this Blessed Saviour may I ever find peace, even when the storm rages and life is endangered by the tempestuous gale, when the seamen ** roll to and fro like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end." Thy children * Isaiah 32, 2. 76 • DEVOTXONI. are taught to say, ** God ia our refuge and strength, a verr present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the depths of the sea ; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shako with the swelling thereof.'' (Psalm, 46, 1, 3.) By the working of Thy mighty power, O Lord, Thou sub- duest all things unto Thyself. « The day U Thine, the night also is Thine ; Thou hast prepared the light and the sun." Man too is Thine and Thou canst control and change and create anew man's heart, 'i'hy promise to Messiah is, " Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power."* This glorious promise Thou art even now fultiUing. Thou gather- est ihto the fold of the Good Shepherd many a wandering and many a wayward sheep. Thou canst turn the most bitter persecutor into the most zealous adherent. Thou didst change the mad Pharisee of Tarsus into the chiefest of the Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. Eternal glory be ascribed to Thy Great Name. Bless, Almighty God, my reading of Thy Holy Word. Through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may I be filled with hope. May I know experimentally that they are of Thee. May Thy truth humble, edify, and rejoice my soul. Bless our ship's crew, officers, and men. May they all be led to take Jesus as their Ark of safety in whom they will sail unhurt over the ruins of a perishing world. Thanks to God for all His goodness to us. Gather in speedily into the Kingdom of Thy Son Thy predestined, Spiritual Israel. In paternal loving-kindness be pleased to watch over me this night. Graciously accept of me through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. FIFTEENTH DAY, MORNINO PRAYER, WEDNESDAY. Read Psalm 37. Father of Lights, every good gift cometh from Thee. Thou art the Author of my existence. Thou givest me every new •Psalm no, 3. DlVOTIONf* 77 day of my life that I may prepare for eternity. How un- spealcably glorious is Thy gift of Christ to lost sinners I I rejoice in Him as my Prophet, Priest, and King. I rejoice that He ascended on High to. Thy right hand after He had finished the worlc given Him to do, having paid the price of man's ransom and the purchase of the Holy Ghost for the application of Redemption to all His people. I rejoice in His all-prevailing Intercession on His Priestly Throne on behalf of all that come unto God by Him. He is able to save them to the uttermost. And He ivill never cease to intercede until every ransomed «inner is fully saved. I reflect with profound gratitude, Almighty God, on the Providential blessings which Thou hast bestowed upon me. My health, peace, liberty, safety, comfort, and hope, are all from Thee. And, when I associate with these what Thou hast done for my soul and all my Spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, oh ! how devoted and humbled should I be. Lead me to new and deeper repentance. I mourn, God, over the ingratitude I have often evinced notwithstanding Thy goodness. I am yet prone to'selfishness, waywardness of temper, impatience, irritability, want of for- bearance, and many other violations of the letter and spirit of the Law of my Saviour. God be merciful to me a sinner. Let not the world or the things of the world steal away my heart from supreme love to God. I have hitherto had a sufficiency of the good things of the present time. My own experience attests the statement of Scripture, that "Godliness is profitable unto all things." Thou hast given me bread to eat and raiment to put on, the light and the rain of heaven, the invigorating breeze, the pure air, the beauty of day, and the silence and sublimity of night. Thou hast made the out- goings of the morning and the incomings of the evening to re- joice over me. How animating is that word of Thine << Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit Thy way unto the Lord ; trust albo in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."* What more could I desire t O give me grace to walk as a believer. * Psalm 37, 4,6. 78 DEVOTIONS. " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way 1 By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With niy whole heart have I sought Thee ; O let me not wander from Thy com- mandments. 'Ihy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.''* I beseech Thee, O Lord, make me truly good. May I know the blessedness of the perseverance of Thy Saints. I am con* fident that He who hath begun a good work in me will per- form it until the day of Jesus Christ. Order my steps ac- cording as I have been reading in Thy Book i those of a good man are ordered by Thee. O may the blissful assurance there declared be realised by Thy most unworthy servant. Be with me for good this day and at all times. May I discharge every duty aright, be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. May I be obedient to my superiors; civil, obliging, and courteous to all, never returning evil for evil, but striving to overcome evil with good. Bless all for whom I should pray, especially my kindred and near friends. May Jew and Gentile, bond and free, know the blessings of the Spiritual life and freedom conferred by Immanuel upon all who believe in Him. And unto Thee the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be ascribed the kingdom, the power, and the glory, world without end Amen. ** FIFTEENTH DAY. EVENING PRATER, WEDNESDAY. Sing Psalm 92, 1. Read Ads^ Chap» 10. *' It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy Name, O Most High ; to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the mcrning and Thy faithfulness every night." Every hour and every moment of the past day has been fraught to me with Thy mercy and goodness. For all Thy benefits, Providential and Gracious, 1 now, Lord, off 'into Thee my humble and hearty thanks. Thou art the God of all my blessings. Life with its enjoyments and my hopes for futurity I derive from Thee. * Psalm 119,9, II. DEVOTIONS. 79 Thou art wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. *' "^hou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee/' Enable me to " trust ill Thee, Lord, for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting ^rength."* Praised be Thy Name for the grace Thou hast manifested towards the Gentiles. Thou hast made them " fellow-heirs*' with Thine ancient people, and of the same body, and par* takers of Thy promise in Christ by the Gospel.f In Thy Beloved Son Thou art the Covenant God of the Jew and of the Gentile. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. "| May I profit by my reading of the call and admission of the Gentiles into the Christian Church. May I derive spiritual improvement from the recorded piety of the centurion Corne- lius, and of his household and friends. that our ship's company were like unto that good company. Baptise us with Thy Spirit. Bless us abundantly in our several station! and relations. Vouchsafe Thy gracious protection and guidance to my Queen and country, to all rulers and those, in authority, and to the whole people. Visit those who are mine by the ties of nature and afiection with the love that Thou bearest to Thine own children. Keep me this night from all evil. While I sleep, may my heart wake with the love of Christ. When I awake, I shall be still with Thee. Mercifully hear and accept of me through Jesus, my only Saviour. Amen. SIXTEENTH DAY, MORNING PRATER, THURSDAY. Read Romans, Chap, 8. Most Gracious God, I know that it is good for me to draw near to Thee. I would say with Thy servant, '* Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud. "§ Grant * laaiali^O, 7,4. t Eplieaians 3, 6. X Oalalinns 3, 20. § PHalm.^d, 17. 80 DEVOTIONS. me Thy Spirit in His devotional influences. Spirit of Jesus, teach me to pray. I know not without Thee what things to ask. I need Thy teaching to enable me to ask right things in a right state of mind. I praise the Father of Life Everlasting for His willingness to bestow upon the humbled suppliant the Holy Spirit. O Eternal Father, I hou, who didst originate the plan of human redeniption, art also well pleased to give Thy Spirit to Thy child»'en, for their ransom-price hath been paid, and the terms of the Covenant fully complied with by their glorious Cove- nant Head. If the paternal feelings of frail and fallen man ensure his readiness to bestow good gifts upon his children, much more wilt Thou give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Lord, give me more of the spirit of adoption that I may cry unto 'ihee, Abba, Father. May the Spirit help my in- firmities, yea, make intercession for me in a way surpassing my understanding, — withgroanings which cannot be uttered. For " He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints, according to the will of God." * How surpassingly wonderful is the Paternal relation which Thou sustainest to the believer in Jesus ! May I know it savingly. O make me faithful to the Holy Ghost. iVlay I answer to His calls, and cherish and act upon His convictions. Alas, how often have I slighted and resisted them ! How must ! have grieved the Spirit ! Were it not that His love, tenderness, forbearance, and constancy are Divine, He would many a time have forsaken me for ever. And then there would have been nothing but impenitent y and despair and an undone eternity before me. Glory be ascribed to that Sovereign and Gracious Agent of my risen Lord, wi.a hath dealt so tenderly and so bountifully with me. ^!ay I grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ May I advance in the Divine Life. May my progress be rapid and steady. Let not iniq- uity have dominion over me. * Romans 8, 27, DEVOTIONS. 81 Accept of my thanksgiving for the mercies and comforts of the past night and this morning. Throughout the day may the light of Thy reconciled countenance be lifted-up upon me. LVlay my loved family, connections, and friends^ be the objects of Thy favour and the subjects of Thy grace. Glory be to Thy Name for all that is pleasing, encouraging, and good in them. May my brother-sailors, and all with whom I am associated, be Thine in Christ. Never leave me whilst sail- ing over life's troubled sea. When I cross the Jordan of death, may it be but the passage to the Heavenly Canaan. " Forsake me not, O Lord : O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, Lord, my Salvation."* All this I humbly and earnestly beg in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christy my only Saviour. Amen. SIXTEENTH DAY, EVENING PRAYER, THURSDAY. Read Jlcts, Chap, 2. Almighty and Most Merciful Father, in the Name of Jesi's I seek now with prostration of spirit to offer unto Thee la) evening sacrifice. Sentiments of liveliest gratitude wHh earnest devotion should now possess my heart and mind. Thou hast given me ability to perform my duties as a sailor with a degree of satisfaction to our master and tr ^3 with whom I am sailing. It is Thou, Lord, who givest me any favour in the sight of man. Thou hast bestowed upon me my health of body and vigour of mind, my inward happiness and my external comfort. Thou are speeding and prosper- ing us. amidst the perils and uncertainty of the deep- All these and innumerable other mercies which I am unable to specify demand the tribuie of most grateful adoration and praise from the depths of mv soul. « Thanks be to God for Kis Unspeakable Gift." What an infinite boon has every saved sinner on earth in the Incarna- tion, Birth, Life. Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and contin- ual Intercession of the once crucified but now glorified Re- deemer ! I am awed by the knowledge that He, who as con- * Psalm 39,21,22. c 2 82 DEVOTIONS. cerning the flesh was of the seed of Abraham, " is over all, God blessed for ever, Amen." With joy I remember that, when He ascended up on High, having fultilled His engage- ments for His people, He received gifts for man that the Lord God might dwell among them. How blissful was the de- scent of the Holy Spirit upon the day of Pentecost I How beatiAe the consequence in the conversion of multitudebtothe faith of Christ ! How gracious the interposition of the Spirit on behalf of the Gentiles ! How abounding the goodness that made them " feliow-citizens with the saints and of the Household of God !" O may they also, to whom Thy Word and the Gospel of Thy Son first came, soon believe in Jesus of Kazareth. Teach them who are I'huie ancient und Cove- nanted people to worship Thee not merely as the God of Abra- ham.. Isaac, and Jacob, but as the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In Him may they iind par- don, justification, peace, adoption, consolation, and life ever- lasting. I pray for my country. May pure and Scriptural Chriso tianity prevail there. May True Religion ever find ther« a home and honour, a chosen sanctuary in this rebellious and dark world. May those inestimable privileges, civil and sacred, which were dearly purchased and safely handed down to us by our fathers, be inherited with undiminished integrity to the latest posterity. Bless our Queen and all in authority. Bless the people with the blessings of time, and above all with the blessings of eternity. Bless the whole human family. May the loved ones who are especially dear to me be blessed with all temporal, and all Spiritual, and Heavenly blessings in Christ. Encompass me through the hours of repose and sleep with Thy Loving and Omnipotent Guardianship. Prepare me, if it be Thy Holy Will to prolong my life, for the dutiesi, trials, and happiness of a new day. And unto I hee the Father, the Son, and the Holj Ghust, be glory everlastiEig. Amen. Hea, the DEVOTIONS. 83 SEVENTEENTH DAY, MORi'JINO PRATER, FRIDAY. Read Psalm 39. Lord, my Heavenly Father, Thou hast spared me in Thy wisdom and goodness to see the light Ot another dayi Ena« ble me to consecrate myself ane»v to Thy servicf. " My voice shalt i hou hear in the morning, Ldifi ; in the morn^ ing will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and uili look up."» Eve/y new morning, as it procla ms Thy protecting care r.nd kitidness, is also charged with solemn intimations. It reminds me that I am being carried down the stream of time and that soon I shall be ushered into the ocean of eternity. " Lord, make me to know mine end, and the meas- ure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, Ihou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, and mine age is as nothing before Thee ; verily every man at his best stale is altogether vanity."* 1 pray, Almighty (jiod, that Thou wouldst make me strong in the Lord and in tlie power of His might. Prepare mr for whatever in Thy Providence may be before me. Increase in me a living faith. In its exercise, O give me the victory over the ungodliness of my own heart and of the world. Let not Satan deceive or injure me. Thou knowest how he seeks to ensnare and destroy. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. Create in me a clean heart, < > God ; and renew a right spirit within me. Take away he hard and stony heart, and give unto me a heart of flesh. My natural heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Free me from it. Let the new heart prevail. iVi ay the peace of God uhich passeth all understanding keep my heart and mind through Christ Jei-us. Fit me, O God. for the future that it may please Thee I shall sec in this world. Should times of trial and tribulation come, when all Thy faithful children must be witnesses for the Truth and coura9;eous for Chri t, O enable me to stand fast in the Lord. May none who have belie vod through grace * Psalm .'•, s, trsalmri9,4,5. 84 DEYOTIONS. be ashamed of Jesus in an evil day and generation. May we " stand therefore, having our loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness ; and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gcspel of peace ; Above all tak- ing the Hhielu of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench ftli tht. n\i\y darts of the wicked. JVlay we take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, t*) .ying always with all prayer and supplication in the B|i>iii, und watching thereunto with all perseverance and »Ur: i cation for all saints. ' '.y I'hy truth and love be manifested unto all the disci- ples of II ^ord. In the midst of sifting; and separation may they,l '. 9(iund in the faith and holy in all manner of conver- sation. Preserve them from doctrinal errors and from dis- honouring Thee by the practice of any sin. Qualify Thy Church and children for contesting on tlie Lord's side. I'ather of my Lord Jesus Christ, I bow my knees unto Thee that Thou wouldst grant me according to the riches of Thy Glory to be strengthened with might by Thy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and that I may be rooted and grounded in love. " Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us j Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all agesj world without end. Amen. SEVENTEENTH DAY, EVENING PRAYER. TRiDAY, Sing Psalm 1 49, 1 . Read Jlcts, Chap. 12. Immutable Jehovah, permit a sinful and dying suppliant to call upon Thy thrice Holy ^ ame. I rely upon Thy eternal love manifested in Christ, Thy Son, for acceptance. I rejoice that Thou never changest. *' Of oM hast Tkbou laid the foun- dation of the earth j and the heavens are the work of 'J hy hands. T'liey shall perish, but Thou shalt endure ; yea, all • Epbesians 6, 14, 18. 1 :! DEYOTIONS. 86 1 of them shall wax old like a garment, as a resture shalt Thou change them, and ihey shall be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end.''* Thou Faithful and Covenant-keeping God, Thou hast promised that, Mrhen Thy children ask of Thee in prayer, they tihall receive. Blessed be Thy name, Thou hast not said unto Jacob, " Seek ye Me in vain." Oh how gracious is that assurance, ** Before they call, I will answer ; and, while they are yet spf.aking, I will hcar."f Thou didst deliver Thy holy Apostle Peter " out of the hand of Herod, and from all ihe expectation of the people of the Jews," when prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto Thee for him. Lord, enable me, as an humble disciple of Jesus, to derive encouragement and improvement from such examples recoided in I'hy Holy Word. Teach me to pray without ceasing, "^'lay the Spirit of Christ be manifest in the believing, ei..ncjt, united prayers of Thy people. I adore Thee, O Thou that hearest prayer, that Thou hast heard even my humble prayer. In the day of trouble, in the hour of jeopardy, when exposed to the wintry blast, when assailed by the terrific storms, when man could not comfort. Thou heardest my cry and answeredst my supplications. I had fainted unless I had hoped to see Thy goodness in the land of the living. O, I will ever more endeavour to obey Thy consoling injunction. " Wait on the Lord, be ot good coura.e, and He shall strengthen thine heart ; wait, I say, on the Lord.»t I would retire to rest this night praising Thee for Thy great goodness. I thank Thee for that refreshing word — *' The Lork taketh pleasure in His people. He will beautify the meek with salvation. "§ Bless the followers of Jesus through- out the world. And galher-in Thine elec* from the four winds of heaven. Visit me with safe and salutary repose. • Psalm 100, 2.5, 27. + lisaiah 6.5, 24, J Psalm 2r, J4. § Fsalm 149,4. 86 DEVOTIONS. On a new day may I glorify Thee with renewed devotion. And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost shall be ascribed the kingdom, power and glory, world without end. Amen. EIGHTEENTH DAY, MORNINQ PRAYER, SATURDAY. Read Paalm 40th. With reverence and Godly fear would I draw nigh unto Thee, Vlost High, on the morning of a new day. With Christian faith and gratitude of heart may I worship. It is goods for me to do so, *' to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness every night." I praise Thee, " O Thou Preserver of men," for life and all its blessings. I praise Thee for the quiet, safety, and refresh- ment of the past night. " I laid me down and slept ; I awaked; for the LorU sustained me."* " O God, Thou art my God ; early will I seek Thee ; my soul thirsteth lor Thee." Thou art the God of my life. I owe it in its origin and continuance entirely to Thee. By Thy goodness I at first breathed the vital air ; by Thy good- ness I have been upheld to the present hour. I am being carried down the stream of time and soon I shall be landed on the shores of eternity. I desire ever to bear in mind my frailty and mortality. May 1 be enabled to watch and pray for the coming of the Son of man, for I know not when the time is that the M aster will come, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning." May I ever be on the alett, lest, coming suddenly, He find me sleeping. Almighty and Most Merciful Father, while I am solemnised by the certainty and nearness of death, I yet rejoice that I am in Thy keeping. Death will never separate me from my Covenant-God and my Omnipotent Redeemer. O give me to be able to say, ** To me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Teach me to number my days so as to apply my heart unto wisdom. Enable me to redeem the time, because the days are evil. * Faa]m 3, .1, I lit otion. all be it end. h unto With > It is iness in and all refresh- ept i I ee; my lite. I je. By y good- fi being landed ind my nd pray en the tght, or ver be |ng. iinnised that I [rem my ;ive me 10 die is )ply my )ecause DIVOTIONS. 87 God) reveal Thyself unto me in the marrellousness and majesty of Thy mercy^ and in the plenitude and power of Thy sanctifying grace. Visit me with the love ^vhich I'hou bearest to Thy chosen ones. Enable me to unite a devotional spirit with activity, chcei fulness, and excellence in all the duties of my calling. May I be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Give me favour and good under- standing in the sight of God and of man. Whatever 1 do, may I do it heartUy, as unto the Lord and not merely as pleasing men. Bless all with whom 1 am connected. May my kindred be united to me and all the followers of the Saviour by union with Him. Bless the Master, officers, and men of this ship. May they all call Jesus Master and obey His will. Never leave, never forsake us ; be our God and guide continually for Jesus' sake. Amen. EIGHTEENTH DAY, EVENING PRAYER, SATURDAY. ReadAcUy \Ath Chap. Lord, Thou art the God of all times and places. " The day is Thine, the night also is Thine . Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth : Thou hast made summer and winter."* It is by Thy ordinance that the revolu'ions of the seasons and the alterna- tions of day and night accomplish their happy and beneficial results. Thou art the Living God. Thou hast " made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein." Thou rulest over all. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Thee. The gods of the nations are vanity and a lie. Their idols are ** silver and gold, the work of men*s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes have they, but they see not ; they have ears, but they hear not ; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." f ♦ Psalm 74, 16, IT, tP«ulm 135, 1.0—13. SB IiBVOTIONl. Thou Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer of men, bleised be Thy ntuno for inntitiitliig; the holy Sahbnth. Thou huat given unto nmn the (biy (or the piirpoRcs of biliour and bual- neM ; the night hIho iti Thy appointment, timl ufitT the toils of the day wearied nature may rmt and bo rcinvigorated. llie work-dny and the Lord's Day are Tl>in« ; — the ono Thou hunt givrn uh, (hat wo may ply our wonted and secular pursuits, tho (ithor, that wo may cultivate a mcutnrHN for the world tliat is to come. Tiiou hast brought me to the close of another week. Its day^ and nishts, its watches and its lei- sure are for ever gone ; they ntmain only In their consequences. Thuu bust guided our ship in sidety on the fathomless deep, rhon haat mvoured us with health and peace. From ** The terror by night and from (ho arrow that flioth by day, from the pestilence that walketh in darkiions, and the dcsiruetion that wastoth at noontlay," 'Vhn<, O Lord, hast been our IShield and DcliytiiT. To Thy grvid name be glory and praise. Prepare me, H^iUMnly * utiu r, for the holy rest of the com- ing day. With feelings of intense love and gratitude for all Tliy beneflts and above all Ci.H' those of the now and well or- dered Covenant, I would retire to rest this night rejoicing in Thy Divine guardianshiu nnd Fatherly pity. May I wake to sanctify the Subbuth and to make it a delight. " My soul shall bo satisfied us with marrow and fatness j and my mouth ■hall praise Thee with joyful lips ; when 1 remember Thee U|K)n my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night-watches. Because Thou hast been my help, Uicreforc iti the shadow of Thy wings will I njoice"* The blessings which I supplicate for myself I earnestly be- seech Thee to bestow upon oil who arc ^ery dear to me and upon all Thy people throughout the world. Look in mercy upon the whole human family. Uraeiously accept of me and answer my prayer for Jesus' sake. Amen. • Psalm 63, .5, 7. i\*i I DEVOTIONS. 89 > in i full NINETEENTH DAY, THIRD BADBATM, MOHNINO FRAYEn 6'mg Ihjinn. Rend Pmlin W) and James Ist Cha, ITow mltnlrublo are Thy perfiMrtioim, O I-oi , Thy works and in Thy Word ! The. sea is Tiiitu;. It of Thy wonders, sncultinj!; Uio ondjcss rariety of Thy power, wisdom, and gouun<\ss In the adaptations of the creatures ond in the purpuHcs which they serve. The dry land, which Thine lianas have fornwjd, also proclaims Thy riches, benevo- lence, and infinite ability. The suitableness and skill that are everywhere conspicuous announce i'lc excellency of the Divine Architect and Itulerofall. ** The heavens declare tic glory of God ; and the firma* mont showeth His handiwork. Pay unto day uttercth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge." They have no speech or language as Thine intelligent creatures have, yet ore they vocal with Thy praise. Though their voice is not heard by the car of sense, yet to the rational and believing and devout listener they publish their Maker's Supreme Deity. I behold in the rotation of day and night indications of the merciful designs of my Heavenly Parent. Thou hast given us the day with all its various stages, from early dawn until the evening ushers-in the season of rest, that we may ply our busy avocations. And, as the day is Thine, so also is the night. Thou hast given ii, to all ilie living world for the re- cruiting and renewing of its energies. Its darkness and help- lessness, the awe of the midnight hour and the unconciousness of men during its slumbers, all teach me my need of God and my ceaseless dependence on 11 im. Praised be the Lord for the grandeur and gladdening in- fluence of the sun. " Truly it is a good thing for the eyes to behold the light." Mow beautiful is it to witness the con^ stancy ami cheerfulness with which the king of day performs his functions ! He penetrates to all parts of the world and brings to maturity the precious fruits of the earth, so that grass grows for the cattle, and food for the service of man." " His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his *^\> \titudes, who have hitherto been only hearers, become henceforth doers ci rhy Word. May the Saviour see of the travail of Hfi^ soul this day and be satisfied in tiie salvati'^n of a mighty throng. Bless the Ministers of Christ. May they watch for souls as they that must give account. Minbtering in holy things, may they themselves be eminently holy. Delight their souls amidst their trials with the consolations of Thy Spirit. Seeking to save and water others, may they in their own experience be abundantly saved and watered. Bless Thy peo- ple. May the children of Zion be joyful in their King, and draw water with joy out of the wells of Salvation* May they feed upon Him who is the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. 'May they be living witnesses for Christ, and be thoroughly furnished unto all good works* Bless, Holy Father, my fellow-voyagers. Thou art safely conducting us through the pathless deep. Sabbath after Sab- bath hast Thou caused to shine upon us in peace and coraibrt. Bless our social and our individual exercises of Religion. Bless us in all the relations of life. May Master* officers. • Psalm 19, 6, DKVOflOm. «1 and men be the better fitted to dischaiye the duties of the days of the week by the. solemnities of the Sabbath. Compassionate the ignorant and all who are out of tbe Way. Have mercy on scoffing and profane persons. Oi?e them repentance unto salvation. Direct the honest and earnest enquirer. Prepare a people for the second coming of Thy Son. And unto Thee the Father, the.Son, and the Holy GhcMt shall be all glory, world without end. Amen. NINETEENTH DAY, THIRD SABBATHj EVENING FBATBB* Bead Revelation, Chap, 1. Moat Gracious and Everlasting God, regard now with Thy compassion and love Thy unworthy servant who seeke to offer unto Thee the homage of his evening devotion. Td Thee I am indebted for every comfort and eveiy hope. Thy grace also in the marvellous sovereignty of its exercise hath made me, I trust, an adopted child of Thy Ransomed Family. O may l^at grace in me not be in vain. May I fervendy glorify Thee by advancing holiness <^ life, zeal for Thine honour, and love to my brethren of manldnd. May the same mind be in me that was also in Jesus, my Lord. Father of lights, from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift, I thank Thee for the consolation afforded by the assurance that with Thee there is no variabler ess or shadow of turning. Thy gifts and calling are without rc^n* tance. Thou art Jehovah. Thou changest not. lliese gracious truths keep my heart fttnn being overwhelmed by ue contemplation of my own weakness and sin, and by the Sower of Thine enemies in this world. I vrould stay myself y trusting in Thee, O Lord. In the season of calamity I would say with Thy servant, " Thou art my God."* When I look. Almighty God, at my country, I have much to be thankful for, yet I see also much that should occasion fear and trembling. The iptemperanee, vice, immorality, infidelity, and wretchedness that obtain^ are saddening in the • Psalm 3 1| 14. 92 DEVOTIONS. f- extreme. Alas ! there is much pernicious error eyen in Thy professing Church. And I dread that Thy true people are not always so zealous as are the Anti-Christian agents of a cor- rupt faith. Lord, have mercy on us, and save us tccording to the multitude of Thy compassions. When I learn the obsta- cles that are presented to the pi aaching of the Gospel and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in many lands, when I know that darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peo- ple, O I am deeply concerned and grieved. How long. Lord, how long 1 " O ihat the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion I" Yet even now '*' the Lord reigneth, let the earth re- joice." 0{| Thou Omnipotent One, Thou cansl restrain and eradi- cate prevailing Superstition and Idolatry, Atheism and Pantheism. Thou art even at this time giving man. good tokens to Thy Missionary Churches and servants in i\ ) dis- tant islands of the sea and continents of the world. Many of the barbarous people have embraced the offered Saviour and are walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. And many more are addressing to the Christians who have the Gospel the Macedonian cry, *' Come over and help us." The fields in many places are white unto harvest. Great J of the harvest, do Thou send forth labourers into Thy ha> ,. ** So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and Kis glory from the rising of tha sun ; when the enemy shall come« m like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shbU lift up a standard against Him.''* Multiply great grace. Heavenly Father, unto all who lov6 the Lord Jesus Christ. May they vj-aAk as a chosen genera- tion, a holy nation, a peculiar people, showing forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light. May they, ** as living stones, be built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer«up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."! May all the Ministers of Christ, and the Office-bearers, and the members of His Church be increasingly faithful, affectionate, zealous, active, and devoted. May they look not every man on his *l8aiAhd9, 19. t I Peter 2, «. DEVOTIONS. 93 own things, but every man also on the things of others. May they feel the liveliest concern for the souls of their brethren that are ready to perish. May they by prayer, liberality, and most strenuous exertions, become the honoured instruments in Thy hand of gathering-in Thine elect of Jews and Gentiles, of landsmen and seamen, from the four nvinds of heaven. May the ordinances of Zion and Jacob, that have this day been dis- pensed, be attended with a mighty result of good. Vouchsafe Thy favour to our Sovereign aud all inferior rulers. Graciously visit all my fellow-voyagers, — superiors, inferiors, and equals. May those loved ones whom I ought to bear upon my spirit at the Throne of Grace have Christ in them the hope of glory. Bless my soul, Lord. And unto Thee the Father, the Son, and the Eternal Spirit, be ascribed the kingdom, the power and the glory, buth now and for ever. Amen. TWENTIETH DAY, MORNING PRAYER, MONDAY. Read Psalms 43 and 44. God, Thou hast made it to be the high honour anl the glorious privilege of Thy children in Christ to draw nigh unto Thee at all times. It is especially their duty to offer unto Thee the morning and the evening sacrifices of devotion, to come before Thee with the living homage of the heart. 1 would now, O Lord, supplicate — '* Take away all iniq« uity and receive me graciously, so will I render the calves of my lips." I feel gladness and gratitude because of the innumerable blessings conferred upon me. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits 1 O that I could walk worthy of Thy distinguishing goodness towards me. Lord, increase my faith, warm my love, and animate my Accept, Gracious Father, of my thanksgiving for Thy pro- tection and favour throughout the past night. May I walk with Thee all the day. May the hallowing influence of the Sabbath be felt all the days of the week. O forbid, God of all grace, that Thy goodness should only be as the morning cloud wluch gives promise of rain to the parched and thirsty mariner, 1. 1 V y I 94 DEVOTIONS. but which pajses ai« ay and disappoints his hopes. Let not the sanctifying and reviving influences of Thy Spirit depart from me, for then would the seed of Thy Word perish, when' . the sun arose, because there was no deepness of earth ; all my convictions and contrition,my love, zeal, and heavenly-mindea- ness would depart lilce the dew of the early morning. '* 1 hou art my King, O God ; command deliverances for Jacob.''* When I feel and reflect upon the corruption and sin of my nature, upon the deceitfulness and wickedness cf my heart, upon the temptations that overcome me and the enemies that beset me, I am almost ready to despair. But in such an hour I would say in the language of Thy Word, ** Why art thou cast down, O my soul f and why art thou disquieted within me 'i Hope in God ; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of.my countenance and my God. ''f I beseech Thee, O Lord, to take away the evil heart out oi my flesh, and to give me a believing, a humble and a loving heart. Give me a heart of flesh. Purify me from all pollu- tion of the flesh and of the spirit, that I may perfect holiness in Thy fear. Renovate me from the corruption of my nature, deliver me from the deceitfulness of sin, and enable me to overcome every bad habit, temper, practice, and disposition. Multiply great grace unto all Thine Israel. Add daily to the number c*" believers. Hasten the coming of the Kingdom of Christ In all liA fulness and glory. Bless loved kindred, friends, and companions. Bless those who desire that I should remember them in prayer. Fulfil in them all the good pleasure of Thy goodness and the work of faith with power. Fit me for all the duties, privileges, and difficulties of this day. And all that I ask is in the name of my Adora- ble Redeemer. Amen. * Psalm 44, 4. t Psalm u, 5, D1V0TI0N8. 95 TWENTIENTH DAY, EVENING FRATSn, MONDAY. Read 1 ThesmlonianSf Chap, 4. At the close of this day, Almighty God, enable me to come unto Thee with unfeigned homage and hearty thanksgiving. Thou art the God of my life and the length of my days. In Thee I live and move and have my being. Glory be ascribed unto Thy name. I am amazed, O Most Merciful Father, at Thy goodness towards me. How wonderful is the way by which 1 nou hast led me ! Thou hast called me by Thy grace and made me a partaker of the Divine life. Thy Sovereign Spirit hath made me to differ firom others and from my own sinful nature. In danger Thy providence hath protected me ; from death Thou hast delivered me. While many of my early associates and acquaintances are in the state of the dead, Thou hast given me a greater length of the precious period of mortal existence. O ! how solemnizing to think of those who are now sleeping in their graves beneath the green earth, and of those who are retained in the depths of the sea until that awful day when the sea shall give up the dead that are in it. They are wait- ing the Archangel's trump to sound. O ! when the dead in Christ shall rise, may I be found in their happy company. I am this night a monument of Thy sparmg mercy and of Thy preserving goodness. For Thy love and kindness I fervently praise Thee, especially for Thy Redeeming and Sanctifying grace. May I be enabled to live as becomes the recipient of such vast favours. May I walk before Thee as one of Thy dear children. May 1 dwell *' in the secret place of the Most High." May I abide ^* under the shadow of the Almighty." I commend to Thy mercy my fellow-seamen and my fellow- men. Have compassion upon all the human family. Regard with Thy favour my country, the Queen, and all who bear the sword. Bless the people at large, the high and the low, the rich and the poor, tiie young and the old. May husbands and wives, parents and children, masters' and servants, walk in the light of the Lord as the House of Jacob. May the 96 DKTOTIONl. ^-^' prosperous give glory to God. May adversity be sanctified to the children of sorrow. May those who are in the spring- time of life consecrate their opening affections and powers to Jesus. May those who are in the mid-time of their days re- member amidst the bustle and anxieties of business that to be rio;ht with God is the one thing needful. May old age be found walking in the way of righteousness. And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost shall be all glory, world without end. Amen. TWENTY-FIRST DAY, MOBNIMG PRAT£R, TUESDAY. ) Read Psalm 45. Lord, Thou art the Originator of that glorious method of Redemption which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Thou didst so love the world as to give Thine Only- Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. May I be a partaker of the faith that saves the soul ; and, being justified by faith, may I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ. 1 feel that I am vile, and that I have neither goodness nor strength. " What shall I do when God riseth up 1 and, when He visiteth, what shall I answer Him 1 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me ; if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."* In me, that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing. When to will is present with me, how to do that which is good I find not. There is a law in my members bringing me into captivity to the law of sin in my members. O ! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death 1 O that I may be able to say with Thy servant, " I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord."t Through Him may I obtain deliverance and victory. A part from Him, all my righteousness is " filthy rags ;" yet in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Heavenly Father, I am ever refreshed and affected when I reflect upon my Glorious Redeemer's Advocacy on behalf of * Job. SI, 14 and 9, and 20, t Romans 6, 26* DlVOTIONfi 91 fueh a poor, guilty tinAer u I am. Behold, God, my Shield. Look on me in the face of Thine Anointed. I rely upon Him as the Propitiation for my sins. I rejoice in my union with Him, because He is made of God unto me ivisdom and righteousness, sanctiflcation, and redemption. O that that infinitely endearing and tender interest, which my Saviour hath manifested towards me, may produce in me all the fruits of good Hying to the glory of Thy great name. May I be filled with all the fulness of God. I rejoice, O God, that the same blessing that I ask for my- self I am emboldened to ask for others also $ for Jesus Chrbt is " the Propitiation," not only for my sins only, *' but also forthe sins of the whole world." M ay those who are far off, and those who are nigh at hand, be admitted to a participa- tion (^ the benefits of the New Covenant. <' Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Bless all on board. Prosper us in our voyage and in all our lawful undertakings. Watch over our families, kindred and friends. Reward our benefactors. Forgive our enemies. Praised be the Lord for the genial weather and all the com- forts we enjoy. Continue Thy loving-kindness, and graci- ously accept of me through Uie merits of my Redee rer. Amen. A MEDITATION. •« How mysterious is this Divine grace^that the Son of the Highest should take my nature upon Him, live and die in that nature foi me, rise again from the dead, ascend to the right hand of the Migesty on High, be there my infallible Advocate, my all-prevailing Intercessor having a paternal and fellow-feeling in all my weaknesses and sorrows ! O the height and depth, the length and the breadth of the love of Christ ! All this passeth knowledge. Let me remember that it is in and through Christ, that I can draw nigh to God as a Father and reconciled God. O that the Spirit may work in me humble, yet firm and warrant- ed, appropriating faith. When He enables me to know Jesus as my Saviour, I then also know God as my God. It is not enough to know that Jesus is a Saviour, nnd that God is the c3 1 1 98 DIVOTIONS. CoTcnant God of Hit people. I mutt know the Father and the Son as mitte* that ihe^ Spirit may more and more ac- complish this in me. Then shall I be able to derive consola- tion firom this filial and indissoluble and holy relationship as the prophet did when he came unto Jehovah saying — " Art Thou not from everlasting, Lord my God, mine Holy One 1 We shall not die."* TWENTY-FIRST DAY, EVENING PRAYER, TUESDAY. Read Hebrews, Chap. 12. ^ Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me bless iUs Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases ; ivhD redeemeth thy life from de« struction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies ; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things $ 80 that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."t Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice that Thou art Head over all things to the Church, which is Thy body— << The fulness of Him that filleth all in all." « Thy Throne, God, is for ever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.";^ Omnipotent Saviour, I would extol the riches of Thy grace in taking hold of me a perishing sinner. Thou hast brought me " out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings." I was going astray like a lost sheep, when "The Good Shepherd" gathered me into His fold. May I ever know Thy voice and follow Thee. May I walk as becomes a sinner who hath been ransomed by Thy Precious Blood. 1 thank Thee, Lord, for Thy ^idance and guardianship of me all my life. May the discipune and corrections, which • Habakkuk 1, 12. + PsHlm 103, 1—5. X Hebrews 1,8, 9« DEVOTIONS. 99 in Thy providence I have experienced, be sanctified to me. I would not be without chastisement wliereof all Thy children are partakevs. But, oh ! ** rebuke me not in Thy wrath, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure." May '1 ny Spirit dwell in me, and I be so influenced by Him that it Bhall not be needful henceforth for my Heavenly Father to visit me with sore afflictions in order to bring mc near to God. " Awake, O. north wind ; and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits."* Should it please Thee that I be brought into the deep waters of trial and sorrow, O may I be greatly improved by such discipline. Teach me cheerful resignation to Thy holy will. O Divine Refiner, may I come out of the furnace as silver seven times refined. May my Saviour see His own image perfectly in my soul. Sanctify and comfort all Thy people. May untold multi- tudes experience the awakening and regeneration of the Spirit of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel. Accept of my praise for the comforts of the day that is past. Be my guardian during the night-watches. Prepare me, if it be Thy will, for the duties of a new day. All my hope is in God, and all that I ask is in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. A MEDITATION. On the subject of affliction the Psalmist says, '* Before I was afflicted, I went astray : but now have I kept Thy Word" — and again, '* It is good for me that 1 have- been afflicted ; that I mightlearn Thy statutes."! My professional knowledge will illustrate to me how the best Christian char- acter i» formed amidst tribulation and difficulty. I would not expect the man, who had sailed only or chiefly in calm and untroubled waters, to be a seaman of a high order. The weather-beaten tar, who has endured storms and weathered many a gale and sailed on many a dangerous sea, will surely rank far higher as a sailor than that mariner who has had but * Solomon's Sonjr 4, is, t Psalm 1 19, 67. 100 DBV0TI0N8. little experience of such trials. So in the Christian life. The •chool of adreriity is a severe, yet is it a salutary, instructor. Man is so carnal, vain, and easily intoxicated that he needs many monitors to keep him in his right mind. TWENTY-SECOND DAY, MORNING PRAT£R, WEDNESDAY. JReadFsalmt 46 and 47. Gk>d, I (eel profoundly impressed with the sentiment that " Thou desirest truth in the inward part." O give me to be able to say unto Thee, " I delight in the Law of God after the inward man." Thou knowest, Omniscient Witness of my h^art, that I most sincerely desire so to delight myself. By the gracious operation of the Spirit of Christ in my soul, O enable me to attain unto more of this felicity. Thou, O Lord, art a Spirit, and Thou requirest that they who worship Thee shall do so in spirit and in truth. Bestow upon me this grace. With Thine own, out of Thine own in- finite fulness, may I be enabled to serve and glorify Thee. Bodily exercise profiteth little. Forbid that I should come before Thee with only the homage of the 'body or without the eBtire homage of the soul. Alas ! my deceitful heart is apt to be insincere in Thy service. Grant me, I beseech Thee, to experience the remedying renovation and indwelling of Ihe Sanctifier. Pardon my past ofiences for the sake of the Atonement. Cleanse me in that Blood of Sprinkling which i^aketh better things than that of Abel." Accept, Heavenly Father, of my thanksgiving for all Thy goodness. I praise Thee that Thou hast spared me to see the light and to behold the beauty of a new morning. How manifold are Thy compassions 1 It is because Thy mercy is great above the heavens and faileth not that I am not cast off. Thou mightest in justice have consumed me in Thy wrath. When I think upon the sins of this days of my unre- generacy, and upon all my provocations, how astonishing is Thy long-suffering patience ! Hadst Thou dealt with me according to my sins, hadst Thou rewarded me for one of a thousand of my transgressions, I had been cut down and con- signed to the blackness of darkness for ever and ever. Praised DKVOTIONl. 101 and magnified be the richei of Thr loTe and forbearance in Chrbt .^lus. What gratitude and lore ahould I render unto Uw Lord for Hie iparinx and bountiful Koodneta t O Thou, with Whom la the reaidue of the Spirit, do Thou make me faithful in every ^ood word and work. May I profit by my Christian j>ri7ilegea. I have access io Thy Holy Word and to Thy Throne of grace. I have Thy Holy Spirit and Jesus on the Mediatorial Throne interceding forme. Thou hast also supplied me with books of Religious instruc- tion and the impressive teaching of Thy Providence. May many be added to the Church of Christ. May no weapon raised against Zion succeed* Thy Church, O Lamb of God, is safe, whatever enemies or opposition assail Her* Thou^hast taught Thy disciples to say, *' God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and tiiough the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea { Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though Uie mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy (dace of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her ) she shall not be moved ; God shall help her, and that right early. "• Look in pity. Almighty Crod, upon the suffering, the poor, the fatherless, widow and stanger. Reserve and protect those that are exposed to danger. Be with us in loving-kindness this day. And accept of my supplications and thanksgivings through Jesus Christ. Amen. TWENTY-SECOND DAY, XVENINO PRAYER, WEDNESDAY. Read Actt, Chapter 17. O Lord God of Israel, now that 'another day is gone, I would praise and call upon Thy Holy Name. Thy mereies are new to me every morning, and Thy faithfulness every night. " Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge." * Psalm 46, 1, d. 102 DXVOTIONf. As a company, mj brethren with whom I am lailing and I ouglU to celebrate Thy goodness. Thy Providence hath sus^ taincd us, and Thou hast conferred upon us many mental ahd Spiritual advantages. We should erect our Ebenezer and say, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Thou hast rescued us from deatJi, preserved us when exposed to sickness and danger, and made our way peaceful and prosperous. We have ptuti- cipated largely in Thy beneficence. O may we be the sub* ject of Thy Saving Grace. Make me, Almighty Father, to be more deeply humbled and more truly repentant than ever I have been. I acknowN edge with unfeigned regret that I have grievously transgress- ed. I am among the chief of sinners. May my sorrow for sin be really of a Godly sort. May I find acceptance as a contrite sinner through the Beloved Saviour of sinners. It hath pleased Thee, Lord of Heaven and earth, to hide the things of Thy Kingdom from the wise and prudent (^ this world, and to reveal them unto babes. Thou callest by Thy grace, quickenest by Thy Spirit, and preparest by Thy gifts those whom Thou art pleased- to employ, to benefit and bless their fellow-men. Thou didst select the meek and lowly to be AposUes, and Evangelists, and Pastors and Teachers in the primitive Church. Thou art employing similar men still in advancing Thy cause on earth. O may I receive the kingdom of Gud as a little child. May the Sacred Scriptures be everywhere circulated, and Christ Crucified be preached. Bless Thy servants who labour in the Word and Doctrine. May many search the Scriptures daily as did the noble Bereans. May the young be taught and trained from infancy and childhood in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Look in compassion on the aged and afflicted. Strengthen the feeble-minded, comfort the dis- consolate, and prepare the dying for eternity. Teach me and mine, while we live, to live to the Lord, tibat, when we die, we may die in the Lord. I now entrust me entirely to Thy keeping. Never leave or forsake me. Whether I sleep or wake, may my heart be with the Lord. Bless my sleeping and my waking hours. All my petitions I present in the Name of Jesus Chnst, my DBYOTXONS. 103 only SaTiour, to whom, with the Father, and the Spirit, be all praise, might, majesty, and dominion both now and for ever. Amen. A MEDITATION. The 16th Chapter of the Acts narrates the Christianization of Timothy by the instrumentality of the great Apostle of the Qentiles. How amiable, beautiful, and endearing was the friendship subsisting between the chiefest of the Apostles and his " beloved Son Timothy !" How affectingly Paul writes to him, *' Without ceasing 1 have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day ; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy ; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice ; and I am persuaded that in Thee also.'^* How honourable is this to all the parties ! It speaks the warm and pious affection of the writer and the excellence of the believ- ing and ScripturC'^taught grandmother, mother, and son* How refreshing is it to contemplate the Christian heroism of Paul, his labours, his ceaseless activity, his travels by sea and land, his friendships, his sufferings, and losses for Christ's sake ! What a spirit animated him ! What noble enthu- siasm does he display ! O that I may participate in " the unfeigned faith'' of such illustrious believers as the Apostle and his friends ! THENTY-THIRD DAY, MORNIl^G FAATER, THURSDAY. Sing Psalm 3, 5. Read Psalms 48 and 49. O Thou that inhabitest eternity, and inhabitest also the praises of Israel, bend a gracious ear to my humble worship. For the sake of Him who, though God over all, blessed for ever, was born in Bethlehem, in order that He might save guilty sinners, be pleased to visit me with Thy pardoning love and sanctifying favour. •2 Timothy 1,9,6. -* *»**■/*» S»^ •*-»— T,1*tf 104 DKTOTIOIfS. All angels, cherubim, principalities, powers, the whole host of Heaven worship Thee with ceaseless adoration and praise. The liring creatures, those around Thy Throne on High '* rcbl not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Ahnighty, which was, and is, and is to come." The seraphim ciy unto one another and say. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."* Eternal praise be ascribed unto Thee, O Jehovoh, that notwithstand* ing the nobler homage of those pure, celestial spirits. Thou are revealed as declaring, *' I dwell in the High and Holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to reriire the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite G|ies."t Most Condescending and Good Parent, I would now and ever draw nigh unto Thee with profoundest reverence, high- est esteem, and intensest love. Thou art the God of my be- ing. By Thy paternal, watchful, most benignant Providence Thou art the God of my Ufe. In Christ Jesus Thou art my reconciled God. I rejoice, O Lord, to feel that I am safe in Thy hand. Thou doest what pleaseth Thee in Heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deep places. *' Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind."| My rcgoicing is that I%ou hast gathered the wind in Thy fists and bound the waters in a garment. It is the God of my salvation that '* Hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet."§ Lord, make me fully Thine. Every new day brings with it by the renewed and enhanced blessings of Thy Providence and Grace additional obligations to love and serve Thee. May no iniquity have dominion over me. May my gratitude be ardent. May healtli, comforts, vigour of body and mind, talents, opportunities, time, and whatever else Thou hast en<» trusted to my stewardship, be all employed for Thy glory. * Revelation, Chap. 4. t Isaiah 67, 16. t Psalm 48, r. § Proverbs 30, 4. and Nahum l , 3t DBVOTIONIi 105 Lord, make rae to know mine end and the meaBure of my days, what it is } that I may know how frail I am. ** Verily every man at his beat state is altogether vanity." I praise Thee for the unspeakable consolations that Thy children in Chri'^t liave. 1 know that I shall die, yet can I rcjjoice. For " God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave $ for He shall receive me."* While I live, may I live unto Cltfist, aud, when 1 die, may I die united to Him. Eaable me to set my affections on things above, and not on earthly thin|^. May I be dead to the world and sin, and may my life be hid with Christ in God. Most Merciful Lord, acceptof my thanksgiving for ail Thy past love and pity, especially for Thy favour and protection throughout the past night and this morning. May Thy blessing rest upon my fellow-voyagers and myself. May the risen Son of God be sent to bless us by turning away every one of us from hu iniquities. Be the God and Father in Christ of all my kindred and friends. Multiply grace unto Israel. Have mercy on mankind. ** Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence o£ His glory with exceeding joy, To the Only Wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion aud power, both now and ever. Amen."f TWENTY-THIRD DAY, XVENZNO PRATER, THURSDAY. Read Jlcts, Chap, 18. Lord, Thou art the Faithful and Covenant-keeping God. '< Thy Word is true from the beginning." All Thy promises are in Christ Jesus, Yea and Amen. From everlasting to everlasting Thou art God Thou art righteous in all .that Thou hast revealed, and in all that Thou hast done. <* Justice and judgement are the habitation of 1'hy throne : mercy and truth shall go before Thy face." <* Blessed is the people that know the joyful souiid : they • Psalm 40, 15* t Jude 24 25, 106^ DCVOTIONB. •hall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.*'* I would magnify Thy name for the finished work of Redemp- tion, and for the descent of the Holy Spirit in token of the , ransom-price having been paid. I rejoice to know that, when the risen Saviour ascended up on High, ** He led captivity captive and received gifts for men, even for the rebelliou8,that the Lord God might dwell among them." I bless. Thee, O Immanuel, for the saving benefits that attended the out-pour* ing of the Spirit on and after the day of Pentecost. Wheiji '* The world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." How ex- hilarating is it to read in the Word of Truth that many be» Moved and were saved ! that another Pentecostal emisifm of the Spirit were granted to the prayer of Thy children f It was Thy Providence and Thy Spirit, Blessed Redeemer, that raised up those honoured ministers recorded in Scripture, who- were unwearied in Thy work. O raise-up, qualify, and call forth many such now. May Thy servants, who preach the glad tidings, be mighty in the Scriptures. May they not fdnt or fail. May they be unwearied in well-doing, know- ing that in due time they shall reap. Increase the number of zealous, self-denied, able, and faithful men of God. Glorious King of Zion, be pleased to crown with ample suc- cess the labours of Thy Missionary and Ministering servants. May many run to and fro throughout the earth, and '* the biowfedge of the Lord" pervade human society. May men -turn from dumb idols to the Living God. May Anti-Chris> tian principles and confederations be destroyed. Bring to an end superstition and delusive religions. May th6 people be taught to worship God in the spirit, and to trust exclusive^ ly in Jesus as the Rock of Salvation. Bless, Lord, Thy pro- fessing Church. Bless that portion of it to which I belong. Lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes. May she 1^ zealous and take avail of every door opened in Thy Prvidence by which she may save souls and carry-on the work of the Lord. May she be honoured to turn many to righteousness and to edify the Body of Christ. * Psalm 89, 15. DETOTIONf. im May a rich blessing rest upon all who are dear to me and all who may desire my prayers. With grateful acknowledge- ments for the comforts of the* past day I now retire to rest, committing unto Thee the keeping of my soul and body, my interests and anxieties. All that I ask is in the name of my Redeemer, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory everlasting. Amen. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY, UOSNINO PRATBB, FBXDAT. Read Pialm 50. Ever Adorable and Most Merciful Qod, it is good for me that I now draw nigh unto Thee. " My voice shalt Thou hear in tiie morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up." Thou hast caused me to enjoy safe and healthful repose. How different is it with many, who are made to possess months of vanity, unto whom wearisome nights are appointed ! Alas I how different is it with some of my suffering or ship-wrecked brother-seamen. O accept of my thanksgiving for Thy loving-kindness and tender mercy unto me. And be a veiy present help in the time of trouble unto all those who cry unto Thee. Almighty Father, I am deeply sensible that the time past of my life is more than sufficient to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. Henceforward I would yield myself unto Thee, as alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness unto Gcd. I would be every day preparing for my last day and for tlie second coming of my Lord. pre<* pare Thou me for that inconceivably grand appearing of the Son of Man and Uncreated God for which 1 am taught to look in Thy Holy Word. When the Archangel's trump shall sound, may I then be associated with the nsing of im dead in Christ. I would ever be looking forward to that most august and solemn of all occasions. May I then and may I now be among the number of the sanctified in Christ Jesus. For '* He shall call to the Heavena from above and to the earth that He may judge His people. Gather My saints to- 108 DEVOTIONS. sether unto Me ; those thdt hay^ made a corenant with Me by sacrifice."* ^ May they who are very dear to me be Thine in Jmus. Let them not be among the vast number " that forget God." May they live soberly, righteously, and godly in tlie present world. In particular I beseech Thee for the young. From childhood may they know the Holy Scriptures, which are able, to make them wise unto salvation tlu'ough faith in Christ Jesus. To this Blessed Saviour may they be united. May they evince towards Him the kindness of youth and the loVe of espousals. May " holiness to the Lord be inscribed upon them and the first iVuits of their increase." I entreat Thee, O Lord, to fill me with Thy sanctifying Spirit. ' Thou hast said ** Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me ; and to him that brdereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of Grod." With my lips and my life may I praise Thee. Guide me by Thy counsel while I live and aAerwards receive me to glory. May it please Thee to continue Thy goodness to us all on board. Make us partakers with, Thy saints in the blessings of the New Covenant. Bring us in peace to our desired haven, and cause us to dedicate ourselves to Thee in holy newness of life. And to Thy Great Name in the Redeemer shall be all the glory, world without end. Amen. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. EVENING PRAYER, FRIDAY. Sing Psalm 4, 4. Read Acts, Chap, 19. O Lord, Thou art wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. The God of the whole earth art Thou. Thou humblest Thyself to behold the things that are done in Heav- en and in this lower world. Thy love to mankind has been such that Thou sparedst not Thine Only-begotten and Well-beloved Son, but didst send Him forth to be Incarnate, and to atone for sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, which is unto and upon all them that believe. * Psalm 50, 5. OXTOTIONi. 109 ** The eyei of all wait ou Thee ; and Thou fiTett them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and ■atisfiest the desire of erery liriiig Uiing."* Over man Thou ezercisest a most benignant care. Even in his alienation and rebellion Thou art Dountiful and long-suffering to him. Thou makest Thy sun to arise upon the evil and the good, and sendest rain upon the just and the unjust. For regener- ate man Thou doest more. Whilst he has pardon and peace in believing, and is an heir of the Heavenly inheritance. Thou bestowest upon him the blessings of this life as Covenanted, promised gifts. *' His bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure." I praise Thee, O God, for the ample experience I have had of Thy faithfulness in temporal things. For Thy grace realized in the spiritual life would I now give unto Thee hearty thanks. Grant me increase of all the influeDces of Thy t^pirit United to my Saviour by faith, may I receive out of His infinite fulness, *' even grace for grace." May the same grace, that shone soco|]|spicuously in the Mui Christ Jesus, be reflected in me as deriving vitality and prosperity from my Living Head. May the trying of my faith work pa- tience ; and may patience have her perfect work. I have great need of firmness, gentleness, prudence, affection, and the meekness of wisdom. Heavenly Father, I would ask of Thee In faith, knowing that Thou uithholdest not but givest liberally of Thy Spirit in answer to the prayeT of faith. May I ever be advancing to the measure of the stature <^ a per- fect man in Christ. Praised be Thy name for all the goodness vouchsafed unto me throughout the past day. Guard me during the night- watches. Sanctify to me, and to all who peruse them for spiritual good, the reading of <' the Holy Scriptures." O that results of turning from sin and all unrighteousness were now remarkable as in the day when it was said, " So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed." I commend to Thy most tender care all who are especially dear to me. May they be Thine in Christ for time and for Fsalm 143, 15, 16. D no DKTOTIONS. eternity. And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoet •hall be the glory for erer. Amen. A MEDITATION. ^ On the lubjeet of Covenanted temporal blessinei, how ten- der, eonsolatoif and satisfying are the words of Jesus to His Disciples, ** Are not two sparrows sold for a farthinc 1 and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the veiy hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear je not therefwe, ye are of more value than many sparrows.'** Again, *' For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and yuur Father kiraweth that ye have need of these tilings. But rather seek ye*the kingdom of God ; and dl these things shall be added unto you."f Thus are the children of God, though strangers and pilgrims in this world, assured tliat, walking uprightly, no good thing shall be wanting to them* ** Blessed is ue nation whose God is the Lord ; and the peo- ple whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance."! TWENTY FIFTH DAY, MORNING PBATER/ 8AT17BDAT. Sing Psalm 6, 1. ReadPiolmBi, Lord, Thou art (he Eternal, Ever-Livine God. I adore Thee as the fountain of life,— of life tempordi, spiritual, and everlasting. In the name of Thy Beloved Son, who is « The Way, the Truth and the Life" to guilty man, I desire now and at all times to present my humble offering of prayer. Graciously for His sake regard my homage, confessions, acknowledgements, and petitions. ^ Blessed for evermore be He who came in the name of the Lord to save sinners. In Thy light, O Jesus, shall I see light. 1 know. Almighty God, that every new day and the return of every additional morning should find me growing in new^ ness of life, and renewing my spiritual strength. O that ft were so ! Alas ! how far behind am I of what I should have ■II III • Matthew, 10, 29, 31. •t Luke 12, SO, 91. i Fsalm 33, 12. DBTOTZOITf. Ill attaiiied f O that I were enabled to walk worthy of mj Christian vocation and of the obligations under which Thy goodness hath laid me. Father of mercies, accept of my thanksgiTing for all Thy love and favour towards me. I praise Ttoa on this the b^ ginning of another day for the preservation and peace of Uie past night, for Thy protection and Paternal guardianship during the hours of helplessness and sleep, and for the glad- dening and strengthening effects of my repose. I ought to be grateiul for the advantages of my lot in life. Though nj circumstances and associations as a seaman afe not in all respects f ivourable to a close walk with God, yet Thou, O God of all consolation, canst make t^l grace to slbound to- wards me, so that I may by faith overcome the world. How marked have I felt '^hy Paternal care of me in Providence to be amidst the pelting of the storm, the inclemency of the sea* son, and the severity of the weather. Thou hast furnished me with such clothing and comforts. Thou hast bestowed up- on me mch health and vigour as cdl forth my fervent grati- tude. And I humbly jet confidently trust that that Redeemer, who hath sustained and carried me in safety wlien in the midst of gales and perils of the deep, will be with me all the days of my life, in the dark valley of the shadow of death, and unto the land of celestial uprightness. O Thou God of all goodness, Thou art infinitely able and infinitely willing to do for Thy children exceeding abundantly above all that t^ey ask or think. Lord, bless and pity me. Lift upon me the light of Thy reconciled countenance. Keep Thou me from besetting sin. )fay I notnbe overcome by temptation. May the sins, into which even some of Thine own people fell, and by which they brought great reproach upon Thy cause, serve as warnings to me to avoid the approach to unholiness. May I regard mem as beacons to deter me from coming near the paths of danger, lest I make shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. May I walk circumspectly, not as a fool, but as wise, re- deeming the time because the days are evil. May I possess a broken spiritjj a broken and a contrite heart. '^ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Ihou wilt not despise." lis OBTOTIONl. I pray ttraesfly ibr the natural and for the ipirltual Israel* MaT the bliMAil period soon arrWe tvhen thejr fhall be united in the Nasarene, in ** the Root and the Offspring of Darid.'* Grant my companions and myself much of Thy favour thia day. Prosper and bless us at sea and on shore, in this world and the world to come, for Jesus' sake. Amen. A MEDITATION. To what a dreadAil state had his sin reduced David I Agitated with terrific fear, he prayed unto the God against whom he had sinned, *' Cast me not away from Thy pres- ence $ and talce not Thy Holy Spirit firom me." Yet I ob- serre that even m the time of his deepest anguish he exclaims, ^ God, Thou God of my saWation." May JehOTah keep me (irom sin and make me strong in faith. How appropriate ^ Apostolic precepts I " But fornication and all uncIeanncM, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as be« Cometh saints ; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor Jesting, which are not conirenientj but rather giving of thanks."* TWENTY-FIFTH DAY, BVENING PBATSR, iATURDAT. Bead Luk$ Chap. 5. How excellent, O Lord, is Thy Name in all the earth ! Thou hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Thou givest the sun for a light by day and the ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night. Thou dividest the sea when,^ waves thereof roar. The Lord of Hosts is Thy name. Thou hast made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is. They all perfectly answer the purposes of their creation, obey Thy laws, minister to man, and declare Thy glory. 1 am filled with wonder and awe, admiring when I contem- plate Thy creation. How well may I exclaim with the Psalmist ! " Lord, how manifold are Thy works ! in wis- dom hast Thou made them all : the earth is full of Thy riches : so is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping in- numerable, both small and great beasts. There go the smps ; * Ephesiani 5, 3, 4. PBTOTIONf. 118 there ie that lerlathtn, whom Thou haet made ts pltv therein. Theae wait all upon Theei that Thou mayeit give tnem their meat in due season. "* All Thy worlu shall praise, Thee, Lord } and Thy sainta shall bless Thee. Number me, God of grace, wiih Thy children in Chrbt. They in disposition, aim. and essential character, are like unto Jesus. They are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. O gire me the heritage of Thr peo- Rle. Quicken Thou me from the death of sin to the liie of oliness. Gire me the spUit of adoption that I may say unto Thee, Abba, Father. Lord, Thou hast appointed one day in seren to be a holy Sabbath unto Thyself. May the Lord of the Sabbath prepare me for its holy obserranee. finable me with diligence and derotion to improre the opportunities of the Sacred Day. Keep me from both idleness and worldlliiess on the coming Sabbath. M ay « all the day be exercised with sacred things. Bless Sabbath ordinances. Meet with Thy Ministers and people in Thy 8anctuarr on Thy Day. Be with those who regret the deprivation of the inestimable privilege of worship* ping with Thy saints withlu the gates of Ziun. Be unto them *' as a little sanctuary." Have compassion on multitudes of Godless transgressors, who have no mercy on themselves. May they learn to know the things that belong to their peace, lest they be for ever hid from their eyes. 1 now commend me this night to Thy Paternal keeping. May no evil befal me or plague come nigh our ship. May my sleep be healthful and hallowed. All that 1 ask is in the name of Jesus Christy my iSaviour. Amen. TWENTY-SIXTH DAY, FOURTH SABBATH, MOaNINO FaATlB. Sing Psalm 42, 1. Read fsaiah Chap. 58. Most Blessed and Holy Lord God, Thou art worshipped and glorified by innumerable high and happy spirits around Thy Celestial Throne. Yet dost Thou most graciously en- • Fsalm 104, 24, tr. 114 DEVOTION!. courage the (Vail and (kllen children of men alio to leek Thj ftoe. For Ihia purpose Thine own Son, once crucified Dor ■innera and now at Thy right hand, is revealed as the Mediae tor between God and man, and the Great High Priest who erer lireth to make intercession for us. By the iniluence of His Spirit of Truth may I be enabled to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. Praised be the Lord, who hath been pleased to institute this Dar of Sacredness. I thank Thee, O Father, for my prescr- ▼ation. I have been spared in Thy good Providence to open my eyes upon another Day of the Son of Man. I recur to the grand work of Creation, which it commemorates, and to the B^ll ffrander work of Redemption, of which it also recals to mind. On this First Day of the week the disciples of Christ n^joice in Thy wisdom, power, and goodness. These glorious attributes shine forth illustriously in the formation and arrangements of the material universe, and in the constitution of this lower world with man, the lord over all the inferior creatures. But Thy perfections are more awfully displayed in the Work of man's salvation. How adorable art Inou as when beheld by faith ! Thy mercy is there manifestly in harmony with Thy justice $ I there see Thee, the just God and the Saviour, the God of everlasting love originating Uie atonf^ment and righteousness of my Saviour, the God of in- flexi .<) justice not sparing Thine Only Son whom Thou Xcf^iiA, but causing Him to die a Propitiation for the sins of His people, that through His death they might attain eternal blessedness. Thanks be unto God for His Unspeuk(ib4< Giil. On this Lord's Day I would c lebrate the triu-viuhi o*" ,y glorious Head and Representative. When He ' J ottced Himself without spot unto God as the substitute and sin- offerinr of His ransomed followers, and tasted death for every mar He arose a Conqueror over death and the grave. My Saviour 'vas nroved to be the Son of God with power by the re8urrecii'ir< from the dead. HcMT precloL^ ire the ordinances and advantages of the Christian ^r.bbuth ! Or. this Day Thy people are wont to assemble wi:i) ,n the gat^s of Zion, to show forth Thy most worthy praise, to read and to hear Thy most Holy Word, to DIVOTIONfi 110 do homan to Zlon*t King, to ht reflrMhed ilh tkt llTlog wttMTd or SaWaiion, to grow In jraoe and in th<' knowledge of oil. Lord and Saviour Jmui OhrlBt. Meet with them all If' i>>« t and to do them good. May they feel that a day ^^^eni 111 Thy courtf Is better than a thouiand. May they be 4'<)ifled. aanctlAed, and establiahed In hollneif and ( omfort tiirouch fiiith unto lalvatlon. And that many hiay be added to their number thiaday ! May their ranlci be recruited find their company increased by a ?ast multitude of the spiritually dead awaking and arising to receive light and ife A-om Him who is ** the Bright and Morning-star/' and " iie Sun of righteousness." Bless abundantly ThT Senrants this daj who labour in th^ Ministry of reconciliation. May they luUy, affectionately, and faithfully preach the Gospel. May they be workmen that need not to be ashamed. May they be rewarded in their own souls ; mav they also be rewarded with success in the many that they shall be instrumenfhl in saving, and who shall be to them for a crown of joy and rfyoicing in the day that Thou makest up Thy jewels. « How amiable are Thy Tabemaclea, Lord of Iloita I My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord ; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God."* God, my God, supply to me the lack of privileges and of the ordinances of Thy House this day. Thou knowest how inestimably I prize them. ** As the hart panlelh a(ter the water-brooks, ao panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My ir.oul thirsteth for God, for the Living God t when shall I come and appear befcre God V*] my Heavenly Father, when I am affected by troubled nature around me and by internal sorrows, when tossed by the tempest, and reeling because of stormy wind, I am at my wits' end, tiMch Thou me to say with Thy servant, ** Deep calleth unto decM »t the noise of Thy waterspouts : all Thv waves and Thv billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command His k>ving-kindness in the day-time, and in the n^lht • rs*im84, 1,2. t Psalm 4i, 1,2. 116 DEVOTIONS. r r His fonc shall be with me^ and my prayer unto the Ood of my life/'* ^ Bless all of us on board this day. May it be to us a Holy Day. Multiply unto us Thy loving^kinduesses and beautify us with Thy salvation for the sake of Thy Dear and Only Son, Jerus Christ. Amen. TWENTY-SIXTH DAY, FOURTH SABBATH, EVENING PRAVKR. Read Hoaea Chap. 11, and Hebrews Chap. 4. O Thou Adorable, Ever-blessed Lord God, with deepened solemnity, awe, and reverence, would I now come into Thy presence and worship at the footstool of Thy Throne. Thou art God Thyself alone, and besides Thee there is none else. The gods of the blinded nations are vanity and a lie, the gods whieh alienated man worships are devils and idols that steal away his allegiance and heart from Thee, the Only True and Living God. Alas ! Man in his unregeneracy still makes to himself gods many and lords many, giving his affections, soul, and body to them rather than to Thee> O Thou Eternal, In- finite, most Holy and Good God. Grant, I beseech Thee, Omnipotent Father, for the sake of Jesus Thy Beloved Son, that my affections may centre upon Thet; Be Thou their supreme object. Be Thou my satisfying portion. Be Thou all and in all to me. Hast Thou indeed drawn me with the cords of a man, with bands of love, as Thou didst draw Thy peeple of old 1 To Thy Name for ever be all th? glory. I hope that that God of sovereign grace and love, who loved Israel when a child and brought His Son out of t^gypt, hath also brouglit me out of the Egypt of slavery to Satan and sin, hath rescued me from the horrible pit and the miry clay, hath set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. To Him with my whole soul will I ascribe honour and praise. To the Father whose love from eternity sent his Son into the world to save it, to the Son who came to gb'i His life a ransom for many and render perfect obedience 'jo the holy law of God, and to the • Psalm 42, 7, 8, OXVOTXONS. 117 Hdy GhoBt who quickeneth the dead sinner and leadeth him to the Sayiour, ivho also sanctifies and comforts the believer^ to the Ever-Blessed Divine Trinity be ascribed all praise^ dominion, and glory for ever and ever. Thanks be to the Lord for the goodness experienced this day* How lovely is the institution of the Sabbath ! How invaluable its privileges ! I mourn over my past misimpro?e- ment and desecration of the Sacred Day. ** God be merciful to me a sinner." Wash me in the blood of atonement and I shall be clean, for it cleanseth from all sin. Save me by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Adorn me with the pure robe of my Redeemer's righteousness. Clothe me with that *' fine linen which is the righteousness of saints." Bless to me, Giver of all good, the ordinances and the ez» ercises in which I haye this day been privileged to engage. Thou art a God nigh at hand and not a God afar off. Thou art the God of the sea as well as of the dry land, of the roam- ing mariner equally with the more favoured dweller upon earth. And I rejoice to know Thou canst be sought and found as easily on the deck or in the forecastle of a ship as in any of the dwellings of Jacob, or even in the Sanctuary more especially set apart for Thy worship and Thy Word. O God, I bless the opportunities of thb day. Mav they be sanctified for the advancement of all good which Thou hast begun io my soul. Humble, abase, instruct, comfort, rebuke, purify, and everlastingly save Thy poor servant. May my ceaseless aim, and by Thy grace my happy attainment be, entire con* formity to Thy will and image. God of the spirits of all flesh, be pleased to bless Thy Word and offers of salvation to perishing sinners. Bless them this night to multitudes who may this day have heard them. O Grod, Thy Church and Thy servants mourn that so few among the hearers of a preached Gospel are savingly converted unto Thee. for times of refreshing and revival from the presence of the Lord ! A waken those that are asleep in Zion. Make the spiritually dead to arise, that Christ may give them light. May Thy Word have free course and be glorified. May the results be evinced in the turning of great multitudes from sin d2 118 DEVOTION!. 1-^ and Satan to holiness and to God. May Thy people be edified and built-up in their most holy faith. May they walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comtort of the Holy Ghost. ' Holy and Gracious Father, I especially supplicate Thee on behalf of those with whom I am connected by the ties of kindred, affection, calling, and companionship. May all my loved relations be Thine in Christ. O forbid that any of them should go down to the grave without pardon through the blood of Jesus and union to Him as the Head of His Body, the Church. Multiply grace, mercy, and peace unto Thy children. May they walk in love. May their love be with- out dissimulation. May they abhor that which is evil and eleave to that which is good. May many mariners be added to this class. May they prize and improve the opportunities of Spiritual good within their reach. May they thus be pre« pared and honoured to save themselves and the souls of those with whom in Thy Providence they are called to have inter- course. In particular I beseech Thee to bless my shipmates and all on board this vessel. May we all be fellow-heirs of eternal life. I commit me, Father of mercies and God of all loving- kindness, to Thy Paternal and Providential keeping thb night. Grant me the sleep of Thy beloved. Even wlien I sleep may my heart wake with love to Him who loved me and gave Himself for me. May the salutary and hallowing influence of the Lord's Day pervade my spirit and conduct during all tiie days of the week. And, when my days and nights on earth, my week-days and my Sabbaths, shall have terminated, O may 1 obtain an admission to the exercises and feliqity of that Sabbatism which remaincth for Thy people for ever. And unto Thee the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting, world without end. Amen. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY, MORNING PRAYER) MONDAY. Read Psalms 56 and 57. With grateful praise and deepened solemnity would I this morning approach Thy sacred presence, O Thou infinitely • / DEVOTIONS. 119 Holy One. I offer Thee my thanks in the name of my Great) Only, and infinitely adequate Mediator for all Thy lote and grace, for the bounty and ben<;ficence of Thy Provi- dence, for the blessings of day and night and of the Sabbath and the days of labour. May the privileges of the past Sacred Day be sanctified unto me. May a hallowed influence be upon me all the days of the week. I thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for the rest and sleep of the past night. Thy goodness hath made me to feel glad and refreshed this morning. Thou art giving me the prospect of again landing on a shore where I may unite with Christians in the ordinances of Zion. We should erect our Ebenezer when we reflect upon the prosperity, health, and comfort of this voyage, and say, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Now Uiat it may be drawing nigh its end, O may I not ungratefully forget the Author of all its enjoyments. And, when I may be imperilled or in dread of any enemy, may I be enabled in faith and reverence to say, " What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word ; in God I have put my trust."* With fixedness of heart enable me to pray, *' Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me : yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be over- past. I will cry unto God most High ; unto God that per- formeth all things for me."t Grant me Thy favour and love, Gdd. May I also have goodwill and esteem in the sight of men. Enable me to perform well my ship duties. Let not negligence or mistakes or incapability be chargeable against me. And, while atten- tive to the claims of man upon me, O may 1 be dutiful in the discharge of my closet and devotional exercises. May my communion and fellowship ever be with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. Almighty and Ever-blessed God, I pray for my shipmates, companions, friends, relatives, and biinefactors. Visit them with the love which Thou bearest to Thine own people. * Psalm . 06, s, «• fPsaimAr, 1,2. 120 DBVOTIONSi Forgive mj ttiiemief. Have mercy u|^on sinners in danger of periling for ever. Bless all Thy cmidren with increase of grace. Graciously listen to these my humble prayers for Jesus' sake. Amen. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY. EVENINO PRATER, MONDAY* Bead Acta Chap, 20. Almighty God, Thou art the Father of mercies and the Fountain of all felicity. In Christ Jesus the guilty sinner has m the day of salvation a warrant to come boldly to the Throne of Grace that he may obtain pardon and the renova- lion of Thy Spirit. Thou art the Proprietor and Giver of all my blessings. Thine is the air that I breathe, the refreshing water that I drink, which Thou hast caused the springs of earth and the clouds of heaven to supply; Thine is the food that sustains me and the raiment wluch clothes me ; Thine is the light which is sweet, and the sun which it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold, and the salubrious breeze wluch enlivens and braces man. Thine are all the blessings of this life. And not less, Lord, art Thou the Author of all Spiritual, Heavenly, and Everlasting blessings. 1 adore Thee as the God of my salvation. It was Thy eternal love that sent Thy Only-begotten Son to this world to be lifted up on the Cross that every believer might attain never-ending life and happi- ness* Thy erace hath made me, a chiefest of sinners, a par- taker of Chnst. Glory to God who hath made even me to differ, and constituted me a member of His Son. By the spirit of adoption may I be enabled at all times to ciry unto Thee, Abba, Father. In the humble exercise of the confidence created by this relation, may I say. It is my Father '' who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heiven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. Behold the nations are 88 a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance : behold He taketh-up the isles as a very little BET0TI0N8. 121 tldig.'^ How astonishing that I should be as much the ob- jeot of Thy care as if 1 were the only being for whom Thou hadst to care. Yet so it is with every disciple of the Blessed Immanuel* I rejoice that I ha?e this night been privileged to read a portion of Thy Holy Word. May the Spirit sanctify me through Thy U'ruth. May there be many successors of Thy holy Apostle Paul raised-up, men of God, who shall realize a similar spirit of closet communion, ardent zeal for Thy glory, and ceaseless activity for the good of men with that which so illustriously shone in him. iVlay many run to and fro by land and by sea for the cause of Jesus and the salva- tion of sinners that are even now almost ripe for eternal ruin* <* Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY, MORNING PRATER, TUKSOAT. Read Psalms 56 and 57. Unto whom, Lord, can I go but unto Thee 1 Thou art the Author and Bestower of eternal life. Unto whom, Om- niscient Saviour, would I go but unto Thee, who hast loved me with an everlasting love, and «vith loving-kindness hast drawn me to Thyself T May the Spirit of grace now rest upon me as a Spirit of true and earnest devotion. Thou hast spared me. Heavenly Father, to open my eyes upon the light and pleasantness of a new day. I praise Thee for all Thy Providential and Paternal kindness. Grant that I may be enabled to act as the child of so many mercies. ** Thy vows are upon me, O God. I will render praises unto Thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; wilt Thou not deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living, "f Make Thy grace sufficient for me, perfect Thy strength in my weakness. Thou art able not only to deliver my soul from • Isaiah 40, 12. l\ t Psaim 56, 12, IS. m DBV0Tl6Nf. death, but iJbo mine eyes from tears and my feet from fall- ing. O Lord, I will praise Thee, ** for Thy mercy is great unto the hearens and Thy truth unto the clouds."* Thou art that most merciful God who looked upon me in my low and lost estate. Thou didst bring me to the blood of sprin- kling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Thou hast begun in me the good work of sanctification. Continue, O Father, Thy rich goodness. Behold Him who is my Living Head and King. Grant me full acceptance in the Beloved. May all my sin be dispossessed from my souL Enable me to go on to the measure of the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. Ifphold my goings this day* May Jesus be felt by me as infinitely excellent and unspeakably precious to mei. Verily << He is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether love- ly." O may I be able truly to appropriate the language of the bride, and say, ** As the (citron) apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great ddight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting-house, and His banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples ; for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me."t To Thee, Lord, who alone art able to save them and to five them an inheritance among all them that are sanctified, commend my companions, friends, and relatiyes. May those who are especially dear to me love Thee supremely. I pray that Thy merciful regards may visit all men. Be the God of the young and inexperienced. Bless in particular young sea- men. O teach them to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. May they learn to know Thee and to serve .Thee with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Be with me this day for good. My highest and single aim for myself is that I may glorify Thee by a conversation be- coming the Gospel. Multiply grace, mercy, and peace unto me for Jesus' sake. Amen. * Psalm .57, 10. t Song df Solomon '- DEVOTIONS. 123 TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY, EVENINO PRATER, TVESDAT. Read Jda Chap, 22. Lord, my Heavenly Father, I praise Thy great name as the greatest and the best of all beings. Thou art infinite in all perfection* Thine attributes, Ihy works. Thy goyern- ment, Thy laws, are all worthy of Thy Divine, underived, eternal glory. ** Bless the Lord, O my soul. Lord my God, Thou art exceeding great ; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment ; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain ; who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters j who maketh the clouds His chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind."* When I behold. Thou Creator of all things, the beauty and utility of day and, night with their bearing upon all the creatures, when I consider the vast sublimity of Creation with all its provisions and adaptations, how well may I ex- claim '* O Lord, how manifold are Thy works ! in wisdom hast Thou made them all : the earth is full of Thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innum- erable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live : I will sing praise to God while I have my being."f Enable me, Lord, to be a genuine follower of those who are now through faith and patience inheriting the promises. Like them, may I fight the good fight of faith, run the race set before me, and lay hold^of eternal life. Everlasting praise be ascribed unto God, who hath imparted to me a mea^iure of Divine grace. Praised ba my God for His sovereign Spirit and His quickening influences in my soul. For His invigo- rating, fructifying, enlivening presence I praise Thee. By nature I am destitute of Spiritual good. The arid wilderness, the barren land, tlie stagnant pool, or the dead sea, where • Psalm 104, 1,3, t Psalm 104, 24, fcc. 124 X>B?0TZ0N8. want and wretchednen, desolation and deaths reign, are em- blema of mj GodieM condition ur/ll born of the Snirit* What shall I render to tlie Lord, who hath made me a par- taker of Divine life and hope, for all His benefits ? May I be enabled to walk as the recipient of such blessings to the glory of Thy Great Name. My fervent prayer is that the same blessikigs may be realized by many more* Especially would I beseech Thee on behalf of mariners and those that go down to the sea in ships* Thou knowest, Lord, their disadvantages, the strong tempta- tions to sin with which they are often beset, the difficulties and discouragements of their vocation, their own weakness, igAorance, and waywardness* Thou knowest also how little in past days even Thine own people cared for their souls* Prused be that aboundimg grace that can overcome all ob- stacles. I reijoice and give thanks for the lively interest that is now taken on behalf of poor seamen by some of the children of Zion iVI ay the happiest results be the consequence* Watch over me, most Gracious Parent, this night. Fit me for a new day and its duties, if it be Thy holy will* And the 5 lory shall be Thine in Christ Jesus, world without end* Lmen* A MEDITATION. What an admirable character does Paul present to the Be» holder t How worthy of imitation ! How calculated to in- spire with heroical devotedness to the cause of Christ t What zeal, activity, energy, firmness, intrepidity and resolution in happiest alliance with prudence, conciliation, and affection do I contemplate in the noble Apostle of the Gentiles ! In tumults, imprisonments, perils, he is yet the courageous, un- daunted and triumphant herald of the cross. Lord, may such a spirit rest upon all Thy Ministers. TWENTY-NINTH DAY, MORNING PRATER, WEDNESDAY* Read haiah Chap, 63. Lord, Thou art the Everlasting God. Thou art the Creator of Heaven and earth. Whatever exists in the im- DETOTIONI. 135 mensitj of tpue acknowledges Thee for its Author and Pro- prietor- Thou hast created all things for Thyself, to show forth Thy '"lory, and that eternal purpose they will fulfil. It is. . hovah, iii Thy dealing with the children of men as a Covenant God that Thou art most interesting an«I en- dearing. While I am awed and most deeply humbled because of Thy Modesty and purity, 1 am also sweetly drawn and lovingly attracted by 'I'hy compassion and goodness. Lord, Thou emancipatest and restorest the poor sinner by the fin- ished work of Thy Beloved Son. How happy are they 'who are thus saved ! Through faith they experience pardon, justification, and peace. O God, make me a full partaker of the benefits of this new, well or- dered, and everlasting Covenant. Blot out all mine iniqui- ties, heal all my diseases, redeem my life from destruction, crown me with loving-kindness and tender mercy. May even my common and Providential blessings be sweetened and sanctified as coming through the Chnnnel of the Covenant. God of all grace, make me faithful to my obligations to love and to live to 1'hee. I thank Thee for the peace, rest, and protection of the past night. For the morning's mercies and comforts I thank Thee. Be graciously with me throughout the day. Bless my companions with Thy loving favour and par- doning mercy. Bless beloved kindred and friends- Bless with increase of grace the Spiritual Israel whom Thou hast gathered from the lands and from among sailors. They shall come from the East, West, North, and South, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. May I and mine be bound-up with this Israel of God. Grant also, God of Israel, that Israel according to the flesh may soon form a most illustrious portion of the Spiritual T.srael. " Oh, thiit the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion f When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad-"* Blessed Lord, as the tide of time is rapiUly carrying me to the Ocean of eternity, may I number my days so as to ap- ply my heart unto wisdom. How swiftly am I sailing to the • Psalm 14, r. 126 DEVOTIONS. end of the rojage of life t Another tea-Toyage will soon, I truit, in Thy kind Providence be aceompliah^. May I be advancing in a meetneu for that world where, according as I now sow, I shall then reap. Make roe more andjmore dil- igent, meek'and holy. And graciously accept of me tlurough Jeiut Christ. Amen. TWENTY-NINTH DAY, EV£NINO PRATEA, WEDNfiSOAT. Read Jcti Chap. 23. Infinitely Wise and Gracious God, Thou hast been pleased so to reveal Thyself to Tiiy intelligent creatures upon earth ai^ that they ean understand something of Thy glorious per- fections and greatntss. The full reality and array no created intelligence can comprehend. Glory be to lliy Great Name that Thou hast unfolded so much to man. Thou inhabitest the immensity of space, Th.ju pervadest the universe. Thou art the Omnipotent Uuler and Disposer cf every creature. Thou art the omniscient, faithful, and true Witness of the springs of action and the deeds of every human being. There is no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. And there is no place or time or position in this world where Thou canst not be sought and found of the contrite suppliant. When assailed by the depravity and enmity of unrenewed men, I am often, Lord, ready to cry out, '* Oh that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away and be at rest. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." But faith, obedience, and filial love call upon me rather to listen to Thy word of unutterable truth, '* Cast Thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee : He shall never suflTcr the righteous to be moved."* I praise Thee, Almighty God, for Thy kind. Paternal Providence. It watcheth over me from day to day, and during the darkness and slumbers of night. How great hath been Thy goodness towards me I Thou hast given me, I trust, to be a participator of the *' true riches." Thou hast • Psalm 55, 92, OIVOTIONI. 127 . enabled me to buy ** the pearl of great price," ** gold tried in the fire.*' Thou haat also giren me eiperimentally to know the truth of Thy Word, that /* Oodlineis is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.*' Thou hast made me to dwell safely. Thou host kept me in *' great pence" Thou hast preserved me even when most exposed on ship'board to peril and the grave. For the^e and all Thine innumerable blessings, God and Father of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I would now devoutly praise Thee. Pardon all my sins lor the sake of the Atonement. By Thy Word and Spirit and Providence may I be nurtured and matured in holiness. Make me meet for Thy eternal Kingdom and glory. O visit also with this hap« pintpB loved kindred and friends. Graciously revive Thy Church. IVlay she break forth on the right hand and on the left. Have mercy upon all men. In Thy keeping. Good Lord, I now leave me. Do for me exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or think for Jesus' sake. Amen. THIRTIETH DAY, MOBNINO PHATEB, THURSDAY. Read Psalms 59, 60 and 61. With deepened gratitude and solemnitywould I on this new morning approach the footstool of Thy Throne, O Thou who art not only God of the Cherubim, but also the God of man, yea, who art my God. I adore Thee for the Everlasting Covenant of Redemption, and for the relation in which it causes me to stand to Thee, the God of the Covenant. Thou art in it revealed as the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and in Him the reconciled Gbd and most loving Father of every believer in Thy Son. How prec- ious is Thy Divine grace ! Thanks be to God for His Un- speakable Gift. Thy kind Providence seems this day to call upon me, O Thou Preserver of men, to review in some measure the good* ness and the mercy wtiich Thou hast been making to pass be- fore me. Not only hast Thou sustained me from day to day. 128 DIVOTIONI. and been making the outgcrfngi of the morning and the in- comings of the eyening to rejoice o?er roe; Ihou hast als tected from pirates, robbers, and every enemy that might have assailed or buit us. We have not been injured either by the infclemency of the weather or the violence of the stormy wind. In hcallh and gladness of heart, we trust, we shall soon reach our homes on shore. If spared once more to see and embrace our loved relations and friends, O teach us to give glory to Thee, God of our lives, the God of love and peace. May our affections be purified, spiritualized and elevated. While we are kind and du- tiful to kindred upon earth, may ^e be taught to love iupreme- ly that Friend in Heaven who sticketh closer than a brother. May we secure Hia friendship from whom neither sea nor land, death nor life, time nor eternity shall ever be able to separate us. O may we be Christ's for ever and ever. 1 ought to resolve, Heavenly Father, to be Thine more than ever. I would say in the language of Thy Word, " From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is over- whelmed : lead me to the Rock that is higher than I For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever ; I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows : Thou hast given me the heritage of those *hadoiv, and there is none abiding. Adored be the God of all grace and consclation for the en- couragement held out in the glorious Gospel to sinners. Through Jesus Christ whom the glad tidings announce, I have boldness to come unto Thee. I would now, reining upon this Divine Mediator, draw nigh with profoundest veneratiivith profound rever- ence would we now approach Thy aueust presence* We feel the awful disparity that separates between Thy purity and our vilensss. We feel that we are not worthy to be per- mitt^ to adore Thee, and seek Thy loTe. God, the wicked are wont to say unto Thee, Depart from us } for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways. Whfit is the Almighty, that we should serve Him 1 and what Srofit diaJl we have if we pray unto Him *{* It may be, O i'hou Omniscient One, that such has in days past been the language tit our hearts and minds. Pardon for the sake of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son, this and all our sin. We Irust that Thou art teaching us now another language, and bringing us into a better state of hea.t and mind. We would draw nigh unto Thee, rejoicing that Thou art inviung us to Tl^^rself ad the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chr* L Thou hast revealed Him to us as our Advocate with Thee, the Father. He hath taught His dis- ciples to come unto Thee, saying, ** Our Father". grant that by the good aid of His Holy Spirit each of us may be enabled to say unto Thee with faith and loving devotion, My Father. , We rejoice in Thy everlasting love, Lord, as set forth in the mission of Thy Son. We rejoice in His condescension • Job 2i> 14,15. 136 PBATSm. ud affection to the poor and the guilty. He hath left it on record that ** He came not to call the righteous, hut sinnen to repentance." We rejoice in the regard that He manifested to those who were connected with the sea. We are the more encouraged by it to cast our souls upon Him, to trust soleiy in His blood and righteousness for pardon ar*! holiness. He eame in the name of the Lord to save us. How precious is Thy gr&se ! ** How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O 6oa ! therrfore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings I* May we with all e^nestness, sim- plicity, and godly sincerity seek unto Thee, Thou Divine Kedeemer, as all our salvation and all our desire. Bless us, we beseech Thee, Heavenly Father, as now to be engaged in sacred exercises. Borne i^ as we are upon the bosom of the great deep, we delight to believe that we are upheld by Thy power^and goodness, for " the sea is Thine, and Thou madest it." Thou art the God of the sea as well as of the dry land. The universe is Thy temple. Thou per- vadest all space. Thou fillest immensity with Thy presence. May our frail bark, that is being wafted on the billows of the Ocean, be to us a temple consecrated by Thy presence.. May it be to us Bethel,— the house of God, — the gate of Heaven. How animating, O Lord, is the intimation of the inspired Seer, '* For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabit- eUi eternity, whose name is Holy $ I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.*'t Lord, bless and pity us. Shine on us with the light of Thy countenance. Give us individually to know Thee,hepher." It should also be remembered that the narrative before us comprises in all likelihood but a small portion of even the prophetical life of Jonah. d4 138 •iiMOir. .*1 There is a garbled aceoufeit of the atory of Jonah in fhe Koran, and the Mohammedans to this day, after Uie ezam^ of their Founder, hold this prophet in great estimation. The wonderful occurrences of the inspired narrative have also been introduced with modifications into some of the fables of Hea* then Mythology. That the occurrences recorded actually happened, and that the account is not an allegory, is proved by the use our LorO makes of the history. He contrasts the praiseworthy eoB« duct of the NineWtes, who received Jonah as a prophet and most fully believed his messa(|;e, thoush attested only by liim« self, with the dii«honest, impious, and blasphemoos people of Israel who rejected and condemned the Holy One of^God, though He came preaching truths more benignant and sub- lime, and accredited with miracles more marvellous and ad- mirable by far than were those which attested the commissiOB of Jonah to Nineveh. ** An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas : For, as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgement with this genera- tion and shall condemn it : because they repented at the preaching of Jonas ; and behold a greater than Jonas is here." (Matt. 1 2, 39, 41.) Upon another occasion the same Divine reprover said to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, *' O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky ; but can ye not discern the signs of the times 1 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; and there shall no sign be Siven unto it but the sign of the prophet Jonas." ( Matt. 1 6> , 4.) The fact then of Jonah's supernatural imprisonment constituting a type of Chrisl's entombment in the rich man's sepulchre, is a satisfactory demonstration that the account bhould be literally understood. When any event is r^arded as symbolical of another, nothing is clearer than that the primordial is believed to have really occurred, just as a para- Ue, illustration or simile, must havb an actual foundation in the simple reality upon which it is based. Jonah is here introduced receiving a mandate to go to the I tiiMoir^ 189 kingdom of AhjtU ai the Ambafsador of Jehof ah, the God of Israel. Hk charge was to dbnounce its great wiekedness with the threatened judgements of the Almighty. *< Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah, the Son of Amittai^ say- ing, Go to Ninereh, that great city, and cry against it } for their wickedness is come up before Me." (y. 1, 2.) The prophet however was not at all disposed to yield obedience to this command. On the contrary he was resolred by every mears in his power to escape from the duty enjoined him to di belonged to ** Galilee of the Gentiles," which vvas situated '< by the way of the Sea," waa I Chronicles, 91, IS. t Psalm isr, t, 4. 142 •IIMON. not unaequtinted with lea-faring people and uiaget. In leeking " to flee from the presence of tno Lord/' he at once proceeded to Joppa in order to obtain a passage out of the tenritory of the Land of Israel. Joppa was a notable port in Judea, and formed the connecting link between it and the Mediterranean. The harbour of Joppa was much used by Da id and Solomon in their maritime transactions. (It it well known In modern times by the name of Jaffa, and be- came remarkable for its cruel capture by Bonaparte. There is now a convent of monks there. Though at present one of the worst ports in the Mediterranean, it possesses an ancient harbour capable of great improvement. Its well watered (gardens export fruits, among which its water*melons are particularly distinguished.) At Joppa, we are told, the prophet found a ship going to Tarshish. Concerning this place there have been a variety of opinions. It is perhai>s betie** for us not to enter into this subject at all, farther than to observe that Tarsus in Cilicia, the birth-place of St. Paul, Tunis or Carthage in Africa, and Tartessus in Spain, have had their different advocates. Other suppositions have also obtained. Wo shnll refrain from a discussion that would detain us from our great object, the spiritual bearing and instruction with which the subject is fraught. It is right to mark the operations of Divine Providence. It has been said that *' he who observes providences will never w'aiit providences to observe.'' Yet great caution is requisite in arriving at conclusion^ as to the warrantableness or good* ness of any particuUr ime of conduct from the alleged smile of Providence. "We nay be out of the way of duty and yet may meet with s lavourai,)|e gale." Unless our conduct be in harmony with ttoe Revealed Will of God, all apparently Providential encourafevKnt is impotent to furnish a warrant or proper groumi for fei»«^ given mode of acting. Providence seemed > favour Jonah in his flight ''from the presence of the Lord." No so ner had he arrived at Joppa than he foiu^ a ship ready to sail for Tarshish. He was at once receiv»ill u a passenger; and forthwith the Land of Israel was jtft behind in the distance. But He, wliose ■SBMON. 143 ■enruit Jonfth especially faa, and ivhom he^'wai under the •UY>nge8t obligations to obey, had seen all, and was about to teach the prophet emphatically his error, folly, and sin. ** There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers^of iniquity may hide themselves.''* ** Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit 1 Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven. Thou artfthere : if I make mv bed in hell, benold Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; Even, there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee ; but the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the light are both dike to Thee."t We behold the ship of Tarshish spreading her sails to the winds of heaven, gallantly coursing her intended voyage $ the breeze is favourable, the master is energetic and worthy of trust, the nautical skill of the seamen is undoubted ;— all are conspiring to ftpeed the prophet in his flight. But all will not do. All will fail tro accomplish the end he has in view. All shall be made to prove to the Israelitish Seer and his fel- low-voyagers that * tbore is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel agtmrnt the Lord." All will tend to convince both the Jew aad t^ Gentile of the absolute omniscience, the all-pervadiag presence, and the resutless control of '* the Lord of Hotta> who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working." '* But the Lord sent out a great wind *nto the Sea, and tibere was a mighty tempest in the Sea, so that the ship was like to be broken," (v. 4.) How different is the language of tlus verse from that, current both among mariners and lands- men. *^ Stormy wind fulfilling His Word" is here ascribed direetiy to its Cause, Jehovah. Surely this ought to be sug« gestive of salutary conviction. It seems to address men and say, ' Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name." It is true, many things and among them good motives com- bine to incbice the habit of not, in ordinary speaking or I .11 »^»»»— »i^— III. I I II I * Job 34,^. t Psalm 1S9, r-12. 144 ■IRMON. writing, going beyond second causes. We ought howefer to be aware that in this habit there is great dan^r of encour- aging what may be termed — ihtfpirii o/'matena/tim, a spirit prevalent in no small degree in our day. The pious and truthful style of the inspired writer of our text is worthy of imitation and serious reflection. When the Toyaser is met by the threatening storm or overtaken by the dread hurricane, when he experiences tho Airy of Nature's conflicting elements encircling him, when fVom the depth of the watery abyss he mounts up to the heavens, let him then, let him there be- hold the power, grandeur, goodness, and wisdom of that Om- nipotent One w1k> '* rides upon the whirlwind and directs the storm." And, when life is redeemed from destruction, shall not the Christian sailor of our times adopt the devout resolu- tion of the preserved Monarch, and say, ** The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day."* When the Lord maketh the storm a calm to those that go down to the sea in ships, when He bringeth them to their desired haven, ** Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders." The sacred historian ascribes the extraordinary tempest and raging of the sea to tiie special interposition of Jehovah. The speedy and apparently seasonable falline-in of the prophet with the ship going to Tarsus, his ready reception into her as a passenger, her immediate sailing, the accommo- dation she offered for rest and sleep to the over>fatigued and exhausted traveller j— all these are simply recorded as facts. Jonsh was willing to be associated with Heathen mariners, '' to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." In order to this he had used exceeding exertion and had readily paid the demanded fare for his passage. The whole company had with one consent bid farewell to the Holy Land. How singular is the scene that next presents itself to our notice. ** The ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid." And this in consequence of the presence and the sin of an Israelite, of a man of God 1 The heathen and the unrighteous are often benefited by the • Iiaiah 38, I9. IBBMON* 145 eompantonihip of a belierer. But here it leemii at flrtt sight, as if auite the reverse had obtained. Here was a ship's crew broui^bt to the very verge of destruction because of the presence oiiine of the Chosen People. By a supernatural storm they appeared to be brought within the grasp of the King of Terrors. They were impressed with the idea that it was no ordinary sea-storm that now threatened to engulph them. Terror and alarm toolc hold upon them. ** Then the mariners were afraid, and cried (vociferated, criedj^d), every man unto his God, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the Sea, to lighten it of them." There are those who profess to believe that the Supreme Being is not influenced by man's prayers and that supplica- tion Is not otherwise beneficial than in its salutary effects upon the mind of the ^titioner. The very light of Nature, dim as are its intimations, condemns this view. Though it be most certainly true that the Lord is unchangeable, it is equally true that He is the Hearer and the Answerer of Prayer. The infinitely intelligent and good Heavenly Parent communes with His intelligent offspring and is affected by their desires. How He harmonizes His immutability with His being moved by the entreaty of the contrite Mrorshipper, He has not told us ; we know not j we are not, as presently constituted, capable of knowing. Doubtless to understand this is far beyond the grasp of U^e most powerful human in- tellect. That there exists the most perfect concord, every true Christian, nay every enlightened man thoroughly believes. Nay that the Most High has arranged His predestined pro- cedure so that He acts not till the prayer of faith is addressed to Him is a certain and demonstrated verity. " The mariners cried every man unto his god." Alas ! they were as yet in darkness as to the Only True God, the God of the universe, the God of all creatures, places, times and persons, the God of the sea and of the dry land. They knew, however, that it was most becoming to offer earnest and most urgent prayer, even though it were to " the un- known God." Their prayer may have been idolatrous. But may we not rather say that already they were being prepared to '* seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him and E 146 ■SBUON. find Him." Certainly tliey are very near, at least, to this state of mind, this stage of tlie transition from death to life/ But let us contemplate the instinct and tradition of Nature in these tempest-iossed, bewildered sailors, wMH ** soul is melted because of trouble.'* Distressed, unsophisticated nature, though corrupt, impels men to worship God in such circumstances. " They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken roan, and are at their ivit's end. Then they cry un^ to thW'Lord in their trouble." Nor will this solemnized spirit indispose or unfit those, who cherish it, for exerting themselves uisely and promptly with a view to their own safety. It did not so in the case before us. In the men be- tfore us we behold the union of devotion and active efibrt. ** Then the mariners w%re afraid and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the Sea, to lighten it of them." They were not so presumptu- ous as to rely solely upon their own exertions *, they were not so absurd as to suppose that they could be saved without tiiem. How wonderful are the ways of the God of Salvation ! Whether these Heathen seamen had often visited the Land of Israel, or had only just been there for the first time, is uncer- tain. Belonging to Phoenicia, or some not very distant foreign country, they had considerable acquaintance with Palestine. They understood at once the language of Jonah. But, whatever may have been their opportunities, they had hitherto remained strangers to Uie love and the homage due to Israel's God But the time for their eifectual calling was now come. Though late in turning from dumb idols to serve the Mvin^ God, they were not too late. They had not th6 happiness of those who from infancy and childhood are taught ** the fear cf the Lord." Yet in the sovereignty of His grace, they were now received as members of the Household of Faith. How great is the benefit accruing to those who from their tender years have known savingly the Holy Scriptures 1 Not only do they start far earlier than those who at a subsequeni period of life become the adopted children of God, to run the Heavenly race ; they also bring ail the improvement and ele- yation, that uniformly accompany the new birth unto righteous- J- tXEMON. 147 ness, to bear upon the vvhole future life. The years and the early cultivation thus gained are of inestimable value. The whole after-man realizes their beneficial influence. It may however happen, even in respect of these two classes of be- lievers, that *< the last shall be first, and the first last." The Phoenician mariner, once enlightened by the Spirit of the Lord, may excel the prophet of Gath-hepher in the graces and riches of the spiritual Israelite. The weather-beaten seaman, whose past life has not been that of a disciple of Christy may distance and far exceed in holiness the man who in the morn- ing,- of life began to follow Jesus, if the latt< r be not sober, vip^^ti' , self-denied and prayerful. " Be not high-minded h'-i. ' : r.*' The earnestness, devotion, humility, godliness ai and Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Psalm 1 39, 7. 161 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with ui all." Amen. . ^ 7 FRATIB. 158 SECO ND SUN DAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Paraphrase 7. Let us pray. May we now be enabled, O Lord, our Maker M Re- deemer, the Holy One of Israel, to approach Thy presence this day with sincere and !onging desires for nearness tp Thee. Coming in the name of our Only Advocate and His^ Priest, may our communion and fellowship be with Thee the Father, and with Thy Son Christ Jesus. Teach us the eX" perience of Thy servant who could say, « As the hart pant- eUi after the water-brooks, so pantelh my soul after Thee^ God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God : when shall 1 come and appear before God 1" (Psalm 42, 1, 2). We are prone to depart from Thee, the Fountain of liT*nff waters, and to hew out for ourselves broken cisterns which can hold no water. Our corrupt nature, our deceitful hearts, our ungrdly inclinations, ever prompt us to depart from Thee^ the God of holiness, and to worship and serve the creature or some idol " more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." Oh, how often have we said unto Thee in effect, ** Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of Thy way !" This day would we mourn over our sins, and repent us of them all, and take hold by faith of Thy only Begotten Son, as an atoning sacrifice, and the Lord our righteousness. We de- sire deeply to feel our own weakness as well as sinfulness* May we also, each for himself, be enabled to say, ** Suniyin the Lord have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45, 24). Thou art addressing every unregenerate sinner among us and saying, *' Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ bhall give thre light." (Ephesians 5, 14). Oh ! that such a word may be accompanied u'ith the power of the Spirit to the heart and conscience. And, if there be any of us who hath tasted and seen that Thou art s2 \ ''' 154 IKBMON. good, but who has become carnal and is asleep in his back- ■liding, may he ihii day hear Thy rebuke — " What meanest thou, sleeper, arise, call upon thy God." Apart or at a distance from Thee, there is no life, but the soul is spiritually dead. To 1 hee therefore, O Thou Fountain of life, do ive now seek for spiritual and olernal life. Wa hear Thy Bless- ed ISon, our Saviour, proclaiming the fulness and power of Thy grace when He says, ** Ask and ye shall receive \ Seek, and ye shall find ; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." " For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh} findeth j and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." May we know all this in our happy experience. For this purpose be pleased abundantly to bless us on the present occasion. Teach us to woi ship Thee " in the beauty of holiness." Teach the mariner to ** Say among the heathen that the Lordreigneth r He shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the eurth be glad : let the sea roar and the fulness thereof." (Psalm 96, 10, 11). May Thy Word this day have free course and be glorified, at sea and on shore, wherever it is preached or read. May it be so in our sanctification. And the glory we shall ascribe to the Father, the Son^ and the Holy Uhost, World without end. Amen. Let us sing in Psalm $9, 29. Let us read Psalm 89. SERMON. You will find the subject of discourse in Jonah I. 5* We have seen how the prophet resisted the mandate and declined the commission to " go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against i^" From the port of Joppa he took his passage in a ship which probably was one of the regular traders of the day and ivhich carried passengers. His object was to go ** unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." What a spectacle is here presented to our contemplation ! A child of God, and one called to the prophetical office, indulg- IIBMON. 166 >» Ing the spirit of grierous disobedience, lapiinff into the state of a wilful backslider. The great change of spiritual reno- vation, of being turned from darkness to lignt, had been effected in Jonah's soul. How sad, how inconsistent, how unworthy in him to erince perverse self-will and waywardness I But will he indeed thus escape? Will he overcome in the contest upon which he has ventured 1 Will he that contendeth with the Almighty prosper 1 And especially will a rebellious and a backslidinc prophet be per- mitted to dishonour God with impunity 1 We shall see. The narrative proceeds^ ** But the Lord sent out a great wind into the Sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the Sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his God, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the Sea, to lighten it of them.'' Where now was the prophet "i What had become of the passenger dur- ing all the crying to Heaven and the strenuous exertions of the terror-struck crew of the ship 1 Alas ! the exile who had chosen expatriation, association with idolaters, and to ** flee from the presence of the Lord," the guilty cause cf all the danger, alarm, and suffering that had overtaken the ship of Tarshish, — is least of all alive to the peril and awful solemnity of the circumstances into which his sin in particu- lar had brought both himself and his fellow voyagers. In truth he is as unconcerned as the dead is about either his jwn safety or that of his companions. Overcome and ex- hausted with fatigue, anxiety, and excitement, the fugitive is altogether unconscious of the storm. I'hat most extraordina- ry tempest had told upon the most. experienced and courage- ous of the seumen. It had naturally and with propriety, as well as in accordance with their wonted notions, suggested to the minds of these simple and serious heathens the idea of tlie Divine wra'J. and displeasure. " But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship ; and he lay and was fast asleep."* * Was in a deep sleep, was entranced, was overwhelmed with sleep.-.-See the same word in Psalm 76, 6» Daniel 8 ,18, Oenesis ' 14, u» 166 •IBMON. What an emblem hare we here of the sinner dead in tree- pasies and tins I The light of Nature, and maii'i observa- tion of the Divine general government of the world, proclaim, '* Verily there is a reward for the righicous: verity He is u God that judgeth in the earth." (Psalm bd, 1 1 .) '1 he Word of Inspired Iruth urgently presses upon us the august consid« eration, th^it besides all the recompense, uhich even in the present life is in Providence awarded, there is a day of most awful and unspeakably tremendous retribution rapidly im- pending, which will usher the impenitent sinner into an un- done eternity, it employs with respect to that day such language as this, ** When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed I from Heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fiie taking vengeance on them that know not Gcd, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence cf tne Lord, and from the glory of His power ; when He shall come to be f glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that be- ieve." (2 Thcssalonians 1,7). But ull this does not im- {»res8 or quicken or awake the spiritually dead. Neither the ove of Christ and His tender beseechings, nor " the terror of the Lord," can persuade or prevail with such a sinner. No, not though such words of awful truth are sounded in his ears as ** Awake, thou that sleepcst, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Ephesians 5, 14). '* The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go a^tray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. 1 heir poieon is like the poison of a serpent : they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear ; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely." (Psalm 58, 3). In ▼ain, as rc8|)ects such, are any of their fellow-voyagers on life's tempestuous and troui)led sea alarmed fur their sin and danger ; in vain are they warned on the one hand, and be- sought on the other, to fiee from the wrath to come j in vain the voice of conscience, the V\ord of God, and the instruc- tive occurrences of life with which they are connected, unite in proclaiming the solemn necessity that exists for turning to I the Lord and seeking safety in harmony with Him through } union to the Son of Uis love. The trump of the Archangel I •*mmi ■imMON. 167 may hiiTe sounded and the dead In Christ been raised, but not till the Toice speaks, which the doubly dead shall hear, will many, many such awake to the dread reality of their ruined and h rpeless condition ; not till the sentence of Anal and irretrievable ccndent nation is prcnouncet' upon them by that Judge, whom, when^ofiered'to them as a i>ttviour, they had impiously rejected, nil) they believe. 'Ihey will then, like the duvils, ** believe and tremble." It wilt be otherwise with those whom God haih calleol, and chi^sen, and sanctified They may degenerate into temporary and crying backsliding, and for this they will be disciplined and made to feel with godly sorrow that ihdr sin is '^red- ingly sinful. To every such one the language of their r fl*ei: Jed Father is such as this. ** Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee : knew therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast for- saken the Lord thy iiod, and that my fear is not in thee, salth the Lord of Hosts."* The principle, upon which J' hovab proceeds, He thus states in connection with the Head of the C hurch and Man's Representative in the Covenant of Re- demption. — '* if his children forsake .Vly law, ond walk not in v.y judgements J ii' they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments ; Then will I visit their Iransgretsiona with the rod, and their iniquity with stri;"*! hievertheless My loving kindness will 1 not utterly t;:.vr Trom him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lipH."f Thus does the God, whose love is everlasting and unchange- able, deal wit!i His wayward and undutiful children. He may rebuke them by the ungodly, the ignorant, the heathen. He did so in the instance of Jonah. How appropriate to him is the reproof of the shipmaster ! The tempest had so affected the mariners that ** they cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the chip into the >ea, to lighten it cf them. But Jonah was gone d wn into the sides of the ship j and he lay and was fast asleep. So * JereiniMli 2, 19, t Fsiilm 09, 30, 34. u- 158 SSSBHON* the shipmaster bairie to him and said unto him, What mean- est thou, O sleeper 1 arise, cal! upon thy Godj if so he that God will think upon us, that we perish nol." This language implies the conviction that every human being is bound to.rec- ognise Religion and worship the Deity. How this is to be done, it does not tell us ; and man, whose natural sentiment it expresses, cannot, unless enlightened with other than natural light, inform us. How dark and uncertain, and perplexed is man, intelligent and earnest man, without the Revealed Will of God, without " the Holy Scriptures." Probably tlie master of the vessel believed in gods many, all subordinate to One Supremte God. That there was a Sovereign Power that could rescue hini^ his crew, and passenger from the terrific gale which every moment threathened to engulf them in (he unfathonied deep, he believed. He wa'^ also satisfied that every man ought to do homage to some god ; who or what that god should be, he does not seem to have considered of paramount importance. He would choose for himself to whom he would cry, and he willingly conceded the same right to every other individual. His sailors acted upon this view when the ship was like to be broken. " Then the mariners were afraid and cried every man unto his god." In this the master wished that Jonah also should join. " Arise, call up- on thy God," said he to him. While in all this there is something to approve, yet how lamentably far is such religion from the Truth. And, where the Truth may be arrived at, if properly sot- ,>it after, to adopt, retain, or sink doivn into such views is hif. ily sinful. Obviously then, in so far as modern Liberalism !'n Religion is identical with such Idolatry or Pantheism, it is far more dishonouring to tlie True God, and insulting to Him, than the religion of the mariners and of the master with whom Jonah was sailing. They had not hitherto, we believe, enjoyed many advantages for knowing the Truth of God. How they improved the goodness of the Lord to them, when they were taught to serve and worship Him, the history will show. Will not their earnest, candid, and pious devotion to the God of Israel condemn those who hide the Truth in unrighteousness, indifference, and worldli- ness, in whom the light is darkness, who love not the Truth, the Truth as it is in Jesus "i S£BJiON. 159 try or and : Uid of not )wing )f the )rdhip |indid,: who: ^rldll-r fruthji How dark^ how unsatisfactory, how far from affording con- fideiice and comfort is the shipmaster's religion ! He ad- monishes Jonah to awake, arise, and call upon his God, ad- ding, " if so be that God will think upon us that we perish not." How well does this accord with the declaration of the Psalmist, ** Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols. (Psalm 97, 7). How different all this from the faith, the hope, the peace, the trust of the disciples of Jesus ! They are taught by the Apostle, " all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come ; all are yours ; And ye are Christ's } and Chrbt is God's." (1 Cor. 3, 21 .) We behold in Jonah the impersonation of a backslider from God. To understand clearly and vividly what this is, we must remember what a child of God is. This the backslider has been and still is. He is not *' an alien from the com- monwealth of Israel, and a stranger to the Covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2, 12.) See him in the day of his espousals and first love. Behold him with joyful ardour and devotion en- tering upon the Heaven- ward race that he has to run. Does Jesus speak to him % Surely his reply is like that of the bride, " The voice of my Beloved." From wandering like a lost sheep he has returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. The glory of God is now the object for which he wishes to live. The love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him. The whole man is characterized by entire and increasing self*consecration to the God of his salvation. What a contrast have we here to the unrenewed, the natural man ! With unbroken selfish- ness, he lives not to God but to himself. Self being his idol, he is opposed to the authority and honour of Jehovah. He dislikes the holiness of His nature and law, has no relish for His service, and sets his affections upon earthly things. Mark now the backslider, as seen in Jonah. He has fallen from his dutiful and loving allegiance to God. For the present the carnal mind and the will of the flesh are in the ascendant. He will give to the winds what he owes 160 8XBM0N. to both God artd man. His own ideas, ease, honour, reputa- tion, appear to him of such moment that, to secure them, he will risk the Divine displeasure and peril the best welfare of his fellow-men. Such is the backslider, fcfuch you perceive Jonah to have been. And, if, as wa3 probably his case, the rebellious child be yet conscious of his adoption and lose not the sense of having been accepted by the God of love, a sort of spiritual pride will infuse itself intj his soul, leading him to undervalue the society of believers, and to disregard the souls of sinners ready to perish, hie will contest or miscon- true the providential dealings of the Almighty, until, uearied with the struggle he has been vainly endeavouring to sustain, he becomes profoundly regardles;} bcth cf his dai ger and sin. The Lord, however, whose he is, will not let him alone, nor will He suffer him to ruin tlie precious souls of those who are connected with him. He will send forth the messengers of His displeasure ; stormy winds will fulfil His word ; the un- regenerate and the heathen will be made to reprove him. For what will they think of him in the day when themselves, alarmed and in danger of ruin, are crying out. What must tve do to be saved 1 — when they witness a professor, a teacher of True Keligim, unconcerned, asleep '? Will they not say to him, •* What meanest thou, sleeper V And, when many methods may have failed to bring back the rebel to a sense of duty and render him alive to a sense of his ffuilt, this reproof may be overruled by the God of sovereign grace for the rec very of the backslider and the calling forth of new life, and for bringing the sinner to renewed repentance. ** What meanest thou, O sleeper 1 arise, cnll upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us that we perish not." The shipmaster's alarm and rebuke proved salutary and seasonable. Jonah was now aroused, and became alive to the conviction of his sin and of imminent peril. He joined the solemnized and spirit-prcstrate mariners, now ** at their wit's end." How august and awe-inspiring are the circum- stances of this company I They leel more profoundly than does the malhematician the truth of his demonstration, that all hope of safety from their own exertions, strength, and wisdom, is vain. The cry of the believer to the Omnipotent 18 SEBMON. 161 is then a fitUne espression of those whose soul is melted be- cause of trouble. *' Give us help from trouble : for vain is the help' of man." (Psalm 60, 1 1 .) Both master and men were persuaded that the Most High was dealing with them in this extraordinary manner, dealing with them for sin, and for sin of a description so aggrayated as to have provoked such a visitation. Under the influence of this conviction, they proposed to each other to appeal solemnly to the Great Arbiter of right and wrong to single out the guilty party. They probably intended to sacrifice the offender, that the rest might be saved. They took their ap- peal by means of the lot. " The lot is cast into the lap } but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." (Proverbs 16, 33). The Heathen sailors appear to have known this and to have acted upon it. How much instruction may be derived from their conduct and the information of the Word of God. If Christians may ever in any circumstances have recourse to the casting of lots, surely it is clear that it ought to be witii great solemnity and devotion. And it must he an extreme case that will warrant it at all. ** Man's extremity is God's opportunity." The poor mariners had arrived at this. With the light of the Holy Scriptures and the means of grace and knowledge within the power of the disciple of Jesus, it is scafrcely possible that he can ever be entitled to ask such a sign from Heaven as the indication from God by the lot. In general, and perhaps without exception, the way is, to draw nigh in prayer and supplicate to Jehovah whatever we want, —wisdom, direction, counsel, strength, deliverance, whatever may be needful. The comfort of the seed of Jacob is that the Hearer of prayer never suffers any of them to seek His face in vain. His own Word is, ^ Gall upon Me in the day of troub- le : I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.''' (Psalm 50, 15). So far then from Christianity allowing its adherents to cast lots for amusement, as at the card-table or for secu- lar purposes, it is doubtful if in almost any instance, even the most solemn, they should be employed. That the Heatiien before us acted right in giving forth the lot, there is no reason to doubt. Having summoned all on board together, and having supplicated the Great Power, that J 162 •KBMON. niles the wind anu Ih^ sea, to have compassion on them, the commander also ^ns, uted upon the i^resence of ^he stranger, so singular in every thing pertaining to him. He " had now joined them on dcclc, and they said every one to his fellow. Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah " He was thus in their estimation pointed out by the Omniscient as the cause of their calamity. ** Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us." Perhaps it immediately occurred to them that he was stained with the guilt of blood, that he was a murderer. This was the view taken by the barbarians who saw the venomous beast hang upon PauPs hand. They '* said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffer- eth not to li^ j." (Acts 28, 4). To such a position had disobedience and backsliding brought the prophet. He might have been now honourably occupied at Nineveh, threatening the judgements of the God of holiness upon its guilty inhabitants and inculcating timely repentance. But instead of ttis we behold liim singled out by the decision of the Lord in the presence of those who knew not the True God, as the cause of their danger and cf their being on the very verge of a watery grave. How unhappy, how degrading is sin, — is rebellion, self-will, carnality, in a child of God ! believer, learn thy true felicity and digni- ty in self-denial, in honouring the Lord, keeping ever near Him. cheerfully following His commands, living not to thy- self but to Him that loved thee and gnve Himself for Thee. ** What meanest thou, sleeper ? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that Gcd will think upon us tliat we perish not.'* This solemn remonstrance and appeal of the shipmaster may aptly suggest the protest that is being noted by perishing siimers against the indifference and lukewarmness cf the pro- fessing uorshippers cf Jeiiovuh. Let them reflect upon the awful condition c«f the multitudes and the millions who are passing into eternity without knowing the Only True God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. Let them reflect up9n the claims that those poor brethren, '^' sitting in darkness and •EBMON. 163 in the region and shadow of death" have upon them. For what purpose hath God so highly favoured individuals and cora- munilies and nations with the light of ivine lile i Is it merely for themselves, or for their own limited good 1 This ill substance was the view which Jo lah sought to cherish. This was the disposition which characterized him. But such is not the purpose of Gcd. Such is not man's linculcated duty. There is a bond of brotherhood that binds man to man throughout the whole extent of the human family. No mau is entitled to say with surly or fiendish selfishness, " Am I my brother's keeper V* Least of all may a disciple of the Incar- nate Saviour dare to indulge such a spirit. He knows or ought most impressively to know that it is the man-honour- ing and Divinely gracious plan of our Heavenly Father to bless man by man. Why was the father of the faithful, the friend of God, so immensely blessed ! Was it for himself, or for himself and his seed alone, that Abraham became heir of the righteousness of faith and the recipient of the promises of Jehovah 1 Verily it was for a still nobler and loftier and more catholic and beneficent purpose. It was that ** in him and in his Seed all the families of the earth should be blessed.'^ Let those then !hat name the name of Christ remember that the Heathens in tht^ir darkness will rise up and condemn them if they withhold the lamp of life from them, or do not call upon God, if so be He will think upon them that they perish not. This imperative obligation can never be neglect- ed by the Church or by the Christian without inducing blighting, sterility, and the anger of the iMost High upon the sinners. Even God's ancient people were more than the de- positories and conservatory of True Religion. They were * the salt of the earth and the light of the world.' M uch more is it the business of the Christian to bear in mind that no man liveth unto himself, that ^'we are labourers together with God" for " His husbandry, His bu Iding," selected out of the materials of man in every state and stage of his history. ''Awake then thou, &c. Beloved friends^ if sin be so baneful and so sure of retribu- tion even in a child of God, in whom it can only assert a temporary and restrained sway — oh ! wha\. must it be where it 164 PRATEK. is altogether dominant in the &mi\ anditf; ascendancy unbrok- en 1 How well may we say to the unse ved 8in:>er8, ** Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? V ni are oi» the brink of a precipice, and, if you stop not ana change your course, you •will be hurled into the gulf of exceeding wo« and wretched- ness that lies below. The Gospel undits Author call to ^ou, " To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not yoiir hevls" Bgainst the besecchings cf the Saviour who died for sinners, and a^.dinst His equally truthful warnings. Let Christians learn -vvifdoin from tha conduct of the shipmaster towards Jonah. ^' What meanest thou, O sleeper 1 arise, call upon thy (»od,*-->'ar.:d the earnest and sincere man to his fellow- traveiler on the troubled and tempestuous sea. Imitate this faithfulness in your intercourse with the unbelieving. Who knows whether some Divine Truth may not be carried as an arrow of conviction to the conscience of the unconcerned transgressor '{ Who knows but that the Christian Minister or the Christian member may save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins 1 Let us then go to every ungodly voyager over the ocean of mortality, and with fear and trem« bling, fidelity and affection, faith and hope, say " What meanest thou, O sleeper, arise, call upon thy God," for who- ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Let us pray. We again draw nigh into Thy Divine presence, Thou who art the Living and the True God, the God of the sea and of the dry land, to supplicate Thy blessing and favour. Blessed be He who came in the name of the Lord to save sinners, and sinners such as we are. We gratefully re- member that our Glorious Redeemer began His personal ministry upon earth, ** upon the sea coast." *' The tes* timony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." We praise Thy most Holy Name, ThdU God of benevolence and salvation, that Thy inspired prophet foretold this commence- ment of our Saviour's most precious work on earth, ** saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles ; The people which sat in darkness saw great light ; and to them up] Gl mt PBATEB. 165 which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."* We delight to learn that before the advent of this Glorious Messiah, His quickening Spirit was not only vouch- safed to Thy people of Israel, but that as the Holy Agent of Him who was " a light to lighten the Gentiles" and " for salvation to the ends ot the earlh," He became the Spirit of life in the souls of many of those who were " strangers from the Covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." We adore Thee that among such the poor mariner was included. We are filled with adoring gratitude and admiration for Thy grace and its wondrous application to the seamen of the ship of Tarshish, with whom Thy Word brings us acquainted. How amazing is Thy wisdom ! How vast Thy goodness ! How truly dost Thou cause all things to fulfil Thy purposes. How admirably is Thy providence reg- ulated in accordance with Thy love to the souls of those whom Thou art pleased to render the heirs of everlasting life ! Grant unto us, we entreat Thee, O most Merciful God, our Heavenly Father, for the sake of Thy Only Begotten and Well-Beloved Son, that simplicity and seriousness which are apparent in the men of the ship which had received Thy backsliding prophet. Give us, we entreat Thee, a spirit of godly sincerity and earnestness. Let us, like the Heathen mariners, improve under Thy teaching. Thou, who art Sovereign and Omnipotent, didst overrule even the perversity of Thy servant Jonah for their good. Wtiilst Thou didst chasten, save, and restore him. Thou wast pleased to alarm, humble, and have mercy upon them. Thou gavest them to know in the day of visitation the things that belonged to their peace. Oh ! let it be so also with us. Give us that repen- tance, faith and love which indicate that the soul is the will- ing subject of " the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."f Forbid that the Heathen seamen, of whom we have heard, should rise up hi the judgement and condemn us. May we reverence like them Thy Name and Ordinances ; and be de- livered from all profaneness and impiety. Bless all them that go down to the sea in ships. May the Blessed Saviour be * Matthew 4, 1.5, 16. t Romans 8, 2. 166 VBATER. their confidence and Lord. Bless all ffracious methods, which Thou art pleased to employ to call sinners to repen~ tance. Bless all our friends and brethren. Reward cur benefactors and well-wishers. Forgive our enemies. Bless our Sovereign the Queen, and all under her and over us. Bless our waiting upon I'hee this day, and mercifully accept of us in Christ Jesus. Amen. \ Let us conclude the worship of God by singing in Pftalm 96, 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,| and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all. Amen. = M ■'U rmATKB. 167 THIRD SUNDAY. Let us worship God by tinging to His praise in the 7th Paraphrase at the 3rd Verse. Let us pray. Almighty and most Gracious Father, we desire now to ap- proach Thee in supplication and devotion* Blessed be Thy Great and Irioly Name, Thou hast warranted and invited us to draw unlo hee in and through the Son of Thy love. How marvellous are Thy nature, Thy government, Thy works, and Thy redeeming grace to the guilty children of men ! We adore Thee, our souls are tilled \vith awe and admiration, because of what even we know of Thy character, dominion, power, and goodness. " Justice and judgement are the habi- tation of Thy throne ; mercy and truth shall go before Thy face." Thou art. the Omniscient Judge of right and wrong, the Supreme Arbiter of every man's doings and deserts. I'hou an infallible and unerring. Thou alsoexercisest a sovereign sway over all Thy creatures and all their actioiui. 'J'here is no escape from Thee *' 1 hou compassest our path and our lying^down, and art acquainted with all our ways." Each of us may say with Thy servant of eld, ** Whither shall I go from i hy Spirit 1 ot whilher shall I flee from Thy presence 1 !f I ascend up into heaven. Thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings (k the Imotiiing, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and '1 hy right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me ; even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth not from I'hee ; but the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the light are both alike to Tbee." (Psalm 1 39). How infinitely pure art Thou, O Thou Holy One of Israel ! How dread Thy detestation of rebellion and of all sin ! • 'm» the tender and loving father of the faithful, and by the contrite Hebrew before us, let us never forget that it was by the grace of God they were what they were. The reason why that grace was bestowed upon them, and the reason why it became so effectual in them, mist be found in the Lamb of God thattaketh away the sins of the worrd, in their union to Him who is the Head and Life of the mystical body, and in the sanctifying power of His Holy Spirit. Are we then called upon to mark aud to imitate the ex- cellency of such examples 'i Oh ! let us ever bear in mind that a greater than Abraham, and a greater than Jonah, is here. Let us rejoice in the fultiiment of Isaiah's prediction, '^ And there shall come forth a Bud out of the stem of Jesse, and* a Branch shall grow out of his roots ; And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the sphit of wisdom and understand- ing, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."f And, oh ! let us seek person- ally to benefit by those things which were written aforetime for our learning. Let us seek to be the accepted children of the Most High. Then shall we also be disciples. Happy is the man whom the Lord chastens. For whom the Lord ioyeth He chasteneth, and scourgelh every son whom He receiveth. And, while we kiss the rod of chastisement, when visited with it, oh ! let us seek to live without rebuke in the midst of a corrupt and perverse generation, shining as ^tiritual lights in the world. Let us sing Paraphrase 23, 12. Let us pray. How excellent, O Lord, is Thy name in all the earth. Great art Thou and greatly to be feared } much to be loved * Isaiah 12, 6. t Isaiah 11,1. PRATE». 177 also KjiA held in esteem of all that approach Thee. The sea is Thine^ lor Thou madest it, and Thine hands have formed the dry land. Thou controllest and governest all the ele- ments of Nature. The winds are Thy messengers, and Thou employest both the storm and the calm to fulfil Thy wise and holy pleasure. Oh Thou, God of mercy and all goodness, be pleased to bless our meditations upon the interesting portion of Thy Word which has now been engaging our attention. We praise Thee for overruling the waywardness of Thy servant, the prophet, for the highest good of the poor mariners with whom he was sailing. We praise Thee for the still small voice which they heard. We praise Thee that the Word was with power to their souls, so that the word preached did prof- it, being mixed with faith in them that heard it. We praise Thee on behalf of all who through grace have been saved by ♦he instrumentality of the " glad-tidings" of the love of Christ. Make us, we entreat Thee, to be filled with that salutary and saving fear of Thee which is the beginning of wisdom. May we receive the truth of Thy Word in the love of it and live henceforth under its abiding influence. Prosper, we entreat Thee, Thou God of Salvation, aH efforts for the eternal good of perishing sinners. Bless especially, we pray, those which are more particularly designed for seamen. Bless our cour^try, our Queen, Her Majesty's Royal Con- sort, and the various members crfthe Royal Family. Set the great and the good of the land in the high places. Bless all in awrthority and all under autliority. Bless us, O Heavenly Father, in our several places and relations, as superiors, in- feriors, and equals. Guide us by thy counsel over the sea of life, and firiRlly admit us to the haven of everlasting repose, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Psalm 25, 6. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ani the love of God, and the communion of the Hoiy Ghost, be with us all. Amen. i7d VRATER* FOURTH SUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Paraphrase 7« Let us pray. We come unto Thee, Jehovah, the True and Living God, to adore and supplicate Thee at the footstool of Thy Throne Gf Mercy. It is a good thing, we are assured, for us sinners to take avail of Thy free favour. Blessed be 'ihy Holy Name for the Revelation of Thy good will to the guilty children of men. Blessed be He ^vho came in the name of the Lord to save perishing men, and wlio came ** not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." We praise Thee this day. Heavenly Father, that life and immortality have been clearly brought to light by the Gospel of Thy Dear Son. We pr&ise Thee that even we, who are " of them that are afar off u^on the sea," have seen the days of the Son of Man, and have heard what many kings and prophets and righteous men of old waited and longed to witness. We magnify Thy Gracious and Holy Name for the clear discoveries which Thou hast vouchsafed < • thos--: 'hat were near, and to those that were far off, of ihe Way of Salvation th'ough a once crucified but now risen and glorified Redeemer. May we individually know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We rejoice with gratitude and admiration to contemplate Thy bve and goodness to thu mariners of Tarshish. Thou didst great things and marvellous for them. May we, like them, re* ceive Thy Word with reverence, attention, and docility. And may it prove to us, as it did to them, a salutary and life-giving word. Enable us to study it with the earnestness manifested by them. Oh ! forbid that in the great day of reckoning they should rise in the judgement and condemn us. For they re- pented and believed at the preaching of Jonah, and we may 3 plate did«t re- And tiving (Bsled they y re- may •ERMON. 179 truly say, *' Behold a greater than Jonah is here." May W9 be enabled by the power of Thy Holy Spirit to exercise re- pentance toward God and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Grant us the Spirit of grace and of suppUea- tion. In the day of trouble, in the hour of danger, may we ever betake ourrelves to Thee in the ccntidence of prayer, and relying upon the intercession of our Great high Priest and Advocate. We would unite in earnestly imploring that Thy Word may this day have free course and be glorified. May it be a quieiieniiig, sanctifying, and comforting word to those who hear it. liless it to all. Bless it to those who go down \o the sea itf ships. We pray for }oung men. May many a youthful seaman be found enquiring, *' VVheretvithul shall a young man cleanse his way 1 May the answer of Inspired Truth be carried home with saving power to his heart, " By taking heed thereto a" ording to Thy Word." May the ret- rospect and petition u( every such and of each of us be, " With my whole heart have I sought Thee : O let me not wander from Thy commandtnenls.''* And now, Holy Father, our hope is in Thee. Deny us not Thy grace. Magnify Thy loving-kindness and Thy ten- der mercy to us ward ; and to Thy great name in Christ shall be all the glory, world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our deblors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom, and the pDwer, and the glory, for ever. Amen. SERMON. You will find the subject of discourse in Jonah T. 13. The singularity and awe-inspiring dtmeanour of Jonah had caused the seamen of the ship bound to Tarshisb to doubt, •Psalm 119, 9 j| 10. 180 SERMON. whether, even after he had been singled out'by the lot of the Lord, he was the man. They seem to have experienced some misgivinj^s lest a mistake had occurred. And with a candour and kindliness rarely to be met with they appealed to himself as to any possible method of escape that would consist with the preservation of their own lives. The prophet, however, was firm and faithful, humble and honest, self-denying and stern. *' And he said unto them, take me up, and cast me forth into the Sea ; so shall the Sea be calm unto you : for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." Even this renewed assurance of the cause of their imminent peril cotild not induce these gentle and forbearing mariners at once to sacrifice their extraordinary passenger. " Neverthe- less the men rowed hard to bring it to the land ; bnt they could not : for the Sea wrought and was tempestuous against them." They sought to return to the land. They put about with a view to make Joppa or the vicinity. But the tempestu- ous wind which had overtaken them, blowing from that direction, nullified ail the exertions of the sailors. Their dan- ger increased when they sought to head their bark against Uie deadful hurricane that threatened every moment their de- struction, " the Sea wrought and was tempestuous against them." The prophet had used every exertion " to flee from the {(resence of the Lord." Concurring circumstances and bvourable breezes, the ship ready to sail for Tarshish and ready to receive him as a passenger, all' seemed in harmony with his wishes, all appeared ready to facilitate and accom- plish his purposes. Some would have been so ignorant or so presumptuous as to have inferred that Divine Providence was on*the side of Jonah. Bnt '' there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord."* No sooner have we seen the disobedient prophet, embarked on his way from the land of vision and in- spiration, gone down into the sides c^ the ship, where, nature weary and worn out, he lay and was fast askep — no sooner are we beginning to contemplate this sight, even before we * Psalm 21, so. SXRMON. 181 are fully aware of it, we are met with the intelligence, *' But the Lord sent out a great wind into the Sea, so that Uie ship was like to be broken." And still this mighty gale was threatening instant destruction to all on board. There was no doubt now as to the individual, ** for whose cause this en\ was upon them." The disposing of the lot by Jehovah, and the iterated truth by the guilty but repentant Jonali, made the evidence doubly certain. His life apparently was indispen- sable in order to the safety of his fellows. So spoke the abased and contrite messenger. " Take me up, ana cast me into the Sea ; so shall the Sea be calm unto you : for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." Even yet the tender, life-respecting, and God-fearing Toyagers were not prepared to sacrifice the man, through whom they were so marvellously endangered. " Neventtheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land, but they could not : for the Sea wrought and was tempestuous against them." The will of Qod was now manifest, and their feeling at length was, * the will of the Lord be done.' With solemn prayer and invoca- tion they proceeded to the discharge of their sad, yet impera- tive duty, deprecating the crime of innocent blood. Where- fore they cried unto Uie Lord, and said, '* We beseech Thee, O Lord, we beseech Thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood ; for Thou, O Lord, hast done as it ;>leased Thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the Sea : and the Sea ceased from her raging." How awe-inspiring are the transaction and the result. How fraught with salutary suggestions I It proclaims what the devout Psalmist sings in a song of inspired praise to the Lord. ** Justice and judgement are the habitation of Thy throne ; mercy and truth shall go before Thy face."* How admirably may we here behold the union and co-operation ! The heathen seamen are rendered partakers of the mercy of tlie God of Israel, receive His truth in the love of it, and by mercy and truth are made spiritual Israelites. They learn 182 8BRM0N. the forgireness of sii:s through the merits of the promi'^ * Sacrifice, and are renewed in ihe spirit of their minds h^- grace of the Spirit of Christ. But how durk and frowning an aspect does the narrative seem to present with respect to Jonah ! Would then nothing short of his being cast forth into the Sea pacify the raging of the angry billows or satisfy the demands of that God " who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters ; who maketh the cluuds His chariot ; who walketh upon the wings of the wind 1"* There is a great principle here manifested. It is that a holy God will ever chastise in a marked manner His children for their sins. It is not only true that the Heavenly Parent ** scourgeth every son whom He receiveth ;" it is also true that His honour and their best welfare require that sin should be pointed out aa^ especially hateful and vile in them. How singular, .vere it not so, to observe the dealings of the Lord v/ith His xllastrious servant Moses, the " King in Jeshurun^^ Because once this meekest of men, this man of God, of whom the Spirit of the Lord testifies, that he ** was very meek above all the men that were upon the face of the earth,"t — because upon one solitary occasion he vio- lated the law of meekness, saying with Aaron his brother, most perverse and trying to the house of Israel, '* Hear now, ye rebels ; must we fetch you water out of this rock 1"| We hear as it were the God of Jeshurun saying to him, *' Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession ; and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people ; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people : Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin ; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel."! But after all the attentive student of the Word • Psalm J 04, 8. t Numbers 12, 3. X Numbers 20, lO. § Deuteronomy 32, 49. 8ZEM0N. 183 er that there is the nd of God toivards md justice they ader feels as if lad been trans- record ! ** And ihc of God will clearly and joyfully disr- most perfect and paternal love in th^^ His erring ones, even when in hu are visited with the rod of correcli) the penalty in the case of Israel's muted into an honour. How subli. ic Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the Utmost Sea, And the south, and the valley of Jericho, the City of Palm-trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him. This is the land which I sware unto AVraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed : I have eaused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither."* Was there not honour thus put upon one, whom we might almost desig- nate the greatest of men and the greatest of saints ? What mere man was ever so honoured, to whom Jehovah-Immanuel personally pointed out the type of the Paradise above in the earthly Canaan *? Only think of the scene for a moment. See the man of unearthly dignity, * beholding the glory of all lands' as shown to him by the Lord Himself. Then imagine that eye, undimmed by the wear of a hundred and twenty years, suddenly losing its lustre, closing in death, and open- ing upon the vista of immortality in the enjoyments of the Celestial Canaan. Surely there is something here almost amounting to a translation. '*So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor : but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day."* That there was unearthly grandeur incident to his burial, we are well assured from the contest about his body between Michael the archangel and the Prince of evil spirits f Such was the reverence and dig- nity attendant upon a noble of the Kingdom of Christ, even • Deuteronomy 31, l. t Jude 9, .^J-s^, ^ v^^ .0^. %^^^ s^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V .5^ 1.0 1.1 M IL25 1111.4 IIU4I 1.6 t« — PhotograiJiic Sciences Corporation ^ ^\ W^\ 23 W'i; ^ MAIN STREET WEB£;«,N.Y. 14580 (716)873-4503 '4^ Ss <> ^ ^ > V 184 SIEMON. when enduring tlie penalty attached to a particular sin. Nor ar6 the miraculous preserration of the prophet of our text, and the uses of tliat presenration, of a totally different charac- ter. On the contrary we shall find that Jonah's imprison- ment and deliverance proved a blessing in its gracious result. The Ck)d of Salvation watt glorified also in a conspicuous and most impressive manner. The lmmed:ate effect of the mariners' compliance with the counsel of their passenger is intimated. " So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the Sea : and the Sea ceased from her raging." The effect upcm tiiemselves is also par- tkidarly stated. '* Then the men feared the Lord ezceed- ingly,tand offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows." TMs may well engage special attention. first, we are told, < verisimilitude of the indispensable necessi* ty of repentance and faith in the crucified Nazarene. Per^ haps it 18 the Spirit of God striving yet once again to lead this guilty man to flee from the wrath to come. By the difficulty of Salvation even to the righteous, by the solemn exhortations to be sober, to reflect, to deny self, to crucify the flesh, to follow Jesus, by the loud terrors of the coming judge|nent and the vengeance or favour of the awful Judge, this perishing sinner is faithfully warned and admonished to take refuge in an accejpted time and in the ' ly of salvation in the Only Saviour who is now '' a hiding-pl ce from the storm and a covert from the tempest." Alas / with how little suc« cess, lie will not accept of Christ at present. He is not prepared to forsake all sin and to yield himself to Jesus. " Go thy way," he replies to the preacher, " for this time ; when I have a convenient season I will send for thee." Dreadful postponement ! Did that ivenient season ever arrive 1 Never, in all probability. is deferred good in« tention helped to pave the way tu hea for him. Oh ! what multitudes ost in a manner precisely similar ! Oh ! that they were not so like the osCrich which, when pursued by the fowler, closes its eyes upon it?! danger !^' Oh ! that they were wise, Uiat they understood this, that they would consider their latter end."* To such h^^. would say, '* Men and brethren, wlqr will ye die." This is ihe exhortation of the God of Salvation Himself with you. What would we think of the mariner who, though warned with infallible certainty of the approach of the destructive hurricane, would make no preparation to meet the gale, would not reef, take in a sail, or seek to have the ship in a state of readiness 1 If he despu^ the port of security which he could make and where he could in safety ride out the storm, if he disregarded alike the danger of * Deuteronomy S2, 29. fZRMOlf. 187 i> foundering at sea or of being shipwrecked upon a coatt amidst whose eddies and reefs no life-boat could reach—* would we not accuse such of fojly the most egregious and of madness the most wicked ^ Yet all this would be but a feeble type of the suicidal career of many a mariner now on the sea of life and sailing to eternity. Tliere are not a few who seek to comfort themselves with tiie thought that there are many equally in danger withthem^ selTfe. But, as in case of shipwreck the accumulation of parsons by increasing the confusion and perplexity renders the safety erf* each the less likely, so the innumerablity of the multitude, that shall populate the abodes of the Anally con- demned, will enhance the wretchedness and the recriminations of the individuals composing it. The mirth of the fbol, the joviality of the profligate, the vice of the unclean, the tongue of the profane, the bravado of the scoffer,— will all go to swell the amount of misery realized by all and by each one. Thosw who fear the Lord, as did the mariners of our text, shall be delivered from the tormenting fear of an angry God. Tliey will find that filial fear harmonizes with love and high- est esteem of the Heavenly Parent. The fear of the Lord was first experienced by his companions under the influence of the solemn truths stated by the prophet. It was increas- ed after they were delivered from danzer, when the danger of immediate death had passed away. This holy fear consist- ed <^ awe and reverence, of devout gratitude and ardent flection towards the God oi Israel. In accordance wiUi these feelings the men " offered a sacrifice unto the Lord." Thus dm they do homage to the Only True and Living God. In this sacrifice they confessed tibiat He might justly have visited them with death and all the dreadful consequences of sin. They also avowed their belief in the doctrine of substitution. In some degree^ however small, we may suppose that those converts to Uie wonMp of the God of Israel were enlightened in the knowledge of the intended and predicted Sacrifice, <* the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, who should die the just for the unjust,'* to restore man to tlie image and communion of his Maker. In this substitution we behold embodied the princl- 188 IJEIMON. pie that ** without shedding of blood there is no remisrioii of sins." And we bdiold the gracious modification of the princi- ple, << The soul that sinnethphalldie," in the fact that Diyine justice can be satisfied by the death of another than the ac<» tual ofiender— can accept an adequate substitute. Hence the institution of animal sacrifice where the ofiender was auUior^ iied to slay an innocent animal in order that his own life mi^t be spared, and as a type of the offering up of Him once for all, whose blood cleanseth from all sin, and whose laath gives life to CTory belicTer, by the appointment of the God of ^oIiIless, who in His infinite and eternal lore hat beenjpleased thus to afford a way of escape for the repentant sinner and a metl|od of restoration to the image and felicity of Himself for all who take hold of His offered Son. How emphatically might the poor mwriners of our pat- sage have responded to the inspired invitation, *' Assemble yourselTes and come : draw near together, ye that are escaped of (he nations : they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their gruTcn im4;e, and pray unto a god that cannot save. TeU ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together : who hath declared this from ancient time ? who hath told it firom that time 1 hare not I the Lord 1 and there is no God else besides Me ; a just God. and a Saviour : there is none besMes Me."* O how joyfully would those humble traversers of the deep have listened to the thrilling and most expansive soodness and loving-kindness expressed in what follows, '* Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the, %ajrtii $ for I am God, and there is none else."t We are told that the men not only <* offered a sacrifice un» to (he Lord," they also *' made vows." These must have been with respect tu the future. Thus do we perceive the cordial, deep-seated, thorough nature of the change they had experienced. Their goodness was not of that OTder Which passes away like the morning cloud, their sratitude not of that description which vanishes like the column of smoke. On the contrary with solemnity, humility and faith they de- • Isaiah 45, 80,81, t Isaiah 4«, S2. VRATEE. 189 dicated themselves to Jehovah as the God of their life and salration to be His only and ever more. To this they were constrained by the principle of the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by Hb Spirit ^iven unto them. How instructive and salutary is the record of the mariners of the ''ship going to Tarshish !" How profitable for all men, and especially for those who " go down to the sea in shipSj" if they will but ponder and seek benefit by it. For this purpose let all pray that they may realize what the saved seamen, saved from death and saved from sin with all its punishment, exhibit. Let them in nearness to God fear the Lord exceedingly, offer the sacrifice of soul, body, and sj^t by faith in Christ to Him, and vow vows of thankfulness and increasing consecration of the whole man. Those, who will follow this counsel, will find that in commemorating the death and deathless love of the crucified Saviour in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, they will especially grow in grace, attain to jcy in believing, and be honoured as blessings to their fellowvoyagers to eternity. Let OS pray* Follow, Blessed Lord, with Thy most effectual blessing our meditations upon some of the solemn truths of Thy Holy Word. Let none of us be a stranger to that fear of the Lord which is " the beginning" of Heavenly wisdom. Enable w all by faith to take hold of a crucified Saviour as the Sacrifice fbr all sin. May we solemnly dedicate ourselves to Thee in the Covenant of Thy love by a personal vowing never to be broken or forgotten. Bless all our brethren of mankind, whether they be nigh at hand or far off upon the sea. Oh ! cause mariners to follow the pious example of those who sailed with Thy servant Jonah. Bless the proclamation of Thy Truth with similar efficacy as when spoken by him to the men of Tarshish. May many run to and fro to publish the Gospel. Bless all in authority and all under authority. Bless us in our several stations and relations, as superiors, inferiors, and equals. F 2 190 rSATIB. BieM ui with til temporal, and ipiritual, and heatenlT bleti- ingt in Christ Jmus. And unioi Thee the Father, the Son, aiM the Holy Ghost, be glory and praise, world without end. Amen. Let ua conclude by singing Paraphrase 56, 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the lore of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with ua all." Ameii. w .1 ■■ I FlATBI. 191 FIFTH SUNDAY. Let us bej^n the worship of God bjr singing to His praise iu Paraphrase 9 at the 9lh Verse. Let as praj* We desire now, Almighty and most Merciful Father, to approach Thee with the profoundest rererenee and admiration. Wt adore Thee as the Great Uncreated Spirit, the Infinite Mind, eternal in Thy existence and buundless in all perfec- tion. *' Who can by searching find out God '^ Who can find out the Almighty unto perfection 1 It is hi^w «s Heaven ; what can we do 1 deeper Uian Hell ; what can we know 1 I'he measure thereof is longer than the earth and bnnder than the sea." Praised for ever be Thy Holy Name, O Lord, for the discoTcries which Thou hast afforded to man of ThyselQ especially in C:e volume of Revelation. We are tliere taught to sing unto Thee and say, Honour and majesty are belSre Him : strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give iinto the Lord, O ye kindreds of tlie people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Let the heavens rejoice, and let tlw eard^ be glad ; let the sea roar, and the ftilness therec^.* ** Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise. Thou stillest them.^f We are called upon this day, () Thou Preserver of men, to remember and mark that llSK>Ut after *' the sea had ceased from her n^g,?^ and the * Psalm S6. t Psahn 89, 9, 192 PBATIR. !'»' * mightj tempest' had been followed by an awful calm, '' didst cause a great fish to swallow up Jonah." In the belW of that fish didst Thou cause him to lire three days and three nights, a monument of Thy power and goodness, and a striking type of Thy Son, who, after being crucified, was buried in the rich man's tomb and remained there till tlie third day. May we be savingly impressed with the solemn ei^ences which we thus hare of Thy love, grace, truth, and mercy. May we be enabled to profit by the record which Thou hast given us in Thy Word of wisdom and in Thy wa^s. Grant unto us the same spirit of prayer and devotion which diarluiterized Thy servant when in trouble. It may be that our conscience' convicts us of profaneness and many other sins. Pardon, blot out, cleanse us from all our iniquities. And grant us that godly sorrow, that true repentance and contntion for the ems which Thou hast beheld in us, which we may discover in the prqphet and which characterizes eveir true, penitent believer in Jesus. Puri^ us. Blessed Lord, from all our ndUution in the precious fountain of our Re- deemer's blooa, and by the renovating in^uences of the Holy Spirit make us pure and holy, so that we may be numbered with Thy pecnliar people who are zealous of good works. Blessed be Thy Name, Heavenly Parent, Thou encouragest those, that go down to the sea in ships, to seek Thy face and favour. Grant us that love of Thy Ordinances, Sanctuary, and Day, which distinguishes Thy children of every kindred and people. The devout Israelite, wlien compassed about with the floods, when Thy billows and waves passed ovei* him« could yet say, " I will look egain toward Thy holy temple." Oh, our rejoicing is, that now, wherever cm Uie dry laoa or at sea two or Uiree are met together that they may honour and follow Jesus, Thy Son, there will He be graciously present by His Spirit to bless and to do them good. May it be so in our experience. May each of us be- come a true and an advancing Christian. Our hope is in God, and we entreat Thee mercifully to answer our prayer for Chrust's sake. Amen. ■BBMOIfi 199 Oar Father, which trt in HeaTen, halloired be Thy Name* Thj Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth at it if fai Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And foi^Te nt our debts as we fcMrgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but dehver us from eril : for Thine is the ldn§- doffl, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Let us read Psalms 4.9 and 43. Let OS sing Psalm 42, 7. iL SERMON. You will find the subject of discourse in Jonah L 16, Jonah Mudi unprofitable diseussicm has taken place remeeting the *' great fish*' here mentioned. Nor hare infidelity and profaneness failed to take occasion from it to vent thdr hatred of God and goodness. To the 8incer>3 believer in the Word of Revelatiui; but little needs be said to satisfy lum that the imprisonment of the prophet^ whether in the belly of • whale or Of some other great fish, should not occasion any serious difficulty. Let iho enlightened and candid nrind only admit the miraculous nature of the case, and every tlung b eanly settled, so far as it needs be. The objection of the smallness of the whale's throat and stomach, and its. conse- ?|uent incapacity to contain a living man, may be met by the act that " there is a bag or intertine serving as an air-vessd to tins vast animal, in which the prophet might haiw been coiM»ined." (Jelb). It has been obs^red that, ii J(Miah were detained in the mouth of the whak, he was less unpleas« antly circumstanced than if in the stomach of any fidi. " For the mcuth of a common wliale, when open, presents a cavity as large as a room, and capable of containing a mer- IM •BBMON. ehant-ship's JolW-boftt, full of men, beinc six or eigbt feet wi temporary grave of the Hebrew Seer, was not a whale. With these observations, we ought also to remark the lan^ guage of our text, *' Now the Lora had prepared a great fisll' to swallow up Jonah." The fish may have beeii a miracir lous creatim, a monster neither a whale nor a shark, but ont prepared by the Omnipotent for the special purpose of tem^ pMwily retaining the prophet in a state of life and capaUe of * Illustrated Comm. of the Bible. •XRMOir. IM ii of the he«lthAil me of his mental and ipiritutl (keultiei. Though a miracle throughout of a very eitraordinary nature, tt if not hy any means the most marvellous recorded io the Uojy Scriptures, so that, if we believe in llie verity of the Book of God, we shall find no occasion of stumbling here, but on the contrary much that by the blessing of toe illuminating and sanctifying influences of the Divine Spirit is admirabhr fitted to advance our progress in heavenly wisdom and gooa« The genuineness of Jonah's religious character is itiikingly «et before us in the beginning of Chap. 2nd. When the proph- et found himself still in the body, alive in his supernatural prison or reAiee, <* TAen," says the inspired narrative, *< Jonah Ksyed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly.'* We re behold the spiritual Israelite. As if by instinctive affec- tion and the power of habit, Jonah in affliction betakes him- self to the^ God of his salvation, whom he recognises and ad- dresses as his Covenant God, as the Lord his God. Mark the necessity and benefit of the discipUne and chastening of the Heavenly Parent upon His erring and backsliding children, lie is represented as saying, ** I will go and return to My place till they acknowledge their offences, and seek My face > in their affliction they wiU seek Me early.* It is in the day (^sorrow and humiliation that contrite sinners will hear the Toice of their Father's love and authority, ** Return^ ye backsliding children, and I will heal your iackslidhigs." It is then that they will reply, *< Behold, we come unto Thee $ ibr Thou art tlie Lord, our God."j[ We have an eminent examj^Ie of this in the case befwe us. Affliction is the time for special prayer to a believer. If lie has been undutiful and negligent of seeking God and Hie communion, he will be brought into the deep waters of afflic- tion, if that be requisite to brinp; him to himself and to bring him back to God. If the convicting, invigorating, purifying, ennobling, elevating, sanctifying presence and influences of the Spirit of grace are not sufficient or are resisted, God has * HoieaA, lA. t Jeremiah 9$ 22. 196 SERMON. . other arrows {n His quiver which He will render effecti?e* His Providential dispensations will be of such a class and bearing as to awaken reflection and lead to repentance. The backslider must be made to feel his guilt, and his need of the merey of God. His spiritual perceptions and sensibilities must be rendered acute and healthful. This may be done through personal and relative distress and trials. Whether perversity, waywardness, the will of the flesh, pride, whatever ain may be ascendant and prominent, its strength must be broken and its ejection ensured. Every lust, idol, and car- nal iirinciple must be cast out and crucified. The soul must again draw* nigh to God in lowly and earnest supplication. To tills it must come, sooner or later. Alas ! how much of correction is often requisite, even in the believer, to induee this right spirit But to this at length the child of God will accede. So it happened in the instance of our history. It does not appear that the prophet had previously, from the time of his Sight from the Holy Land and his being received on board the "ship going to Tarshish," called upon the name of the Lord his God. He was summoned to it in tlie affec£« ing language of the shipmaster, " What meanest thou, O sleeper 1 arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us that we perish not." But we are not told that he complied with the solemn and urgent admonition. How- ever, he is now brought to it. After having been cast over- board, as the only meazis of the preservation of the lives of the mariners, and having been swallowed by the fish prepar- ed of the Lord for the purpose, ** Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God." What a cause for astonishment and adoring gratitude is there in the consideration that God encourages the return and will accept the sacrifice of those who have gone far astray from Him and are only brought to reflection by His scourging rod ! Thus, when speaking of the backsliding Jewish nation, the prediction of Hosea proceeds, " And I will visit upon her the -lys of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her ear-Nngs and jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgot me, saith the Lord." We mighj, have supposed that the necessary consequence must be, the 0EBKON. 19; ide is land from denunciation of wrath and punisliment against such a people. But the Lord's ways are not lilce man's, nor are His thoughts like ours. Instead of reprobation, as might have been expect- ed, the Divine Husband and Head of His erring Church says, " Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her."* Well might the repentant and contrite King'of Israel with the affection and confidence of a belieyer decide, " let us now fall into the hand of the Lord ; for His mercies are great : and let me not fall into the hand of man."t And every believer may hear bv faith the soul-staying assurance, << For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed ; but Mj kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." (Isaiah 54, 10.) So soon as the heart is softened, the spirit contrite, and the whole soul humbled, prayer will be induced. *' No place is amiss for prayer. Wherever God casts us, we may find a way open Heavenward. He, that has Christ dwelling in hb heart by faith, wherever he goes, carries his altar with him that sanctifies the gift ! and he is himself a living temple." (Tract Society Commentary.) When Jonah found himself in his most marvellous situation, he doubtless reflected much on the past, and thought much of the present and the future. Nor did he delay longer to draw nigh to Him who alone could hear and help him. ** As the hart panteth after the water- brooks," said the afflicted Psalmist, when his own conscience concurred with the external wbrld in writing bitter things against him, falling back upon first principles and holding fast to the foundation of his hope, " so panteth my soul after Thee, O God."t The prophet Habakkuk, when pleading for his people, says, ** Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One 1 we shall not die."| And in Jonah also we behold the appropriating faith and loving confidence of one who had the testimony <^ God's Sinrit * Hoiea 2, IS. 14. t Psalm 42, 1. t Habakkuk l, 12. 198 SERMON. witnessing with his own spirit tha^he was after all a child oi God. We see him coming to Jehovah as his Covenant God. . " Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly. And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice." We are not to conclude that the form of words employed in the Chapter before us comprises more th.nn a general out- line of the prophet's devotional exercises and communion with God in his prison. We are presented rather with a narrative of his prayerful bearing throughout. The whole seems to indicate that Jonah during the entire period of his connnement prayed without ceasing, with great earnestness, importunity^ and perseverance. Strong faith and good hope characterize the suppliant. The language of verse 2,, is expressive of the utmost vehe- mence in his address to the Most High. The prophet tells us that in his solemn urgency he " cried," or, as the word literally signifies, vociferated " unto the Lord." Nor does he fail to inform us that the instrument in accomplishing this state of mind was affliction , " I cried by reason of mine affliction uuto the Lord." To whom could he go in such an awful hour, when almost overwhelmed, save to the Living God 1 He knew that the gods of the nations were vanity and a lie, and that they who trusted in them would be put to confusion. But in the Lord is everlasting strength. And this God was his God. To Him therefore, as '* the Lord his God, Jonah prayed." And*fervent gratitude filled his breast in consequence to the Answerer of his supplication. He is in haste at the outset to state the Divine goodness. '* I cried (or called) by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me, or, as the word might equally well be rendered. He answered me. The intense earnestness of the suppliant is strikingly intimated by the iteration of the writer,' — " I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I {vociferated), and Thou heardest my voice." Both his sin and its chastisement were now vividly present to Jonah's mind. He was filled with profound sorrow on SEBMON. 199 account of his transgression, Tvhich had b^en so singled out and exposed and visited by the God against whom the proph- et had sinned. And this sorrow was doubtless enhanced by the strange, the unparalleled position in which he found hilnself. Though there is the most perfect dissimilarity between the sorrow of the world for sin which worketh death, and that sorrow to repentance which makes the subject of it ** sorry after a godly manner," yet, were we to fancy the latter to be absolutely disinterested, and without any regard to the personal weal of the individual in whom it is found, we would be greatly astray. Such a theory finds no counte- nance either in Holy Scripture, reason, or fact. On the con- trary the glory and will of the reconciled Heavenly Parent, and the happiness or suffering of the regenerated and adopted child of God, are all in such perfect concordance that every departure from obedience and from doing honour to the Lord is sure to entail both defilement and bitter inward grief upon the biood-washed disciple of Christ until by renewed spiritual cleansing in the blood of Atonement the conscience is pacified and the soul again purified. On the other hand the Divine ordination has appointed great peace to them that love the law of the Lord, and that in the keeping of His command- ments there shall be a felt reward. The prophet refers to his awful sensations when he says, *' Out of the belly of hell cried I." In this we perceive that he was aware that what was to him for a time as a cavern, as hades, the concealed or unseen place of the departed spirits, was not really and permanently so, else he had not cried in accents of strenuous entreaty and devout supplication to the Hearer of prayer, who, he knew, can be acceptably so invoked only in this world. In short, Jonah was perfectly sensible that he was not a disembodied spirit, that he was still in the body. Though the term hades — the invisible abode of the dead, is commonly applied to the place of wretchedness, it simply signifies — the receptacle of the de- ceased. In this sense Jacob employed the word when he said, " For I will go down into the grave (had£s) unto my son mourning."* By the grave here, the patriarch obviously * Genesis 3;, 35. 200 SERXOK. I intended^ the state of the dead ; not literally the grave^ for he thought that Joseph had heen dcTOured by a beast. From his miraculous hades did Jonah cry unto the Lora^ and with grateful and pious remembrance acknowledges, " And Thou heardest my voice. For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the Sea ; and the floods com- passed me about: all Thy billows and Thy waves 'passed j over me." Here the prophet contemplates the casting him into the Sea by the mariners as done by God. The men were but His hand. He had left them no choice, no alterna- tive. Hence the becoming admission, '* For Thou hadst cast me into the deep." The rest of verse 3rd is very much a quotation from David (Psalm 42, 7), when he says, " Deep called unto deep at the noise of Thy water-spouts : all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me." We should here observe the wonderful fulness and adaptation of Scripture for every variety of case. And, like Jonah, the sorrowing child of God should be acquainted with the suitableness to mmself of the instructions and analogous circumstances recorded in the Book of God. Jonah may have thought of the trials of Job, of Joseph forsaken of his brethren, and of other similar instances. But the experience and the genius of the inspired sweet singer of Israel seem especially to have touched him. He sympathizes with the sensations of the Psalmist amidst the terrific display of the elements of Nature. He was enetr- cUd by the floods of the vast and deep expanse of the waters of the Mediterranean. In that abyss, beneath the agitated surface of which the fish roamed with him, he had a pious consciousness that all Nature's elements originated with Jehovah and were controlled by Him. To Him therefore he must look for deliverance and felicity. " All Thy billows and Thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of Thy sight : yet I will look again toward Thy Holy Tem- ple." Doubtless the prophet experienced much agitation and trouble of spirit. His internal convictions, views, feelings, fears, desires, and aspirations, may have been answerable to the troubled external scene. Moreover the Spirit of God was dealing with him as a chastened and repentant spiritual Israelite. He was well nigh borne down by a sense of his ^k re, for Lord, ledg«8, ast me 8 conn- 'passed inghim he men alterna- u hadst ry inueh , <* Deep all Thy luld here pture for ine child onimself iorded in I trials of it similar I inspired hed him. st amidst asenctr- le waters agitated a pious ed with srefore he billows cast out sly Tem- atioQ and feelings, erable to of God spiritual use of his 8BBM0N. 201 guilt and a consideration of his circumstances. Hence we hear him in the 4th verse despondingly exclaim, '*l am cast put of Thy bight." Still '* to the upright there ariseth light in the midst of darkness." The Apostle says " perplexed, but not in despair."* The prophet was truly contrite in spirit. And, when the heart is thus broken, there is hope. Accordingly we immediately hear this believer rally, *' yet (nevertheless) I will look again to Thy Holy Temple." How signuGcant and full of meaning is this purpose of Jonah. But a short time since we saw him, as it were, quitting the Holy Land with its Sanctuary. He had risen up to flee from its ordinances and opportunities, " to flee from the presence of the Lord." What an anomaly in the spiritual man, in the man of God ! Was he not temporarily beside himself in thus disregarding the honour of the God of Israel, and the salvation of perishing sinners, whom he might be instrumental in saving, in pursuing a course of disobe- dient and perverse selfishness until he found himself in such a position as he describes in verses 5, 6, 7 ) '* The waters com- passed me about, even to the soul (rather life) : the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms (cuttings) of the moun- tains ; the earth with her bars was about me for ever : yet hast Thou brought up my life from corruption (the pit or deep), O Lord, my God. When my soul (life) fainted with- in me, I remembered the Lord : and my prayer came in unto Thee into Thine Holy Temple." Now that he was brought to himself, the prophet says, ** I will look again toward Thy Holy Temple." And prob- ably he not only means idolaters, but includes also the children of God when they allow themselves in perversity, when he says, verse 8, " They, that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy." That he had a particular refer- ence to himself appears from what follows, verse 9, ** But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving ; I will pay that that I have vowed." (He had likely vowed that, if delivered, he would readily and cheerfully go to * 2nd Corinthians i, 8, 202 8£BM0N. Nineveh). "Salvation is of the Lord." The last words are surely most expressive and full of meaning. Jonah had' novr the full assurance of hope that he would be delivered from the grave, and enabled again to look toward and behoM the ** holy and beautiful house", the I'emple of Jehovah. There he would gratefully remember the goodness of the ' Lord his God.' He would joyfully draw nigh to Him with the multitude of His worshipping people. He would declare His love and forbearance. He would have fainted, had he not, like David, ** believed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living." He was thoroughly persuaded that he woi^d. And this Divine goodness was leading him to re- newed repentance and resolutions of thankful acknowledge- ment. He ascribed all the glory of his safety and restoration to the pure and umnerited grace of Jehovah. He concludes with the summary, ' Salvation is of the Lord.' He knew this long before, but he knew it, he saw it now in a manner much more awful and impressive than formerly. And therefore his tongue speaks the praises of the Lord. When brought to this state of mind by the sanctifying and renewing influences of the Holy Ghost, he was restored to the green earth and to the society of living men. " And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." What a vast field of contemplation the dealings of God with His children open up ! Observe, He will not suffer sin in them. He will in any wise reprove them. But who will not subscribe to the sentiment of £liphaz 1 ** Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty."* " For," says the inspired wise man, " whom the Lord loveth He correcteth $ even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."f Let us all hasten to make our calling and election siire by embracing and cordially submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ; Union to Him constitutes the sinner an adopted child of God. And ftU are welcome in the day of the merciful visitation to * Joh.5, 17. t Proverbs 3, 12, FRATEK. 203 [with n in not >y is fthou )ired as a |e by irist; }od. >n to this union. The Spirit and the Bride repeat what is written in the Word and what was spoken by Jesus Himself upon earlli, *' Come," Noiv is the accepted time. It may be, now or never. Oh ! come then without any delay. And, O Christian, walk worthy of thy high and holy to- cation. Glorify (iod by a conversation becoming the Gospel. Be not, become not an occasion of danger or stumbling to either the disciples of Christ or the unenlighten- ed voyager who is sailing with thee to the eternal world. Rather strive to be honoured to save the souls of many from death eternal by leading them to the only Kefuge of the guilty, to Him who is the *^ man" predicted as the " hiding- place from the storm and a covert from the tempest." And, when, O believer in Jesus, Thou art overtaken by sin and backsliding, hasten to return to God by prayer. Exercise implicit confidence in Him. Trust in Him at all times. ^ Remember His love. It is everlasting, undeserved, un- changed. - Behold it in the prodigal's welcome. Behold it in His dealings with Jonah. Behold it in all His Word and ways towards His people. Never forget, salvation from first to last is of the Lord. To Him be glory, dominion, and praise, world without end. Amen. Let us pray. May Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, apply by the efficacious grace of His Holy Spirit the solemn lessons of His Word io which our attention has now been turned. Lord, make us Thine by godly repentance and true faith in Thy Son. Make us prayerful, humble, and holy. May nothing keep us from taking refuge in Jesus. May we be justified freely by Thy grace through the redemption that is in Christ. May we find pardon and peace in Him. May we be cleansed from our pollution in His Blood and sanctified by His Spirit. May the life, that we shall henceforth live in the flesh, be by tiie faith of Thy Beloved Son who loved us and gave Himself for us. May we with His peculiar peo- ple be purified unto Himself. May we be zealous of all good works. May our future lives show that we are alive unto God. ' " 'W ' < '■■■ >*m' f ^'> 204 PBA7EB. Enable us to remember that all our work in saving our- selves or in aiding our brethren must be done while in thf body. May we therefore work while it is day, because the night is at hand when none of us will be able to work. Whatsoever our hand findeth to do, may we do it with all our mighty because there is no work, wisdom, device, or under- stuiding in the grave to which we are hastening. Grant us all, Lord, true repentance and Thy Holy Spir- it. And, where Thou bast already bestowed repentance and remission of sins, may they be experienced in new and fiiller, abundance. ' Bless all who are in authority over us, our Civil Rulers, our Maritune Officers, and our dear Christian Pastors. May they all, and may we glorify Thee, and find gracious acc6pt<> ance through Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and tii^; Holy Ghost be glory everlasting. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Paraphrase 29, 1. •V1' The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, an^ the love of God, and Uie communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us aU. Amen. PEATEA. S06 jour- intb9 ite the work, all our under- ySpir- ice and d fuller, RulerS) s. May accept* and the of God, us au* SIXTH SUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Paraphrase 103, 19. * Let us pray. O Lord, our God, we would now draw nigh to Thee in humble adoration. Praisel be Thy condescending grace for the provision which Thou hast made to enable us, guilty sin* ners, to come unto Thee at all times, lliou hast constituted Thy Only-b^otten Son as our High Priest and Mediator. We bless Thy most Holy Name that through Him we ha?e access with boldness in erery time of our n^. Lord, every time is a time of need with us. ^The time of prosperity and the time of adversity, the time orearly and the time of advanced life, the time of calm and the time of storm, the time when on shore and the time when at sea ~each time has special need of Thy merciful favour and sanctiQring Spirit. Oh, Touchaafe to regard us for the sake of Thy Be- loved Son with Thy tender compassion and love. Blot out for His sake our innumerable sins and make us confcxmed to Thy holyimi^e.. We adore Thee, Almighty Father, for the wisdom and undeviating steadiness wiUi which Thou accomplishest Hiy purposes, whether man be willing or unwilling. In the his- tory before us we behold how Thou didst in the largeness of Thy beneficence and the sovereignty of Thy grace save the heathen mariners, with whom Thy servant was sailing, with an everlasting salvation. We behold too that whom Thou lovest Thou correctest and bringest Thy spiritual children, whom Thou hast redeemed and sanctified in Christ Jesus, by the discipline of severe affliction and trial to a right F 3 i ''r 206 rRAYSK* f state of mind and feeling, to lelf-denial and a cordial ae- quiescence in Thy wise and holy will. And we behold Thy sparing goodness and the riches of Thy merc^ and loting- Idiidness to multitudes of sinners ready to pensh who knew Thee not, who were trusting in lying vanities instead of the Living God, and who were provoking the Holy One of Israel to destroy them for their wickedness. Even such, Thou who art most irerciful, did it please Thee to spare and save, to send them, after overcoming every obstacle, a prophet, a messenger of Thy truth and mercy. And Thou didst ac- company Thy Word with the demonstration of Thy Spirit so that 1^ men of Nineveh evinced ' repentance unto life,' and ^id honour Thy glorious name and attributes by calling upon Him who alone can hear the prayer of the sinner and who ever waits to be gracious to the humble and contrite in spirit. Bless, O most gracious God, we earnestly beseech Thee our present meditations upon these and similar topics. Bless our assembling together for Thy holy worship, and that we may give heed to we things thiit belons to our spiritual and eternal welfare. Bless all who maybe engaged like our« selves in seeking to remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Especially do we cf Israel OThou nd save, ophet| a idst ac- Spirit to Ifo,* and ing upon and who mtrite in echThee 8. Bless i that we ritual and like our* sp it holy, nd richest leep, who this day. upon the Gale of and w Church, ^ in Thy ichsafe its ly earnest [y must do iplishment stively and ciifiedand Ithe priests of acQtt" Hate merev upon those who eare not for these things. Oh^ may those, who go down to the sea in ships and are yet tkt from Thee, be brought nigh in repentance and savhig faith. Our heart's aspiration for all men is that they may be sared through the blood and righteousness of Thy Onlv Begotten Son Christ Jesus, to whom with the Fathei' and the Holy Spirit be all glory, world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heayen, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our doily bread. And forgive Ui our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the Uog- dom^ and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Let us sing Paraphrase 60, 4. Read 2nd Clxig. of 1 Corinthians. SERMON. You will find the subject of discourse in Jonah HI. 1 • God will ever accomplish His purposes. He is without variableness or shadow of tuminsr. He uniformly designs in wisdom, and executes with infallible certainty. Infinite in all perfection, Eternal and Unchangeable in His knowledge and f ower, He will fulfil all His pleasure. His enemies, and soit^etimes His own people, may oppose or be dissatisfied. No matter, nothing is so certain as that the Divine will must prevail. How presumptuous and absurd is it to run counter to the Most High I << Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him V* Man may concur or resist. Either way, the result shall be in accordance with the deter- mination of the Eternal mind. r 208 •■RMON. We hare already seen some of the beneficial conaequencea of Jehovah'a dealing! both with Jonah and wilh the mariners. Others remain to be observed. Uod had an immediate end in Tieir. He had a vast company of perishing sinners, ci immortal beings whom He haa resolvea to benefit for i tmo and for eternity. It was with a view to them^ the iuhabitr utr of the greatest city then in the world, that the first ^loecial revelation to Jonah, of which we read, was made. Ciio^mes- sage ran thus, '* Arise, go to Nineveh, thnt great city, and cry against it ; for their wickedness is come up before Me,** Such a message, especially in the view that it might imply mercy to^the Ninevites, (ond we know that Jonah regarded ft In this light) ought surely to have afibrded satisfaction and pleasure to a man of God. in whom shall we expect to be> hold " the merciful man," if not in the servant and prophet of that God who is pre-eminently '* merciful V* Yet how sadly are we sontetimes disappointed ! How vain to trust in man ! An example of this we have in the reluctance and res- olute pervefiiity of him who was commissioned to go as a messenger to Nineveh. Instead of submissively, cheerAilIy, and hrpefully proceeding on his high and honourable embas- sage, we read, '* But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Jopoa ; and he found a ship going to Tarshish : so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tar- shish from the presence of the Lord.*' But, though most unwilling to enter into or carry out the plan of the Most High, we see Ibdt th? y^rophet was made willing in the u\.y of the Lord's powtr. - '.'jn Uic ^ jws of the Almighty were witiiin him ad liij w.rors of God did set themselves in array against him. Being now brought to a better mind, we may look for better things in him and from him. He is now a repentant sinner, and his sin is forgiven. For, wherever a gracious God vouchsafes the spirit of true repentance. He uniformly bestows also the blessing of par- uon. ani restoration. Accordingly we read, " And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the •imaioitj 909 Breaching that I bid thee, ^o Jonan aroee, and went unto Ninereh, according to the word of the Lord. (1» 2, 3,)* The underiating determination and comparaion of God are here atrikingly manifest. He hai not forgotten or ^^een diverted from his merciful intentions towards MincTeh. All the prophet*8 obstinacTi selfishness, and perYcrsity cannot ia the slightest degree affect His purpose or prevent its accom- idishment. Tlwse will assure^y draw down upon the cul- prit himself the correction and scourging of Him wiio is Eternal and Holy. But they will not ii teriero with the mer- cy in reserve for the Ninevites. Nay, ne Lord will so deal with His servant as that he shall be glad to obey and AiUU ^tue Divine pleasure by going to Nineven. Let the children of God hereby be admonished to wait upon tb ^ Lord and cheer- Ailly comply with His mandates. How in tractive to every disciple cf Jesus is the invocation of the Psa.mist, « Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His eom- fliandments, hearkening* unto the voice of His word."* Verily tMs sj^rit d* dutiful and loving obedience to ev^ hijunetion of the King of Zion is what raould be aimed at and cheriabed by each ransomed follower. How absurd is it for a child of God to be rebellious and setf-willed against the Heavenly Parent ! For « He is wise In heart, and mightv in strength .* who haUi hardened himself against Him, aira hath prospered V'\ Had Jonah at once complied with the word of the Lord, had he sought to con- cur witii the high behest that was laid upon him, he would have avoided all the daneer and suffering into which he plunged himself. He would then have executed his charge with comfort and been an honoured example oi devotedness to God. As it is, he is recorded as a warning to the believer to take heed against carnal policy Mid implicitly to pursue HMt course which advances the honour of Jehovah. To this every pardoned and justified sinner must be brought by the Iniuence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or, if that Divine Agent be resisted and grieved^ by severe cfaaitis e meat in Pr^viilince. Psalm 109,20, f4 t Job 9, 4. 210 SERMON. We witniBBS in Jonah the nature and proof of genuine re- Sentance. When first the word of the Lord came to him, lie {•regarded its importance and disobeyed its authority. When it came the second time to him, he '* arose and went unto Nineveh according to the word of the Lord." Wher* ever that repentance, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is in operation, there will be a turning from sin in general and from the particular sin especially which has been the cause of stumbling. So it obviously was in the case before us. So it will ever be with the contrite and restored transgressor. As tlie Lord was glorified in visiting Jonah with the rod for 1^8 sin, so is He glorified in reinstating him in his office. He delights in mercy, and, though He might, had He been so plear3d, been glorified in the permanent ejection of the dis^ obedient prophet from his sacred office, even while He ac- cepted of his repentance and again acknowledged him as saved by faith. He preferred being glorified in His backslid- ing servant's full restoration to the prophetic commission, and in causing him gratefully to embark upon the very business which at first had been so distasteful to him. Hence, /' the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the se«;ond time, saying. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh according to the word of the Lord." Thus we see the method of the God of grace. As, when He pardons any GNf the children of men. He justifies, sanctifies and glorifies them, so when He restores a backslider, his wont is to re- store fully. His goodness and lovingokindness are never stinted or niggardly, but always abundant and overflowing. Only He insbts upon compliance with His commands, upon the entire and unreserved yielding of the will and all the powers of the man to Him. To Jonah the word of the Lord is, *' Arise, go, preach the preaching that I bid thee," Do now what I told thee before to do, deliver the message with which I formerly entrusted thee, be prepared with fidelity, love, and fearlessness to speak whatsoever I shall command. To every Minister and member of the body of Christ the word of Inspiration is, " And, whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to SERMON. 211 God and the Father by Him." • . . . ''And, whatsoererye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men."* He that drinks most deeply of this spirit, and follows most close^ ly this rule, will be the happiest Christian and will be most honoured by the Head and Bridegroom of the Church. Jonah may have had objections to go to Nineveh on ac- count of the wealth, greatness, number, and wickedness of its population, as well as by reason of prejudice, selfishness, and pride. He may have been under the influence of that sinful fear of man which bringeth a snare. He may have dreaded to go to the proud capital of the Assyrian Empire. Qf its grandeur we may form some idea from knowing that it was larger than Babylon, (it being sixty miles or three days' journey in circuit, while Babylon is only said to have crm- passed forty-eight miles), its walls were one hundred feet high, of proportionate breadth, and fortified by fifteen hundred towers, each two hundred feet high. The word of God, ad- dressing Nineveh, says, '' Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above Uie stars of beaveu."t With great propriety then does the Inspired narrative declare, '' Now Nineveh was an ex- ceeding great city of three days' journey." Yet to this city there was despatched, whether for judgement or mercy, but one humble Jewish prophet. So little does the Sovereign of the universe make of the pomp and splendour and vanities of this world. He sends to this queen of cities a Galilean as His messenger, and gives him courage, ability, and faithful"* ness to declare the awful tidings of its threatened destruction. ^ And Jonah began to enter the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be over- thrown." (v. 4.) So soon as the prophet entered the domain of this lordly emporium, he commenced his awful proclamation of woe and ruin. Whether he enlarged upon the solemn topics or sim- ply reiterated from early morning until evening*s dawn the ai^ust monition contained in the words of the text, we- know not. Certain it is, that he attracted the most profound and * CoIoBsians 3, 17, 33. t Nahum 3, 16. 212 SSBMON. general attention* He had a message from God to the Ninevites, from the God of Israel, the Only True God, the Omnipotent, the Jehovah of Hosts. How terrific the mes- sage ! With what undissembling straight-forwardness was it spoken ! With what unparalleled power was it accompanied ! " Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Probably there was no explanatiSn how this should take place, whether by fire, water, tempest, earthquake, by an angel from Heaven or by a miracle with the elements of Na- ture. The inhabitants were simply and solemnly informed that after " forty days" ruin would be the allotted portion of themselves and their city. It is remarkable that the period of foHy days is mentioned in Scripture in connection with a variety of important transactions. When the world was deluged because of the wickedness of all flesh, the rain descended upon the eartii for forty days. When the Patriarch Jacob was embalmed, this was the time that elapsed in having it done, " And forty days were fulfilled for him ; (for so are fulfilled the days of those that were embalmed).* Moses was in the Mount with God forty days and forty nights*^ When the prophet Elijah fled from Jezebel, and was miraculously fed, he ** went in the strength of that meat forty days awl forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God."^ The temp- tation of our Blessed Redeemer by Satan lasted for /orfy days SLiid forty nights. And the calamity, which was threatened to Nineveh, was only suspended tor forty days. That the impending woe, predicted against the mighty mass of human beings living in Nineveh, was not absdute and irretrievable, is evident both from the prophet's under- standing of it and that of the people immediately concerned. Had the Ninevites believed that t^ was, they would have been hopeless and would have given themselves up to despair. But they did not believe that it was, at least they had some hope in God, the God of Israel. The preaching of the prophet was accompanied by the saving powor of the Holy * Genesis 50, 3. t Exodus 24, 18. t i King! 19, 8. SERMON. 213 Ghost to their hearts. '* So the people of Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them." (v. 6). What an admirable specimen have we here of candour and religious honesty. They admitted that the message was from the Only True and Living God. They received Jonah as a true and well attested prophet, mainly perhaps from the power that attended the word of truth from his lips. It may De that they had heard of his being commissioned to visit them and of what had transpired to him. Perhaps they had learned from the mariners of the ship of Tarshish what they had witnessed and experienced. Nothing is more likely than that those good men would spread abroad the fame of '* the God of heaven, that hath made the sea and the dry land," who had done great and gracious things for them. They would delight to tell of His marvellous and miraculous do- ings, which they had beheld. Be this as it may, the power of the truth spoken and the conviction of their own conscieniie were such as led the people of Nineveh to give the most im- plicit credence to the awe-inspiring statement of Jonah. And they without the least delay set about the most solemn and general humiliation possible. In this, all^the whole million of immortal creatures that constituted the population of Nineveh may be regarded as concurring. The highest led the way In repentance, and the people at large cordially went along with them. <' For word came unto the king of Nineveh,' and he arose from his throne (probably the king was seated on his throne when he received the message of the prophet, indicat- ing that reverence for God and that respect for His servant which were good evidences of a favourable state of mind), and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sack- cloth, and sat in ashes." He did more. He caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, " Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything : let them not feed nor drink water : But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God : yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands." (verses 6, 7, and 8). 214 SERHOir. Here then was humiliation of the most sincere and pro* found character. It was expressed by the most earnest prayerfulness and by uniyersal fasting which extended to all the inferior animals* Surely there never was such a fast as this. The lowing of the kine, the bleating of the sheep, and the natural expressions of hunger and uneasiness on the part of all the cattle in addition to the loud supplications of the rational creatures who were prostrate before God, must have given an unparelleled aspect of solemnity and contrition to Uie whole scene. But why, it may be asked, oblige the in- ferior animals to fast on such an occasion 1 No doubt fasting b an appropriate mean of grace for man when giving himself to repentance and deep humiliation before the Lord* But why require it of the innocent brute creation 1 To this it might be enough to say that it was evidently acceptable to the Most High, and therefore was right. But may we not add that in all probability the horse and other animals had been rendered by their owners instruments of cruelty and wickedness against mankind, whilst themselves had suffered much cruel usage, if so, there may have been an apt or ex- | pressive deprecation of an impending calamity, in which they would share, required of them. Moreover, if God granted the Ninevites pardon, the cattle would be benefited in their treatment and the uses to which they would be turned. Well then might they be required to fast, because of the past, and in hope of future good. How admirable is the whole picture ! We know not which to praise most, the king, his nobles, (Mr the people at large* This king, r'hether Pul or a preceding monarch, is immortalized for the readiness to repent and turn unto God which he evinced. Very few who have ever swayed a regal sceptre deserve to be held in better estimation than he should be. How happy too was he in his courtiers and in his subjects, when all as one man repented vnd were saved I It behoves all those, to whom the word of the Lord has come, to take heed lest Nineveh's repentance shall in the day of final reckoning testify against them. Let us be awed by the declaration orfT the Meek and Lowly Jesus to those who hardened themselves in their sin and rejected the offered rem- edy. " The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgement with lEBMON. 215 1 tnifl generation and shall condemn it : because they repented 9i the preaching pf Jonas: and behold a greater than Jonas is here*"* It behoves all who live under the Christian Dispensation to take heed lest their aggravated sin, if they believe not on the Lord Jesus Christ, shdl draw down upon them enhanced condemnation. How strikingly is the interposing grace of God manifest in the repentance of the Ninevites ! Neither the preacher nor his preaching was what we would have been disposed to call superior. And vet what preacher or what preaching was ever so effective 1 How wonderful is it to mark an unto- ward man, compelled to go to Nineveh, and denounce the wickedness of iis people, and warn them of ruin at the door, so felicitous. Only by implication is there any mercy in his preachii^. Yet all Nineveh from the King on his throne to tiie meanest of its inhabitants repents at the preaching of this man. Do we ask, how is this % Juit because the Spirit of the Lord has done it. He has a time to work and to save, and, when that time is come, all obstacles are easily over- come, all difficulties vanish. He works by means of many or few, as it pleaseth Him. Very often humble, and, human- ly speaking, inadequate instruments are raised up and employed. He does this " that no flesh should glory in His presence.'^t How fully the great Apostle of the Gen- tiles knew this ! He says to tiie Corinthians, ** And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency (^ speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and oi power."J In the success that attended Jonah's preaching and in the absence or withholding it from many other and better ser* vants of the God of Israel, we are taught that " it is not of • Matthew 1«, 4i, f 1st Corinthinns l, 29. X lat Corinthians 2, i-i. 216 SERMON. him that ivilleth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."* It is noi by the result, praised be^he God of Innfiite Wisdom and Grace, it is not by the num* bers to whom their Ministry proves a blessinif for eternity, that the acceptance with God, the honour, and the felicity of His faithful senrants shall be determined. No. It is by their personal character. " For," says the Apostle, ** we arc unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them tliat are saved, and in them that perish.^f How much greater was Jonah's success than that which attended the labours of Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and many puch more eminent and more devoted men of God than he was. True, their holiness, prayerfulness, self-denial, and writings have been blessings to an extent that we cannot es- timate, yet the immediate fruits fell far short of what Jonah saw as the result of his ministry. Perhaps this is analogous to what the wise man tells us, *' that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to tht wi>je, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill ; but time and chance happeneth to them all."| Certain it is that the effects of Jonah's preaching, as com- pared with those of the preaching of others, most strikingly proclaims that it is not by might nor by power but by tiie Spirit of the Lord that salvation flows to the human soul. Had God chosen a more illustrious prophet than Jonah in the great work of saving Nineveh, we would have been in danger of attributing some&ing to the man. As it is, we cannot but see that all was of God and His sovereign grace. To Him in every case all the glory is exclusively due. To Him then let us ever ascribe it. How omnipotent is the Spirit of grace ! He blessed even the brief declarations of the prophet for the salvation of prob- ably more than a million of sinners ready to perisli. AU the length, that hope could carry them, was to>nable them to say, " Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn * Romans 9, lo, t tad Corinthians 2, I3, t Eccleiiastes 9, il« VBATSA. 217 away from His fierce anger, that we perish not V* Yet with this encouragement upon this ground they aU repented, some rarc^oundly and thoroughly $ some, no doubt, more slightly. But so truly did they evince the spirit and fruits of repentance that " God saw theu* works, that they turned from their evil way ; and God repented of the eYi],^at He had said that He would do unto them ; and He did it not." What an encouragement on the one hand, and a warning on the other, is here presented to all who have not yet come to Christ, in and through whom alone God is merctilil and gracious ! Eyer^ hearer of the Gospel has most likely had better opportunities of knowing the will of God and the way of Salvation than the Ninevltes. Observe then the gracious character of God, and remember that with increased respon- sibility blessed is he, whosoever is not offended in Christ. It may be that the Ninevites had previously, and especially by the mariners who had been associated with Jonah (and whom also he had been honoured to lead to the saving knowl- edge of the Tru^) obtained some acquaintance with the nature and religion of Jehovah. If so, they were thus by grace and in Providence prepared for repentance. In im ccmduct then of these good seamen we have an eisample for all recipients of the grace of God, and particularly mariners, to follow ! Let such ever seek to be the bearers of eood and (k good tidings to the people, and the places whiwer God may conduct them. " Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.'' Isaiah 32, 2. Amen. Let us sing Paraphrase 56, 4. Let us pray. How excellent, Lord, is Thy Name in all the earth ! That Glorious Name will we praise ''for Thy loving-kindnects and for Thy truth : *' for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thv Name." For all the interpositions of Thy mercy, and all the manifestations of Thy grace in the experi- ence of sinners ready to perish, would we praise lliy most Blessed Name. For the repentance and salvation of as many S18 FB4TBA. of the children of Adam at have erer balieTed to the MTing of the soul, we giye Thee unfeigned and hearty thanki. ^ May we ouraeWt*, Thou God of ail good, Thou Ober of all good, he the subjects of Thy Spirit's sailing operations. Grant unto us repentance unto life and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus dwell in us. Thus may Christ dwell in our hearts by faith. May we be rooted and grounded in His love. May the re- pentance of the Ninevites, and the piety of the marinera of Tarshish, recorded for our instruction, be indeed blessed to our souli. Forbid that the men of Nineveh and the heathen seamen should in the great day of account rise up in ^ t judgement and condemn us. Rather may we seek to be Uke them, and with them, monuments of Thy sovereign grace.*' ' Maj t|iB dominion of our risen and glorified Redeemer ^t-' tend Anjm sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. May many of all people become the willing subjecti' of His llioly swf»r. Bless the nations of the earth. Oh I thatr they all knew Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ' whom Thou hast sent, whorai to kiH^w is lile eternal. Bless* our own country, highly favoured by -Thy love. Oh I thit W influence and eiertions were ever put forth on behalf pf the ^st luterests of mankind. Bless our Queen, her Mi^^ ty's Royal Consort, and the youthful family entrusted^ to, them. Bless all in Uie high places of the land. Bless the peo* {»le ^t jaiig^* Bless all who travel by land or water upoh awful business. Bless those, whose vocation requires, tl^m to go down to (he sea in ships, with repentance, faith and love. Mercifully pardon and accept of us through Jesini Christ. Amen, ^ Let us conclude by singing Psalm 25, 6. ^ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of GodJ and the. communion of the Ho)y Ghos^ be with us all.' Amw. I ! ^ ;. ■ n VIATBB. 810 I r^HUi . »•. i *. ' . • SEVENTH SUNDAY. Let us worship God by singing to His praise in Psalm Iliet us pray. ^e would now seek to draw nigh to Thee, Lord, deeply impressed with a sense of Ihy great goodness, and with the GopvlcUon that *' Thy mercy is iu the heavens ; and Thy faith- fl|)ncss reachetli unto the clouds." Thou art indeed most i^eri;^* Thou wilt for the sake of Thy Dear Son show Tk^ CoTenaitt to them that fear Thee. Of this most glorious Govepant of redeeming love Thou wilt ever be mindful. We 4tfe.i^imated and encouraged to rejoice in the Lord always j fpr Yhou keepest covenant aiidrememberest mercy from gea* erat^n to generation. We draw nigh to Thee, Almighty Father, profoundly sen* sijitle that the salvation of the soul is entirely of grace, of Thioe own sovereign goodness and love. We observe this in t^ case of all Uiose who^have been made partakers of the gir^at redemption purchased by the precious blood of Christ, and we know it experimentally, if we have indeed fled for ref- uge to the hope set before us in the Gospel. Qive us grace to seek not only to be ourselves saved, but also to be fellow- workers with Thee in the salvation of those who are ready to perish. May we hare the very spirit of our Lord, who loved perishing sinners and laid down His life that they might attain life everlasting* May we ever rejoice, ,l£ke the holy angels, when even one sinner repents. My we rejoice and triumph when many ate turned unto righteous* iness. i Keep us. Good Lord, we beseech Thee, from all selfish, eamal, narrow, and urworthy feelings in regard to any of 220 riATSB. our brethren of mankind. May Thy honour be alwaya our sincere and single aim* May we individually be able to mA* dress Thee as " God, my exceeding joy." By nearness to Thee, and tlie constant experience of Thy satiitying fubess, may we in reference to creature comforts be enabled to ntjoiee as though we nijoiced not, and to weep as though we wept not Teach us to be able to say with Thy servant of old, " My soul shall make her boast in the Lord."* We would praise and adore Thee with r;ihniring gratitude for the wondrous^ evidences contained in Thy flo^ Word of Thy power and willingness to save lost iinners« In what Thou didst for the mariners of Tarshish, for the repentant Mioevites, for the three thousand who on the day of Pentecost tfried out, ** What shall we do 1" and for many more both of the Jews and the Gentiles, both of those who dwelt upon the land and those who were associated with the sea, we behold Thy marvellous ability and Thy still more marvellous con- descension and love. To Thy most Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be ascribed for CTcr all the glory* Bless, we entreat Thee, Father of mercicn, our religious fellowship and exercises upon the present occasion. May our frail bark be to us as the Temple of the Lord. May Hiy gracious presence and Spirit be vouchsafed to quicken and sanetifT us. Bless to us the consideration of the record'^ ed truths of Thy Word. Bless in like manner all who ma^^ be similai^ engaged with ourselves* Especially do we con^ mend to Iny prelection and distuiguishing love those whose vocation requires them this day to be at sea. Bless the mariner. May he reflect upon the awful eternity to which he is sailing. And, oh ! do Thou guide him so that by now fleeing to Jesus for the safety of bis soul he may finally reach the haven of Heavenly rest and felicity. Promote, O Thou God of holiness, the sanctification of the Sabbath at sea and on shore. Enable us to remember it and keep it holy, as we would enter upon that Sabbatism which remaineth for the people of God hereafter. * Psalm 34, 2, /. ixmoif. S21 Mercifully hear theee our humble and earnest prayera for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy Beloved Son. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, bnt deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom, and Uie power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Let us sing Paraphrase 32. Read Isaiah II. SERMON. Tou win find the subject of discourse in Jonah IV. 1. , Many a faithful Minister of God's Word has been so sadly east down at the want of success in his Ministry as to be almost ready to relinquish the work in despair. But did any of us ever know of a man of God or a servant of Jesus Christ being grieved and desirous of giving up both his life and his work because God had prospered and blessed his instrumen- tality for the good of very many immortal beings who had been sinners ready to peruih 1 If we ever did or ever should, we might well call to mind the saying of the wise man, <* there is no new thing under the sun«" How well with him may we amplify this truth and add, " Is there any thing whereof it may be said, see this is new 1 1t hath b^n already of old time, which was before us."* The disobedient proi^« et's history would be a case in point to prove that the same spirit had long since been manifested, and tl^ same kind of sin long ago committed. The story of Jonah is truly a wondrous one. After his resUnration to earth and safety he seems to have been glad to * Eccle»iaatet 2, 9, lO. •imMOH. obtj ' the word of the Lord/ which eame to hfan the eeeortd time to go to Niiie?eh and preach the meiMge of JehofaRlO its inhaoitants. And never perhapi wai an addresa| a iSljh ooane or a preaching more efiectiye than that deliTerea bjr tl» mcMf nger. He waa the honoured initrument of awaldiiiE and turning to the Lord the whole population of great ami guilty Nineveh. We read, *' And God aaw their works, that thcT turned from their evil way ; and God repented of ftub evil, that He had said that He would do unto them ; and He did it not" "* ' Surelv then we might have expected that none would be )so Joyful at such a result as the preacher, whose message had been so eminently blessed. But here too we are taught the needful lesson. '' Cease ye from man, whose breath is fal his nostrils ; for wherein is he to be accounted of 1*** 80 fiur from this affording satisfaction to the prophet, and causing him with gratitude to rejoice that many sinners had repented, ** it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry." What renders this the more 8tranf;e and sinftil, it was with God's mercy and wisdom that Jonah quarrelled and was en- raged. He dares in hispeevishness and suUenness to assail even the Most High. True, there is a degree of submission and deference expressed, <*And.he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray Thte, Lord." He would not, like the in- fidel, wiUi presumptuous maliznity assail the Only Wise God. But, like the perverse child wtio* when out of temper, calcu* lates upon the tenderness and forbearance of the loving parent, and indulges in croundless compUints, so here t|ie sinning prophet, while absurdly enraged because the mercy of the God of Israel had been extended and applied to the sinful heathen, yet calculates upon Uia exercise of that^ercy to himself, a most untoward Israelite. Such appears to have been the state of feeing in which Jonah i>now was, and under the influence of which he drew nigh to his Heavenly Father in prayer. We may observe in lum pride, a haughty spirit, moodiness and melancholy. His benevolence was restricted to his own country ; his selfishness • Isaiah 2, 22, •IBMOir. made him think mainlr of hia own honour. Had lie hetn •irong in faith and philanthropic in affection, he would hate known that God would take care both of Hia own tlnry and Hie aenrant's reputation ; and, aa to the honour of nia coun- try, he would hate reated in the naaurance laat the apread of True Religion and the conirersion of the Gentilea would never dicniniah the true honour of laraeli but rather enhance it^ if farael be a fellow-worker with God. ; The tone of the narrative aeema to imply that JOnah not only wiahed but hoped that Nineveh would be destroyed. £lence it ia probable that he delivered only the meaaa^ of wrath to the Ninevitea. And it ii evident that they repei;(^ againat hia will. He had all along feared, however, that >t]ua would be the reault," I pray thM^ O Lord, waa not thia my aaying, when I waa yet in my country 1 Therefore I fled before unto Tarahish : for I know that Thou art a craci- oua God and merciful, alow to anger, and of great Undneaa. and tepenteat Thee of the evil." We might have auppoaed that he ;vould be afraid lest he should have judgement with- out mercy, if He would diow none. But, alaa I it waa other- wise for the present with the unhappy prophet. Oh ! how could one, who had had so much forgiven^ love *o little and be so petulant t Yet auch is frail, ainful man, even after he has hwn made a partaker of Divine grace, when he forgeta to aak himself, ** )\'hat hast thou that thou didat not receive V* when he forgeta of what spirit he is, when he i^ain rebela againat hia Heavenly and Gracious Benefactor. Hence we hear Jonah, ** Wherefore now, O Lord, take, I beaeech Thee, my life from me $ for ia better for me to die than to live." Thia is a very sad exhibition of the sinAiIneaa of sin and of the sinfulness of human nature. It is far worse than any of the impatience or irritableness or complaining of Job. We may hear him saying occasionally, *' Oh, that God wOUld hide ; me in the grave !" But we can i^mpathize with the awful j suffering and grief which prompt him to Utter such a desire. I It waa only till his dreadful^calamity should have overpast that he sought such an asylum, conscious that, aa a child of God, his spirit would then be safe and happy, and that in NrtfMptwUM ii»»pii»iW|J> i i n|-nw ii> l?l i i 224 flfillMON. duo MMon his body too Mrould experience a glorious resur- reotion. £li[)ah also, when he fled from the impious Jeiehel, went a day's Journey into the wilderness, and sat down un- der a Juniper-tree } and he requested for himself that ho might die, and said (we shall understand the nature of the ease better if we bear in mind that in all probability this honoured man of God had received an intimation of the Divine purpose to translate him to glory without tasting of death), "It is enough} now, Lord, take away my lub } (br I am not better than my Aithers." But, though in all this we can perceive the weakness anQ the (Vailty of man, which else we can scarcely discern in Elijah, we may say, ^*^ was there not a reason V* and a reason vastly different from any thing that Jonah could allege* Hear his own statement which, though in one particular quite erroneous, is otherwise doubtless true, ** Ana he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts t for the children of Israel have for- saken Thy Covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thv prophets with the sword $ and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life, to take it away." (1 Kings 19, 4, 10). In both of these distinguished worthies we can easily un- derstand their wishes. But Jonah's is far more perplexing, and dishonouring to the character of a believer } so much so indeed that we almost doubt sometimes if the prophet was a spiritual Israelite at all. But we know that he was notwith- standing. And, when we look at him and the wonderful sal- vation m a vast multitude that God wrought bv him, let us appreciate the truth spoken by the Great Apostle, '< But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."* Had the Lord been pleased to effect such a wondrous and most gracious salvation at Nineveh by one of his most amiable and excel- lent servants, how prone would we have been to ascribe some Sart of the effect to the influence of the character of the man. tut, as it was, we have no room left for this. We must « I Corintliians 4, r. •KRMOir. za therefore give all the glory to Jehovah alone^ Thii we ihould do always. Here we are constrained to do it« When we observe the provocations of mani how often are we amazed at the forbearance and goodness of God.t How strikingly is this emotion awakened in the instance' before us ! Had God brought Jonah to a sense of his guilt and folly by inflicting upon him some judicial visitation, who would not have said that the prophet had richly merited it 1 But Ood*s ways are not like our ways, His thoughts are not like our thoughts. As the heavens are high above the earth| so do His thoughts and winrs surpass ours. He will bring Jonah to himself in an eflectual way, a way wherein con* descension, long-suffering patience, and love shall be prom- inent. Meanwhile we read of God's forbearance and of His humbling Himself to reason the matter with His servant, ** Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be ansrv V* (v. 4). We are next directed to an incidental part of the liistory of Jonah's connection with Nineveh, (v. 6.) ** So Johah went out of the city (had gone out), and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city**' How long the propet remained in Nineveh we are uncertain. It is evident that he had retired from it anterior to the ex** piration of the * fortv days,' of which he had been commis- sioned to speak. The evident repentance of the people bad caused him most unworthy nnd shameful sorrow. StiU, though he feared that they would be spared, he thought that Sradventure some judgement might be vbited upon Nineveb.r e felt a great interest in what should be the issue. That he might witness it, he erected for himself a temporary dwelling, a booth composed of the boughs of trees. Here, no doum, after all his efforts he would suffer from wind and weather. And most justly might God have left him to do so. But here a^ain the wonderful compassion of the Most High visited him. We may well imagine that his fretful, repining tern* per would add to the inconveniences d his residence. Yet God did not deal with him in judgement, or cause him to ex* perience in all its bitterness his sin and folly in withdraw- mg from Nineveh, where he might now have been comforta- o2 226 8KRM0N. biy •ojourning, honoured by its inhlibitants/and an untfiMiktt^ hm blessing to them. On the contrary God met him with more inercies. (▼. 6). *' And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to eome up over Jonah, that it might be a diadow (shade) over his head, to deliver him from his grief; So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd." Jonah appears to have had naturally a most unhapj^ temper, which was liable to excitement from trifles, that good sense, and especially the fear of God,- ought long ere now to have checked and corrected. Very small matters seem io have been sujfficient unduly to cast him down or unduly to lift him up« His grief previous to the miraculous growth of ^e g^urd, and his exceeding gladness on account of it, are instances. ^Something certainly ought to be allowed for nat- ural temperament. Persons of this class are on the one hand liable to greater depression than others, and on tiie other are apt to experience much greater pleasure. In the prophet's case the evil and inconvenience greatly outweighMl any benefit. l*he gourd is supposed to have been ** the cas- tor-oil tree, which with its broad pahnate leaves extend* a grateful shade over the parched traveller." Its leaves are said to be like those of the Oriental plane-tree, but *' larger, smooUier, and of a deeper hue." For this goiird Jonah was ** exceeding glad." In his own estimate of the happiness afforded by thb creature conrfbrt he might have seen that his sorrows were not consistent with a spiritual mind or one in whom the Spirit of holiness had a dwelling. Yet very probably he had persuaded himself that he was actuated by a zeal for God. Alas ! the deceitfulneaa of the human heart and carnal mind. How often is that grief which we would ascribe in our egotism, or vanity, or pride> or sectarianism, to a regard for Divine things^ or fidelity to Christ, or love of purity, how often is it occasioned, if the truth were known or we would allow ourselves to know the truth, by frowardness, by wounded vanity, by the deter- mination to glorify and gratify self at all hazards. < < , Jonah was ** exceeding glad of the gourd," because in his cireumatances he felt the comfort of it. Previous discomfort or deprivation will often enhance greatly the value of smidl I IIEMON. 2S7 eonaolations. Yet liea?enlj wisdom would teach us not to be unduly elated, or immoderately depressed by the gain or loss of mere earthly and perishing good. With respect io wery such thing we shoirid bear m mind the Apostolic pre* cepV ''And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they tha.t rejoice, as though they rejoiced not."* The be^ lierer, who can fully sympathize with the hallowed breathing of the devout Psalmbt after ** God, my exceeding joy,'' will not present suph a humbling and, it may be^ a stumbling pic* ture as ihat of the poor propnet before us. Nor will he ren- der it needful that the wise Heavenly Parent should visit with chastisement as. in the case of Jonah. It is true that every child of God is chastened. The wise would not be without it. Listen to the plaintive and pious Jeremiah^ " Lord, cor- rect me, but with judgement, not in anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing." (10, 24.) But to ttie rebellious spirit of our prophet we eould atmost apply the word of sharp remon«> strance addfressed to idolatrous Israel, ,*' Thine own wicked- ness b\}q\1 correct. thee> and thy backsliding shall reprove thee ; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bit* ter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, a,nd that My fear is not in thee, saitb the Lord God of Hosts." (Jeremiah S5, i9). . Nothing is more certain than that God will not sutfcr sin in ^y of His children. He hates \t especially in them. He fvill not allow them to seek or find in tlie creature that en- joyment which they should realize in Himself. Hence we read in verse 7, " But God prepared a. worm when the morn- ing rose the next day, and it sinote the gourd thtt it wither- ed. '^ What a correct representation have ue here of all earthly hopes and earthly happiness ! We may have been ^ exceeding glad" in the anticipation or enjoyment of some perishmg bliss. Bat, when our felicity appeared to be at its height, when the morning rose, a worm had been prepared which smote our *' gourd that it withered." David*« lan- guage teaches ua whence alone to expect sdid and lasting Jul, iinmi': * 1 Coiintbians 7, 30.. tiiummm -t- r I ram 228 SXRMOir. satisfaction, "Lord, by Thy farour Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong : Thou didst hide Thy face, stnd I was troubled."* The agent iii the withering of the gourd is instructive. It was a worm. Had it been uprooted by the rushing miglity wind, by the hurricane or the tornado, had the fire of God fallen from heaven upon it and consumed it, or had some ter- rible calamity overwhelmed it, the reproof had not been so humiliating as when it was assailed by such a contemptible foe as a worm. But who will not admire the wisdom of Ood in the mode He selected 1 It was doubtless far more cutting to the prophet's pride thap had his 'gourd' been destroyed ^by some unparalleled evil. There however stood the gourd as firmly rooted as ever, but it was now ** withered," and so incapable of making him ** exceeding glad" any more. How frequently does a righteous God in His providence wither some idol which we were allowing to usurp that place in our hearts which He demands for Himself ! How true is it that one trouble seldom comes alone ! IThis is remarkably observable in the case oi repining, murmuring persons. Just as those who mark mercies will always have mercies to mark, so unreasonable complainers and misan- thropists will always have something new about which to vent their spleen. So it happened with Jonah. '* And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, ^at God prepared a tehement east wind (it should be rendered, a still, gentle east wind, which would therefore be the more suffocating and intolerable) ; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted, and wished in himself to die (he asked ioith his 80ul)f and said, *' It is better for me to die than to live." How forcibly does the Lord, though with most amazing long- sufiering and paternal condescension, appeal to the prophet respectmg his ireftil and repining disposition ! He had be- fore been very angry and wished to die. He now justifies his anger and insists that he does well to be angry even unto death. And God said to Jonah, *' Dost thou well to be angry for the gourd !" And he said, While Jonah is almost an oflTence, they refresh the Zion-ward traveller. While both the good and the evil are recorded, let us remember that the one is for warning, the other fur imitation. Let us pray. Almighty and most Merciful Father, we again. draw nighj unto Thee, our Heavenly Parent, in the name of our great | Advocate, Jesus, Jhy Beloved Son. Pour put upon us, we j beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of adoption. I And, while His influence an^ presence in us cause us to Ipye and submit to Thee in all things with cordiality and chosi^ 1 VRATSB. 331 A^oeiM, may He idto leAd us into all Truth. May we never bury the Truth in unrighteousness, may we never lose sight of it by the prevalence of sinful prejudice. Oh I how weak, erring, and vile is our unhallowed and selfish nature ! By Thy Spirit do Thou remedy the evil in us. Make us par- takers fully of Thy regenerating and sanctifying grace. M ay the Spirit of Chrbt duell iv us as a spirit of love to all our brethren of mankind. Without this cliarity we are ** noth- ing** in Christ. Let us feel it in all its genuineness nnd ardour. We adore Thee as the God of Salvation, who hast put the' trev^ure of the Gospel in earthen vessels that the excelleiiey of ihe power may be of Thee and not of mnn. We praised Thee for the love and pity which Tliou didst manifest to Nineveh. We rejoice thai we behold in that instance ar to^en of Thy good will to perishing sinners in general^ whether Jews or Gentiles. We admire also tlie interest 1 hou didst manifest in little ehildren in the case of Nineveh^ and the regard that in Thy Holy Word Thou hast ever shown towcxc!) them. Thy benevolence is beautifully intimated in the care that Thou takest even of the lower creation. May we be merciful to beasts and every animal. Make us not only to have the root of the matter in us, but also to walk worthy of our vocation. Oh ! forbid that w^ should ever be an offence unto Christ or a stumbling'^block to our fellow»men. May we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour by a conversation becoming the Gospel. Bless all our brethren of mankinu. Bless Our 6Wn coun- try in all its interests, civil and religious. Bless her Majesty the Queen, her August Partner in life, and the children Thou hast committed to their charge. Bless all in authority under our Sovereign ind over us. Bless superiors, inferiors, and equals. And no v, Almighty God, we entreat Thee graciously to hear and accept of us through Jesus Christy our only Saviour and Loird* Amen. Let us conclude the worship of Qod by singing in Psalmi 1 • 232 »BATBR. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the lore of Godj and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us "aU. Amen^ PBATIB. 238 EIGHTHSUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Paraplirase 23> 12d Let us pray. How ezcellenf, Lord, is Thy Name in all the earth I " The eyes of all wait upon Thee ; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Tliou openest Twne hand, and satisfiest the desire of etery living thing." May we be enabled, Almightjr and'most Merciful Father, as Thy redeem- ed children, unfeignedly to give thanks unto Thee. Thou art good, Thy mercy endureth for ever. We would praise Thee fur Thy goodness to us.. Oh I that we may be taught with grateful adoration to say, '< Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth.'^ AH Thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy saints mag- nify Thy Name. We worship Thee as the God of universal nature. Thou hast manifested in Creation, aiid Thou un> foldest in Thy Divine Providence, Thy wisdom, power, and goodness. May we be taught how to profit by those discove- ries of Thy character and will. Yet, O most Merciful Father, we acknowledge that we need otiier teaching than can be de- rived from these to make us wise unto salvation. ** Thy way is in the sea and Thy path is in the mighty waters, and Thy footsteps are not known." We need a key to unlock the treasuries of wisdom and instruction which are contained in Thy works and government. We need. Father of our spir- its, a revelation of Thy will and the operation of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may be savingly benefited by the light and the excellency of Nature and of Thy proc^ure in the regulation ni all things. _jlS »>■ 234 rRATEB* J Grant unto us, we earnestly beseech Thee for the sfke of Thy Beloved Son, the Spirit of Thy grace. May Be lead ui into all truth, quicken, and sanctify us. We feel that we are vile, deserving of Thy wrath, and meet for eternal ruin. Oh ! enter not into judgement with us. But for the sake of that Glorious Saviour, who came to call sinners to repentance and to rescue from perdition those that were ready to jperish for ever, have mercy upon us, blot out the multitude or our sins* They have been innumerable and aggravated. We have sinned against light and goodness and love. We desire now unfeignedly to repent us of all our transgressions, and to turn unto the Lord. And may our repentance be genuine and permanent. Let it not be transient, deceitful, and temporary like the disap- pointing cloud. Let it be that repentance which needeth not to be repented of, evidencing our having turned from all iniq- uity and sin unto the Lord. Holy Father, beg;in and carry on the good work of spiritual renovation in our souls even until the day of Christ Jesus, when He shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to be honoured in His saints and admired in all them that believe. Bless us, God of all grace and mercy, this day in Him. This is the Day of the Lord. • On it we would commemorate and triumph in His resurrection and victory over all His enemies. May we rise with Him^ through Hb Spirit imparled to us, to newness of life. Be with us as now assembled for Thy sacred worship and for the hearing of Thy Word. May our bark be 'to us Bethel, the hou^e of God. M ay we and all, who are similarly engaged, be profited by the solemnities of Thy houae and the preaching of the Gospel of Thy Son. Have coLipassion upon all mankind. Oh ! look in pity upon those wh( care not for Thy Day or Thy Son or their own salvation and highest good. Turn them, O Lord, and they shuU be turned. Especially would we commend to Thy most tender mercy and loving- kindness all those " 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.'' Oh ! may they be led to see the greatest of Thy works in the overcoming of sin through •llMONt 835 the ncriflce of Christ and the rescuing of the sinner bj the Mood and righteousness of Immanuel. And, first of all, may thejr secure an interest in Jesus for themselves as their own Saviour. Enable us here present personally and individually to do so. And all the glory shall be Thine in the Blessed Redeemer. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. TYvf Kingdom come. Thy will be done ou earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen* Let us suig in Psalm 107, 23. Let us read Ezekiel 27. SERMON. Tou will find the subject of discourse in Psalm CVU. 23— 32. This Psalm is of a most comprehensive character. In the two preceding Psalms God's dealing with the Jewish Church and people is celebrated. Here the Psalmist passes beyond that boundary, and in the philanthropic spirit oi the Gospel takes in ' the Kedeemed of the Lord,' whom He had ' gather» ed out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south." All these are spoken of and addressed. Indeed the children of men universally are in- eluded in the subjects and eshortations of this admirable ode. Ttie Psalmist, having pointed out Divine Providence to- t/ards travellers in the wilderness, prisoners, and theaflSicted, before proceeding to the revolutions that occur in families and nations, also introduces the experience and duty of mariners and those who travel by sea. While every part of this in- 286 SEBMON. comparable song is fraught with (he instruction of HeaTcnly wisdom and fitted to attune every devout heart to spiiituiQ melody, surely that part of it, which is now to occupy our at- tention, is not the least interesting and attractive. It should be so especially to all who are connected with < the Sea.' And, while the sea-faring man and the sailor may feel that the paragraph concerns them more particularly, who io ^here among us, associated, as we are, with the great sea-girt isle, (to say nothing of Christian obligation to seamen)-~>who is there that should not feel a lively peraoncd interest ^n the beautiAil description and hortatory counsel of the inspired writer 1 Let us proceed to the story of it under the solemn \ influence of the concluding intimation of the Psalm, ** Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall under- stand the loving-kindness of the Lond." First then we are called upon to notice the class of persons menUoned, '* A.iv that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters*" In all probability David composed this Psalm ; and, though the commerce and navigation of the Jews were greatly extended after his time, yet even then there must have been considerable intercourse between the people of Israel and strangers. Before that period the tribes of Dan and Asher appear to have had some maritime com- merce with their neighbours. (See Judges 5, 17). By his wisdom and valour David acquired the two ports of Elatk and Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea. He purchased large quan- tities of cedar-timber from Hiram, king of Tyre, with whor^ he carried on a large business, and with whom he uniformly maintatMNU a friendly correspondence. From Hiram David also obtained workmen. It is estimated that he collected upwaind^ of " ' ight hundred millions of our money" for the t^nple** His son and successor, Solomon, was enabled by bis wealiii and talents greatly to enlarge the fordgn trade of the kiifiiDDi. He carried on what in modern ^raseology vroiild br* caDed the timber business and lumbering to an nn- preeedeiited extent by means of the Tyrians in eongaaetion • Dr. Arbuthnot's Calculations, Home's Introduction, Vol. iA, p* 48S. 8Siu«oir. 237 with hit own subjects. Writing to Hiram, Solomon said, ** I will gire lO thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil." (2 Chronicles 2, 1).) And again, '< Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar-trees out of Lebanon $ and my servants shall be with thy servants : and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all Uiat I shall appoint : for thou knowest there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.*' (1 Kings 6, 6). The Israelites then desig- nated the Tyrians Sidonians from their having originally been a colony from Sidon. The king of Tyre entered cordially into the views of Solomon. He replied, ** I will do all thy deshre concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the Sea : and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be dischairied there, and thou shalt receive them." (1 Kings 5, 8, 0>. Thus was the celebrated cedar-wood of Mount T.«tanon brought to Joppa, a sea-port of Palestine on the li^oiterranean, and thence to Jerusalem. , Solomon's business relations and friendship with ' the first I commercial people in the Western Worfd' stimulated him to pursue the benefits of navigation and trade. This greatly added to his wealth and fame. Besides his commercial in- tercourse with Egypt'he conducted a most extensive (dan of mercantile affairs by means of a vast fleet sailing from the Red Sea, probably going round the Cape of Good Hope and returning by the Mediterranean. We read that all king Solomon's vessels ** were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the f >rest of Lebanon were of pure gold ; none were of silver : it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram : once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth (or riches and for wisdom.*' (I Kings 10, 21, 23.) These observations may serve to show how the mind of thi. r -^r^ 238 •BlIMOir. Psalmist would naturally select seamen as in a very striUng manner instancing the Divine proTidential goodness. vWhile we are never for a moment to forget that holy men of God wrote under the influence of the Spirit cf holy inspiration, we do injustice both to the Divine Agent and to the workmanship of God in man's mental powers, if we fail to notice the pecu- liarities in the circumstances and intellectual physiology of the different writers of the Sacred Scriptures. How correctly aud minutely familiar with the phases and routine of storms was the inspired penman of our text ! For the picture, so true to the living reality,' which he has drawn ol' a sea-storm) we cannot help rendering him the tribute of our admiration. And this the rather that " they, that go down to the sea in shipi^'^ of whom he primarily spoke, were not for the most part Jews, but foreigners. For, though some of the people of Israi^ would of course be led to follow the sea as their avocation from the trade and relations of their country, it was chiefly by means of the men of Tyre that its maritime afl'airs were conducted. The enlarged and liberal spirit of the holy poet^ rejoicing perhaps in the spiritual benefits dcri\ed by the strangers from his countrymen, does with pious benevolence dwell upon topics in wliich they, " that do business in great waters," are all most solemnly int^^rested. Of such men our text declares, *' These see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." Their busineila leads them to do so. In * great waters,' where landsmen can- not help them save by their prayers, they are called upon to ' do business.' And, perilous as their engagements ar^ such persons have advantages of no ordinary character which, when improved, will cherish a lively and a profound sense of that Jehovah who originates and governs the grandeur of Creation and every thing that has life. *' 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 do so especially when brought into contact with 'stormy wind fulfilling His word.' The Psalm before us not only supplies us with^ a most forcible and perspicuous drawing of a sea- storm ; it farther leads us to the true and ultimate cause of such a terrific display. It leads us to Divine causation. It leads •BRMON. 239 itftoOod, to Him who < rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm/ to the Lord who " hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." To tliis Great First Cause we are immediately directed when ' we would with piety and profit survey the works of Nature and Nature's operations, " For he conimandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof." Here is a lesson for seamen, a lessoii of instruction, of re- proof, of comfort. let them remember that it is Jehovah who commandeth, and raiseth (or sustaineth) the stormy (or violently agitated) wind. How frequently, how habitually has this been forgotten ! Could I address any large number of tills interesting and vastly important class of men, might I not witli truth and propriety say, How very many of you, my dear friends, have not only habitually and frequently,, but alwayi and without exception, failed to hevir piously in mind that it is the Lord who ** commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind,'' that it is He who lifteth up the waves of the deep, — He, *d to the teneth, and K) chasten- »us : never-* of righte- SEBMON. 243 ' May we not be improved by the devotion or se&inen in affliction recorded in our text, and by the success of their primer % *' Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.'' Let me ask those whom now I address. Vo you know any thing of such ex- perience 1 Have you, when in calamity and peril, cried unto the Lord % Has He brought you out of your distresses 1 Do your preserved lives testify that in His merciful provi- dence He saved you from death 1 Oh ! reflect then upon the salutary and serious suggestions of the passage before you. Listen to the pious, affectionate and anxious utterance of the saintly writer of the Psalm before us. '* Oh ! that men (and it is seamen that he has particularly in view) would praise the Lord for His goodness (His exuberant or over- flowing goodness), and for His wonderful works to the children of men." Whether the ins];»red writer intends to intimate that the prayerfulness of those '^ that go down to the sea in ships" does very generally pass away with ths terrific occasion on which *' their soul is melted because of trouble", it is not necessary for us at present to discuss. That it would do so then, that it does so still, is undoubtedly true in moit in- stances. The anxiety and crying earnestness of the mariner in peril of having for his last resting-place in this world the deptitf of Ocean and Ocean's billows to chant his fimeral dirge, when he cries unto the Lord of the Ocean and of all tiie elements of nature, may be imposing and promising. But, alas ! how frequenUy may our hopes be disappointed I How often may His goodness after all resemble the eariy cloud, which perchance held out the prospect of the genial rain, which, while it would refresh and lertilize the earth, m^ht also be panted for by the ship's crew^ whose supply of water was well-nigh exhausted. Did that morning cloud seem assuredly to foretoken rain 1 Alas ! as the day advanced, the sun broke through and dispersed mist and cloud, and pelted upon the thirsty tar with his parching and burning rays. How similar thb to the devoutness and profession of many who have been saved from shipwreck and from Uie deep by the Omnipotent and most Merciful Hearer of the cry I- 244 8XRM0N. of distress. The mariner, who prayed and called aloud upon . God when death was apj>arently nigh, forgets his Divine Ben- efactor and hardens hu heart more than oefore and becomes ripe for ruin eternal. Oh t beware, men and brethren^ of such conduct. And, that you may avoid such a fatal error, cherish, retain, call up, act upon your prayers and xood resolutions offered and formed, it may M sincerely, under the influence of extraor* dinary danger and excitement. For this purpose consider, reflect Fail not to be grateful to your Heavenly Preserver. How base is ingratitude ! And how base is ingratitude to Him who alone can preserve and deliver in the evil day, who often has interposed on your behalf, and who now loolu to you for gratitude and the fruits of righteousness. Let me entreat every mariner, — acquaint thyself now with God and be at peace. For this purpose bear in mind that the mission of God^s Son to this world for the salvation of guilty and perishing sinners is a work most glorious. It is also one in which every seaman aiid every sinner is most deeply inter- ested. For, as we prize it, or slight it, it will elevate us to glory and eternal felicity or sink us into tiie gulf orendless perdition. Sailors <*see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep." But, sailoiti, let me beseech each of you to see by faith, by asking and obtaining the Spirit of God to quicken, instruct, enlighten, and sanctity you, the necessity of .Tesus for you as a Saviour and His adaptation to all your necessity for time and for eternity. Rest not till you see the v/orks of the Lord in the renovation of your own souls, in your becoming new creatures in Christ Jesus, in your ac- quaintance with the grandeur of redemption and the beautie» of holiness. See these, seek to see them in yourselves first and then in youi brother mariners and in all your brethren of mankind. Such is the way to praise the Lord, to evince that the good- ness of God has led you to repentance and that you have re- ceived the rembsion of sins. This is the aspiration for you of the holy Psalmist. ** Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men P' (v. 31 ). And, while you^ beloved friends. w 1 PllATXR* 345 do thii in your cloiets, in your companionihipi, in your whole conduct, while you do it in secret when you are alone with God, in your families and with your kindred, fail not to honour, obey, and do homage to the Lord in His public or- dinances, in the Christian assembly, in uniting with those who go to the House of God upon His Day, reverencing the Sanctuary and sanctifying the Sabbath. Never be ashamed of Jesus. Encourage the young and those who are in the way of obtaining good. Animate and delight the boanr- headed follower of the Lamb by your regular and faithful discharge of the duties and solemnities of the Temple of the Lord. ** Let them exalt Him also in the congregatum of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders." Ameu. Let us sing Psalm 42, 7. Let us pray. Most Merciful Lord God, grant for the sake of the Saviour of sinners that Thy Word and its solemn and beautiful lessons may be deeply interesting and instructive to us. Thou art 1^ God of the ends cf the earth. The sea is Thine. Thou causest the stormy tempest to arise, and Thou makest the storm a calm. What time we are afflicted, teach us, Heavenly Father, to trust in Thee. We praise Thee t^n this Thy Hallowed Day for our preserved lives. Thou hast preserved us from danger. Thou hast delivered us from death. O ! enable us to praise Thee for Thy goGMlness and for Thy wonderful works to the children of men. Grant especially, Thou Fountain of life and salvation, that we may be savingly interested in Christ, Thy Beloved Son. Without a vital interest in Him we must perish eternally. Without pardon and regeneration we cannot enter Thy Kingdom of holiness and glory hereafter. May we be exer- cised with true repentance. May we experience the bless- edness of the remission of all our sins. May we be united to Jesus in the everlasting Covenant of grace and love. May He be our Head, may we be His lively members. Blessed 6 4 246 PRATEB. be Thy Namei He is the Saviour of all simien^ of ^the lea- man as well as of the landsman. Lord, may He be our Saviour. May we be enabled to bring forth fruit uuco God. May ire evidence that ive are the saved disciples of Jesus by doing His will. Whatsover things are good and just and true, honourable, pious, benevolent, and of good report, may we think upon these things and be enabled to do them. Be pleased to bless our country. She has lon^ had Inuch to do with the Sea. May the merchandize and nches of the Gentiles be in her case consecrated to Thy service and gktT. Bless our Sovereign and her Royal Consort and aH the members of their family. Set wise and godly men in the high places of the land. Bless the whole population with that righteousness which alone exalteth a nation. Bless us, Almighty God, and graciously accept oi us, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us conclude by suiging Paraphrase 29, 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of Go^l, and the communion of the Holy 6hosty.be with ua all. Amen. - r "X PBATEB. 24t of ^the lea* le be our . lilaTtfe by doing and true^ t, may we • hadmaeh shesof the and ^Iciry. nd all Uhe len in the ation witii Blest UB, )ugh Jeaus e of Go4, h ua all. ■ifsam tfi NINTH SUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by ranging to His praise in Paraphrase 23, 7. Let us pray. O Thou, who art at once the Hrarer and the Giver of prqrerj enable us, we beseech Thee, to draw nigh and worship Thee acceptably, with godly reverence, faith, and lore. We cone in the name of Jesus, whom Thou didst send to seek and to save that which was lost. In Him, adored be Thy name, we have one both able and willing to save to the uttermost all who come unto Thee through Him. With glory and grace that are Divine we hear Him saying, '' Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God, and there is none else."* We bless Thee that Thou hast given this precious Saviour " for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles ;" and that Thou hast addressed unto us such words as these, *' Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein $ the bles, and the inhabitants thereof*"! What shall we render to Thee, Almighty Father, for all Thy mercy, truth, and renovating goodness manifested to the children of men ? While we would praise Thee for all Thy goodness, we would above all praise Thee for Jesus Christ, Thine unspeakable gift. We would rejoice in the mission of the King of Zion. We would triumph in the sure wOrd of prophecy concerning Him, that'' His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth."t • Isaiah 45, 22. t Isaiah 42, 40. I Zechariah 9, lo. 348 ^RATIR. We would mark with devout gratitude that our Blessed Re- deemer early in His public ministry, and throughout it, showed marked attention to the " sea coast," to the countries border- ing upon the Gentiles *' by the way of the Sea }" and that he was pleased to select His Apostles from those whose calling was connected with the sea, from fishermen and boatmen. This, O Gracious and Heavenly Parent, is encouraging to poor, humble seamen, such as we are. We praise and thank Thee, Thou God of all goodness, for Thy saving goodness towards mariners. Thy Holy Word not only shows us that they are far from being overlooked, or considered unimportant as a class. The notice there taken of them is both instructive and encouraging. We have in Thee an illustratioh of the perfection of Thy Word. And especially do we with gratitude remember this day that Thy Word of Truth records the duty of seamen and its discharge under the effectual operation of Thy quickening and sanctifying Spirit, of praising Thee, and believing to the saving of the soul.* Oh ! grant. Thou God of salvation, that we may be followers of those who, when called upon to follow Jesus, at once obeyed the sacred command. May we hear Him requiring each of us to follow Him. Without delay may we deny self, crucify the flesh, take up our cross, and, as the genuine Disciples of Thy Son, be holy as Thou art holy. And to Thy Great Name in Christ shall be all the glory, now and for ever. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy KingUom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us om debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen* Let us sing Psalm 89, 25. Read John Chap. 1. * Psalm lOr, and Jonah i. BEEMOW. 240 SERMON. Tou will find the subject of diBCOune in Matthew IV. 12— 22. We have already seen that in the inspired writings of the Old Testament seamen, as a class of human beings needing salvation, are far from being overlooked. On the contrary, we know that " mariners^" ** they that go down to Um sea in shij^, that do business in great waters," are introduced and noticed in the Book of God before the coming of i^Iessiah. And we shall find that during the personal Minutry of Christ, and subsequently, they are also kept in view. Though He Himself was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet His course plainly evinces that He never forgot the prophecy concemmg Him, ** He shall bring forth judgement to tiie Gentiles.*' In like manner ma^ we observe many inci- dentslhat evince a kindly and a gracious regard to sea•fari^(^ men. The verses now to engage our attention are an inte^• esting indication of the favour of Immanuel both to the Gen" tiles and to seamen. Though our Lord did not begin His public Ministry at this period and in the neighbourhood specified, He appears to have entered fVom this time more ftiUy upon those solemn duties which He came to discharge. The occurrences narrated in the four first chapters of John's Gospel, as also several other, happened before this time. But the imprisonment of His forerunner the Redeemer regarded as an impressive intima- tion of what He must do. He knew that He must work the work of Him that sent Him while it was day. That work was vast and unspeakably momentous. His day was also limited, so that ceaseless and vigilant activity and devotedness were requisite to accomplish the work given Him to do. Hence we hear Him a little before this era telling His disci- ples, '< My meat is to do t^ie will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work. Say not ye, there are four months, and then cometh harvest 1 behold f say unto you, lift up your 250 •SIMON* ■^ eyes, anil look on the fields ; for thej are white already to harvest."* When the Baptist was imprisoned^ Jesus immediately left Judea for Galilee. ** Now, when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison. He departed into Galilee ; And, leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea-coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthallm." Many reasons induced the Great Teacher sent from God to prefer spending the greater part of His time in Galilee than in Judea. He was far freer in the former province from the malignant influence of the bigoted and hostile Scribes and Pharisees, and of the Priests and Elders of Jerusalein, than He would have been in Uie latter. The population of Galilee was dense and had been much neglected. Many ^tran^^rs, foreigners, and heathens visited it for purposes o( commerce and business. Though the people were loose and ignorant, they were not so prejudiced and self-righteous as the inhabitants ot Judea. Christ intended also to select His Apostles chiefly from among them. And, while the hardiness and generu habits of the men so chosen were fitted to be of use to them as <' fishers of men," disciplined by their Divine Master, their boats and skill as boatmen and sailors would be of great importance to Jesus in travelling from place to place, espec- ially when we bear in mind that '' the Son of man" was poor in the possessions and wealth of this world. We are told of Christ's leaving Nazareth. In the fourth of St. Luke there is an affecting account of the manner in which the people of Nazareth rejected the Only Saviour and were offended in Him. And why 1 Because they had known Him from His infancy, and He had been brought up among them. He told them the cause why they in particular would not have Him to save, instruct, and rule over them. *' No prophet is accepted in his own country." The curious principle thus rtferfed to as operating in human nature, leading men to pre" fer and honour strangers rather than those with whom or with whose personal history they are familiar, has been often * John 4, 34, 3.5. /: ■xmMoir. 251 experienced. It is a pernicious and soul-destroying one. It is of tlie essence of the carnal mind ivhich is enmity against God. Pride and self-complacency so influence people that they will not be reproved for their faultf and sins, or have their darkness enlightuiied through the instrumen- tality of an individual who Icnows them better than a stranger can know them. We thus see that pride is one ^reat ccjse of "i'Js rejection of a fellow-countryman, especially if he be hur . le in birth or connections ; for, if there be worldly grandeu - A.^d superiori- ty, the case may be different. The lovr of novelty also ^ays the minds of many. If the ''prophet' or minister of Christ (for the principle operates as powerfuh/ now as in the days of our Saviour or before His coming) should rise to great eminencei hb fellow-townsmen may then acknowledge and seek to do homage to him, or after his death they may erect ) a monument to his memory, just as the Jewish people built the tombs and garnished the sepulchres of prophets whom their fathers had murdered. But, generally speaking, it may require a life-time ere one in a position analogous to " a prophet in his own country'- shall be dealt with justly by his brethren. The better way probably for such a one is to imitate the example of His Master and leave Nazareth. Yet let him take heed of pride n* ct carnality in himself when he comes to such a determinatioa. How unhappy was the condition of Nazareth after being left by Jesus 1 She knr>w not, at least in her day, the things that belonged to her peace, and now they are for ever hid from her eyes ! IIow dreadful is the state of a place or per- son left — given over by Jesus { To such " there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."* Let us for ourselves guard against such a deplorable result by never trifling wiUi the. convictions of conscience, by reverently listening to the Word of God, by receiving the Truth in the love of it, by cordially accepting of Christ as He is offered to us in the Gospel, by never griev- • Hebrews 10, 26-27, rjniMtMF« 252 lERMON. •* ing or resiiting His Hbly Spirit in our sould, by increasing in genuine humility, pcIf-denial, and spirituality, by striving to e single-minded and strong in faith, glorifying God in all things. From the time of Christ's relinquishment of Nazareth Copernaum was tiic highly favoured spot which He made His {>rincipai residence. Besides reasor*s connected with the ocality His feelings of love and friendship as a man may have weighed with * the Son of man' in His choice. We can easily understand why Bethany formed the favourite retreat of Jesus when Jerusalem wos the theatre of His ministrations. It was " the family of Bethany" that, humanly speaking, made Betimny so attractive to the Saviour. His esteem and «9eetion for its members are expressed with great simplicity and emphasis by the disciple whom He loved. ** Now Jesus loved Marlha and her sister, and Lazarus."* In like man** ner, when we bear in mind that Jesus was perfectly aware of tha presence of the excellent Centurion, whose character as a believer surpassed that of any of the seed of Abraham, and of that of the affectionate and upright nobleman and his family, who were gratefully and from enlightened conviction attached to their best Benefactor j when we also remember that the home and family of the warm'we see what strong inducements there were to make this selection which wbuld render Capernaum " exalted to Heaven" by its privileges. This choice does not encourage us to consult rather our private gratification than our public duty ; but it teaches us that by means of the cheering, enlivening, hallow- ing influences of pious and congenial domestic society the spirit and mind of men are nerved and animated by the Divine blessing for the performance of the mo9t difficult ser* vices ia the Church or the world, and for the meek and pa^^ tient endurance of all the sufferings allotted to us in the providence or will of God. How much the soul of the Blessed Redeemer counted in this respect upon closest, ten- derest, dearest, holiest friendship, may be seen in His desire *Johnii,5. iSBMON* d&8 for the fdllowBhip of^His three favoured Disciples from among the little faithful fraternity of the eleven. We read that, when the hour of His direst endurance was at hand, ** They came to a place which was named Gethsemane ; and He saith to His disciples, iSit ye here, while I shall prnv. And He taketh i|r)th Him Peter and James and John, anti began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy ; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unlo death : turry ye here and watch."* Capernaum is not mentioned in the Old Testament. It is supposed to have been one of the towns bidlt by the Jews after ttieir return from the Babylonish captivity. It bordered upon the lots of Zebulun and Napthali, which seem to have lain nearly at right angles to each other. They were both sitiiated ** beyond Jordan.*' This does not mean East of Jordan, or on the other sUle of Jordan, as was the inheritance of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. It may signify beyond where the Jordan entered the Lak^ of Galilee. 1'his district in common with the whole of " Upper Galilee" was styled, from the intercourse it had with the neighbouring nations and the presence of many resident strangers, ** Galilee of the Gentiles." Both the position and the populousness of Galilee in the time of Solomon may be inft:rred from that monarch's giving to Hiram, King of Tyre, twenty cities in that province. And doubtless both its relative position and its teenodng population of Jews and Gentiles weighed with the Saviour of mankind in bestowing so much attention on it. How admirably was the piediction of the dying patriarch fulfilled, ** Zebulun shall dwell at tlie haven of tl^ sea ; and he shall be for a haven of ships ; and his border shall he unto Zidon."t In " the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death t" — amidst the most sublime and inspired legacies cf the saint's majestic pen the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar are asso- ciated together. The lot of Issachar was next to that of • M«rk 14, S2. t Qsnesis 49| is. H 254 SERMON. Zebulun on the south as was that of Naphtali on the north ! '* Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out, and Issaohai' in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain, thdre they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: For they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand."* *' Meaning that those two tribes should come togetiier to the temple of Jerusalem, to the holy mountain, and should bring with them such of the tribes as dwelt in their way ; and that, being situated on the coast of the Mediter- ranean Sea, they should apply themselres to trade and navi- gation, and to the melting of metals and glass, denoted by those words, ' Treasures hid in the sand.' " (RobinsM, Zebulun, also Judges 5, 17). Such were the country and the people now to be most highly favoured by the preaching and saving influence of the Great Teacher sent from God — " And, leaving Naiareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea-coait, in the borders c^ Zebulun and Nephthalim : That it might^be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias, the prophet, saying. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of tiie Sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles ; The peo- ple which sat in darkness saw great light; and to Ihem that sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." The style of imagery here employed is peculiarly bold, expressive, and beautiflil. It is a style not unusual in the Word of God.f Darkness and the region and shadow of death, and dwelling or sitting in such a state, when spoken in reference to the spiritual and moral condition of a eom- munity, represents their deg'aded character and circunis stances. They are contented to live without God and witti- out hope in the world. They love what is sinful and dislike what is holy. They prefer the darkness of religious ignor- ance, and the repose of spiritual death to light and Divine life in the soul. Sueh a people are drawing nigh to everlasting death. The sword of eternal vengeance is suspended over their head. They are liable every moment, as ripe fbr de- * Deuteronomy S3, I8, 19. t See Job 10, 3i ; I6.16 j 94.22 } Jeremiah 2, 6. 8EBM0N. 256 the north ! ai^ in thy tain, thdre thej thall hid in the »uld come mountain, elt in their ) Mediter- ! and navt- denoted by [Robinson^ \ im Jsdi to be iBOUt inceofthe lareth, He 1 8ea*coait, it migbt^be Bt, saying, by the way Thepeo- to ^em is sprung peculiarly musual in shadow of ten spoken 3f a eom- circuni> and with- ind dislike ous ignor- Divine life verlasting nded over pe fbr de- struction, to have everlasting wrath entailed upon them. They are nigh unto that death from which there is no pos8i« ble resurrection. They are already by their guilt so fitting sulngects for " the second death" that they are presented to us as in its region sitting and having its most direful shade lengthening over them. How glorious are the " glad tid- ings'' which by the Ransomer of enslaved man and by His (lervants are proclaimed even to such, — to every such one— *' Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Such was the result upon not a few of the obscure, remote, and careless Galileans. *' The people, which sat in darkness, saw great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung M up Let all, who are in a similar position with this people by their unrighteousness, hasten to obey the gracious call, lest, like Nazareth, they be left, left for ever, left in hardness of heart and impenitency of mind to perish eternally. Let them rather strive to be the living exemplification of compliance with the enraptured mandate of the thrilling prophet, '' Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein ; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up tlieir voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit : let the inhabitants of the rock sin^, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lordf wad declare His praise in the islands."* And let the Minister of the Gospel, who would walk in the footsteps of his Divine Master, mark the grand topic upon which not only the forerunner of Messiah, but Messiah Him** self insisted, especially in the commencement of His Minis- try with any of His hearers. " From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent : for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Sinners in the day of Christ upon earth, who would become citizens and subjects of the king of Zion, must repent. All needed true repentance, a godly grieving for their sins and turning from them unto God. They that re- * Isaiah 42, 10. 25r. ■BRMOlf. fi.dUMl to admit their need of such repentance, ivho were good ^iot ^h or righteous in Uteir owr, estimation, Christ came not to call. It ivas sinners, those who felt and owned their guilt and the need of Divine renovation. The piun of salvation is the same still, it admits of no change. Hcpentance toward God together with the coteniporoneous grace of the Spirit of God, faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, ar? the doctrines which, preached with simpliciiy and godly sin* cerity, are rendered eflfeciual to salvation by Gcd's quicken- ing and sanctifying Spirit. . \ We itave next an interesting and instructive account of the calling of four of the future Apostles. " And Jesus, walk- ing by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the Sea ; for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.'' Perhaps Jesus was walking along the shore of the grand and beautiful Lake, whose placid serenity and stillness were highly favourable for both medita- tion and observation, that he might indulge in these exercises of the human mind, ^oon he discovered two individuals following their honest and honourable avocation, in whom he probably recognized two former disciples of John. He had Himself been pointed out to at least one of them by the Baptist, and they were both personally acquainted with Christ.* They were enjoined to quit their present occupation, and told that they would be advanced to a higher and more responsible calling. With loving hearts and ready minds they without demur instantly obeyed. How salutary the contemplation of this simple and entire consecration to Jesus ! How sublime the picture of surrender nnd obedience to tlie will of Him in whom they believed as •* the Lamb of God I" Even their habits as Jlishermen, and their circumstances gene- rally, were favourable to their becoming efficient heralds of the Cross. They had already in some measure learned to watch and wait, to be patient, hardy and peisevering, to sacrifice convenience and comfort to duty* They had no * See John l,S.5,&c, •XlltOW. 267 landed estates, no cbmmercial transactlonsi no proftsslonal engagements to detain them. They ivere freemen, intelli- gent, piuus, shrewd, respectable men. And where will the children of vanity or the ambitious worldling And a more estimable or suitable class of men from which the Captain of Salvation could have selected ** flohers of men V* We hare next an account of the calling of ether two of the Apostles A-om the same order of persons, ** And, going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets ; and He called them. And ther immediately left the ship and their father, and followea Him.'* It is here worthy of remark that, though fVom the narrative and the parallel passage in the 1st of Mark, where *< hired servants" are spoKen of, James and John were in more affluent circumstances than Peter and Arsdrew, they were found in the humble employment of " mending their nets," an incident the veir mention of which by the Evange- list both^evinces the genuineness of the history^ and suggests many useftil hints about ecohomy and cnre. As regards leaving their father on the part of the sons of Zebedee, it is highly probub'e that Zebedee also was a disciple and believer in Jesus. It is therefore likely that, besides their being men of mature years, and so # ntitled to judge for themseWes, Zebedee cordially consented to his sons followiiig the Saviour in personal attendance, and fully approved of their conduct. Tho loving attachment and obedience evinced by some of Chrisi's first Disciples to their adorable Master is most re* Areshing and worthy of all imitation. In the 5th of Mark we read of the fiercest and most wretched of maniacs, whom Satan and his legion constantlv incited to self-destruction, but without success. This "man with an unclean spirit had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no not with chains ; Because that he had been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been pluck- ed asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces : neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, cn'ing and cutting himself with stones. But, when he saw Jesus afar off, he It il 258 SERMON. ran and worshipped Hitn." Tlie itiaue was suciji that imme- diately afterwarusi his ne%hbour.i «aw him that was possessed with the devil, etitl had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.'' We are told tlitat this most u'^'ectionate, grateful; and now happy man came to his Divine jtienefactor, and prayed that he might be virith Him. ^* Howbeit Jesus suffered him not ; but seith mto htm, G<. lOme to thy friends, and tell how great things the Lor^: will. When in the exercise of His supremacy and wis- dom, for the extension of His kingdom, the glory of His Father, and the good of soul^, He was pleased to decide in a manner different from the warm wishes of a heart overflowing with burnine love, did not this genuine child of God at imce and cheerfuUy acquiesce 1 He did. ''And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him : and all men did marvel." So also again^ when the honour of God and the best interests of men re<* quired that the sons of Zebedee should quit the paternal home and society, and, without any snapping asunder or disregard of the bonds of natural obligation and affection, these were simply required as secondary $ and the first and highest duty of love and obedience to God was obeyed, as of most primary importance. James and John were young men, and youUi, it has been said, is ** the learning age and die labouring age." From thirty to fifty was the age during which the most special and solemn duties of the Levitical priesthood and ministry were to be performed. And certainly this period of life should form the principal of the Gospel minister's service. " Fishers of men" under the New Testament economy may form both a parallelism and a progression as compared wim the shepherds of the fold under the preparatory Dispensa- tion, although the latter term is appropriated also to Christian- ity. Not only does the Christian economy provide for the dis- charge of the peaceful and quiet duties of the pastoral office in the dilip;ent oversight of what already constitutes*the flock of the Chief Shepherd, it also requires that the obligations rT 8EBM0N. 269 ''finbtrs of men" shall be felt and responded to by the elders of the Church and all the followers of Christ The commis- sion of " fishers of men," it will be seen, is more enlarged and much more extensive than that of the Mosaic Priest, Teacher, or Levite, whose fold was the people of Israel. This latter takes in not only ** the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but all sinners of dl nations ; it comprehends *' All the ends oS the earth, and them that are afar off upon the sea." It is identical with that charge addressed by the risen Redeemer to " the eleven" in respect to discipling all notions. It is in perfect keeping and harmonizes most ad- mirably with the concluding Gospel call, sounded by the Root an4 Offspring of David, the bright and morning-star when closing the Volume of Inspiration. " And the Spirit and the Bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever i^ill, let him take the water of life freely." While the weighty and awful responsibilities of those^ ''ho a,re called to the work pertaining to <* fishers of men," should incite the successors of the first minlcf ^rs of Christ to increasing devotion and diligence in the performance of their solemn du- ties, let me entreat the hearers of the Gospel to ponder—- pon- der its influence upon them and their accountableness. This Qi^pel will save and elevate every one, to whom it comes, to eternal blessedness ; or it will sink you in confirmed impeniten- cy tothe pit of perdition. It will most infallibly be the savour of life unto each of us, or the savour of death unto death. It sets death and life before us and says, Choose ye this day which of two results will be yours. To the sinner, who takes hold of Jesus to be saved from sin, its language is, ** Peace be to thee." To the covetous, the cold, tihe carnally-minded worldling its faithful warning is, •' If any man Jove .lOt the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.'-" For '' the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net, that was cast in« to the sea, and gathered of every kind. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, and cast the bad away. So shall it be at tlie end of the vfOrld: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the 260 VIATIB. Ainu^^M of Art i there thell be wailing and gnashing of teeth*"* Let us sing Paraphrase i23, 12. Let us pray. Almightv God, our Heavenly leather, grant, we Beseech Thee, for the sake of Thy Blessed Son, that the hearing of Thy Most Holy Word may be accompanied witti Thy ef- fectual blessing to our souls. May we not only be hearers of Thy Word, may we also be doers of what it enjoins; . We praise Thee, O Thou Merciful Saviour, who didst cause the people that sat in darkness to see ereat light, for the institution of a Gospel Ministry. It hath pleased Thee *' by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." We bless Thy name that Thou didst call from their previous avocations suitable men, and didst set them apart to be ** fishers of men." For whatever success they enjoyed in the dis- charge of the duties of their sacred calling, anU for whatever success has attended the Ministry of those who have entered into their labours, we desire unfeignedly and most heartily to render thanks unto Thee. And, oh ! may we be among the number of those who are eflfectuaity called, savingly enclosed and caught for life eternal in the Gospel net. What shall we render to Thee, O Lord, for all our Chris- tian privileges t Not only have we Thy Holy Oracles which we can read, and Thine ear ever open to the prayer of the contrite at the Throne of grace, and the blood of Christ to cleanse us from all sin. and the Spirit of holiness to quicken and to sanctiiY us ; we have also the precious advantage of social worship, and especially of the exercises of Zion, to stimulate us and to render all other means of grace and spirit- ual improvement more profitable to w^ " Blessed is the people that kno\v the joyful sound ; they shall walk, O Lord, m the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted." May ^ve thus savingly know the glad tidings. May we individually know the Gospel as the Gospel of Sal- * Matthew 13, 4r. 1 PBAtX^t 261 ▼ation. May ours be the blessedness of the man ivhost sin is covered, unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity^ uiid in whose spirit there is no guile.* We praise Thee, Thou God of the mariner, for Thy good- ness to us while upon the sea, and doing business in great waters. Dispose and enable us to exalt Thee in the congre- gation of the people, and to praise Thee in the assembly of the elders. Bless, all who like ourselves go down to the sea in ships, and all who are connected with the sea. May they be partakers of the Great Redemption wrought out by Thy Sou. Bless all Thy people everywhere with increase of grace and peace. Bless all our brethren of mankind with Uie light of Christianity and its happy consequences. Blest our own loved country, our Sovereign the Queen, her Majes- ty's Royal Consort, the children whom Thou hast entrusted to them, and all the members of the Royal Fatnily. Bless with heavenly wisdom and prudence our Rulers, and. the people with that godliness which has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Bless our captain, officers, and all the ship's crew in temporal and spiritual things. Comfort the afflicted. Protect and be Thou the con- fidence of those who are exposed to danger and death. Pre- pare the dying for eternity. Be Thou our God and our guide while we live, our trust and consolation when the houf of our departure shall have arrived, and our everlasting por- tion when time to us shall have terminated. Our prayers and thanksgiving we present in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory ever- lasting. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Paraphrase 56, 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all." Amen. * Psalm 89, 15 : 32, i. H2 •'•;a'J .'.;?^ir u ^■;. _■*.* fBATlB. 868 rCNTH SUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Psalm 8, 3. Lot utf pray. O Thou, who art the God and Fathei* of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we would now draw nigh unto Thee in His name. We humbly hope and earnestly entreat that for His sake Thou wouldst be merciful and gracious to us. May His Spirit effectually draw us to Him^ and in Him give us spiritual quickening. Enable us, Thou God of everlasting lore, to prize Thy love to us as manifested in the Mission and Work of Thy Be- loved Son. May we have Thy love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us. We desire now to receive *' the sincere milk of tiyi Word, that we may grow thereby." Oh ! how precious ia Thy grace and truth im- parted to men by Christ Jesus. Make us, Good Lord, the subjects of Thy grace and lovers of Thy truth. We rejoice to know. Almighty and most Merciful Father, that, though the Saviour came to His own and His own re- ceived Him not, there were not wanting a goodly company who did receive Him, and that to them He gave power to be- come the sons of God by faith. We praise Thee that there were not wanting instances where, during His public minis- try, 'ts; and He called them. And they immediately left their ship and their father, and followed Him."* In all this there does net appear to have been any othef • Mutlhew 4. 18-22. jm •ERMON. {>arUes present iVom Arst to last than those noticed.^ But n the narrative of St. Luke we first behold a vast mikltitude of persons anxiously striving to be permitted to listen to the Divine truths which the Great " Teacher sent fVom God*' was disposed to utter. It is this preceding incident, and our Lord's improvement of it, that form the introduction to the story of Peter and his friends. '* And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret." The sea-side, so far now from being to Jesus the place of solitude, has become the place of public resort, to which thron}; eager, solemnized, anxious multitudes. Nor is it that they ma^ witness and par- ticipate in the pleasures of the haunts of dissipation and dis- honesty that these earnest and striving visitors have come. It is not even tlie lawful and laudable pursuit of honest gain that has drawn them thither. Interests of far higher import- ance engage their attention. Nobler aims than any that are bounded by the present xv orld or the present life, stimulate, we may hope, tius motloy crowd of human beings that have gathered round the Saviour and the friend of man. What an interesting assembly we here behold of life's voya* gers, launched upon the sea of time and sailing with rapidity to the shores uf eternity to their destination in the world to come* Among them may be seen the devout inhabitant of Judbu, u\io has left fo.r a season his own home, attracted by the fame and the character of Jesus. He feels dissatisfied with the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees, and intensely longs for light and peace, for a discovery of the vital doc- trines of Revelation in their saving power, for a sense of par- don and reconciliation with God, that His love may be shed abroad in his heart, and that he may become holy as His Father in Heaven is holy. There may we observe the more uninstructed and less strict Galilean who is deeply persuaded of his own ignorance and guilt. He most sincerely desires Uiat he may be taught in the way that leads to life eternal. His prayer is that all old things which are evil may pass away, and that all things may become new with him. Ee is deeply coniMsious that one thing, to be right with God, is needful for him. And that one thing, we may hope, is now his single SEBMON. 267 and alhengrossing aim. There likewise stands the stranger — the man of trade— -the Gentile. He may be a Sidonian, or he may belong to the <' daughters of Sidon" — its colony Tyroi or he may have come from some more distant part of the world. Observe even he is drawn by the rumours re- specting Him who speaks as never man spake, and whose power » only equalled by His benevolence. He too is be- coming alive to reflection, his conscience convicts him of in- numerable sins that he has committed, and he feels that he needs the compassion and favour of the God that is Above, the God of Israel, the Only Living and True God, for he is con- strained to admit that the gods of the nations are vanity and a lie. His grand enquiry now is to Jehovah, " What wouldest Thou have me to do *? What must I do to be saved V And there also is the hardy, fearless, weather- beaten seaman. How does he happen to mingle with this curious, yet awe*>struck throng 1 Is he storm-staid 1 Or has he just arrived upon the shores of the Holy Land, and, hav- ing experienced the preserving goodness of the Lord amidst the tempestuous billows of *' deep calling unto deep," is'he now seeking to obey the sacred mandate addressed to those that go down to the sea in ships, when brought to their de- sired haven 1 Is he now desirous of ** praising the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men, of exalting Him also in the congregation of the peo« pie, of praising Him in the assembly of the elders 1" We know not what are hii* particular circumstances, whence he is or whither he is bound. But we rejoice in bis attendance. It may be that, while traversing the great and wide sea, he has frequently sought to study " the Holy Scripture?," the chart by which he must steer in order to reach the port of Salvation and endless joy. Especially upon the Sabbath-day, when, it may be, the privilege or the right has been enjoyed by him of cessation from all toil save what necessity or the Providence of God may demand of him, after preparatory cleaning and putting on of Sabbath attire, he has betaken himself to the quiet, retired, devotional reading and searching of the Oracles of God. How he may have been humbled, reproved, corrected and taught by the life-giving Word ! Yet 268 SERMON. how he has sought and prayed for some man to teach him !^ His request will be met. And now on the favoured shore of the land given by God to Abraham and his seed, he hears of the Son of David, who was the promoter of commerce and the father of Solomon, the greatest commercial man that ever lived. But who, we may ask, is this Son of David, this mighty Root and Offspring of Israel's monarch *{ It is the Anointed One of whom the prophet speaks. " He shall' bring forth judgement to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgement unto Truth. He shall not full nor be discouraged, till He have set judge- ment in the earth : and the isles shall wait for His law."* Such, we may suppose, were some of the individuals that composed the interesting congregation mentioned by the his- torian. Classes of such were probably present. The publi- can, the peaceful rustic, the fisherman and the agriculturist, the man of war, the profligate ; the reputable and the ques- tionable ; the spiritually minded and the worldling ; the man of strictness and the negligent ; the drunkard and the man of sobriety ; the upright and the dishonest ; the man of sordid selfishness and the generous benefactor ; the miserly and the covetous ; the liberal and those who loved God ; the misan- thropist and the philanthropic ; the youth educated in the straitest sect of Judaism and the grey-haired devotee of licenti*'' ousness, who had long cared for nune of these things ; the high, the middling and the low ; the landsman and the mariner ; the Jew, the p^-oselyte, and the uncircumcised Gentile ; the old, the middle-aged and the young ; the prosperous, the man who, though standing, ^ound it difficult to bear up against the bufft^ting and the blast of untoward events, and the ruined ; the strong and hale ; the delicate and the dying ; the erier* gelic and the indolent ; the partisan and the leader ; the man of vigorous and independent mind, and he who could scarce think for himself, — all these, and many more, presented them- selves before the Redeemer of Israel, the Restorer of man- • laaial) 42,1-4. SERMON. 269 kind ; and evinced the utmost anxiety to listen to the spirit- awing and the spirit-stirring truths (vhich they knew this Master in Israel could teach them. How animating the scene ! What thoughts and meditations may it awaken in the meditative and devout mind ! And , O ! how affecting to the soul of the Son of Man, whose reward, to which He looks, is | the bringing of many sons and daughters to glory ! to Him who had come in the name of the Lord to save sinners, to call them to repentance, to preach the remission of sins and sane- tification to the contrite and believing ! Here were there many immortal beings. All on a week-day had laid aside their wonted employments, and so intent were they upon hearing that they would take no denial ; they were almost disorderly in their haste and eagerness to listen to the Word of God from the lips of His Son. For be it observed, it is expressly stated, that it was " to hear the Word of God," that the peo- ple " pressed" upon the preacher. How thrilling the specta- cle ! How gladsome, yet how solemnizing, to witness such a mighty mass of immortal ':ei3igs sailing upon time's troubled sea, rapio'y hastening to Ihc land of their eternal destiny ! Who Will refuse to be^ delighted with the sight 1 Who does not expect that the blessed Jesus will most cordially re- spond to their cry for * the bread of life V Who is not con- fident that He will not disappoint them, but will show them that He is able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him % " A nd it came to pass, that, as the people pressed npori Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the Lake Gen- nesaret, and saw two ships standing by the Lake ; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that be would thrust cut a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship."* Who can imagine the untold resultsof that hallowed occa- sion ! The time of day appears to have been the morning, •Luke 1,3. 370 SERMON. , a most suitable season for religious exercises. Christ's hearers in the rigour of refreshed nature devoted the befit part of the day, before they had been disturbed with the pres- sure and cares of secular business, to the things that belong to tl^sir everlasting peaQe. What encouragement they re- ceived from Jesus ! He at once sought to gratify their good inclination and desire. He went on board of the boat of Peter ** and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.'* This shows how pleasing in the sight of God is the disposition to be taught the things of His kingdom. Christ will now providentially and by His Spirit foster everj,' aspira- tion after Himself and salvation. He did so personally in. the days of His ministry upon earth. He does so still by the agency and indwelling of that purchased Divine Spirit. He begins and carries on to maturity the good work of sancti&- cauon in the soul of man. Do we wonder at the gracious words that proceed out of the mouth of .fesus ? We must also wonder at the gracious manner in which He deals with poor sinners ready to perish. Mark how He condescended to solicit, to pray Peter for his boat that He might occupy it a little for the spiritual benefit of the people who had come to Him. Nor was the willing disciple any other than most hearf^ in seconding the views of his Divine Master. He at once cast off from his moorings or thrust out his vessel to the distance from the shore which would suit his Lord and the congregated people on the beach. Being thus removed '* a little" from the shore, the Heavenly Saviour assumed the posture tlien usual for a religious In- structor, " He sat down, anu taught the people out of the ship." What " the Word oi God" was, which our Lord on that occasion preached, we can easily understand from what is re- corded of His discourses at other times. And His word would be with power. He would teach the listening company as one having authority, and not as ihe Scribes. He woi'ld make them aware of the nature of the deadly spiritual malady of which they were the subjects, and direct them to the true Remedy in the cleansing oi' their souls from sin and their walking in newness of life. He would counsel them to SXRMON^ 271 set their affcclions on the tilings of God, and ctaM trvn worldly ambition. He would inculcate docility, love to God, and proper affection to their neighbour. Among the congregated hearers none were more attentive than the future Apostles who were in attendance. Peter especially seems to have been moved and affected. He had most cheerfully complied with the request of Jesus in respect to his ship, and, though he may have been fatigued or de» pressed with the labours of a night spent in fruitless exer- tion, he forgot all impediments in a moment at the word of Christ and became a most deeply attentive and pondering hearer. And doubtless he heard with great profit. The word of God was to Mm " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the h^art."* God never, even in worldly things and the present life, al- lows any to serve Hi^n for nought. " There is no man that hath left house or parents, brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, wh > shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasi* ing."t Not only in the keeping of the Divine Commandments is there '* a great reward'' in the internal peace, joy, and purity which this induces ; there is a natural, gracious, and a Providential tendency in such a course of conduct to lead to temporal prosperity. Such is the ordination of Him who is the Sovereign Ruler and Lawgiver in Naturt, in Grace, and in Providence. In accordance with this wise provision was the address of Jesufl to His attached friend and hearer, Peter, immediately on the conclusion of the sacred exercises in which they had been engaged, being probably the oldest and the principal man of the piscatory company, the revered Master spoke through him to botli boats' crews, *' Now, when He had left speaking. He said unto Simon, Launch out into theMeep, and let down your nets for a draught." How beautiful, how docile, how • Hebre-A'H 4, 12. t Luke 18, 29, SO. mfi ■. '^" 272 8BBM0N. I respectful, how obedient was the reply of the good fiaiherman ! He vreW knew the habits of the fish that frequented the Galilean Lake, and that night was the appropriate time for a successful catch. He and his co-partners had been disap- pointed. The whole of the preceding night they had lahour« ed and waited in vain, for they had caught no fish. The night may have been stormy, the water of the Lake may haVe *• cast up mire and dirt," and the rain of heaven may have drenched these weary and worn>out men of the sea. We read that, when Jesus in th^: morning saw the ''two ships standing by the Lake, the fishermen were gone out cf them and were washing their nets." The storm had subsided into the calm, and they, though foiled for the present, gave way neither to recklessness nor despondency. They practised that becoming care and cleanliness which may well be said to stand next in order to godliness. They would not quit or take repose until they had properly cleansed and adjusted their fishing-tackle. It was then that they were invited to join the multitude who resorted to Jesus on the shore '' to hear the Word of God." Ready, as w o may well believe, these worthy men were for rest and sleep, they hesitated not a moment, but with one consent became an attentive and a devout part of the interesting auditory of the wonderful Preacher. Shall w« not then admire the answer of their spokesman 1 Shall it not furnish us with many a salutary suggestion in the conduct that in life we ought to pursue ? Uoe"! 't not breathe the very spirit we should imbibe, and sup* ply an exampJ' most worthy of our imitation 1 Hear it, " And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing : nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net." The result of this submission i*nd compliance was a miraeu« lous draught of fishes. The humble followers of Immanuel lost nothing by their piety and devotion, their prayerful and intelligent waiting upon Him. Had they been *^ wise in their own conceit," or possessed by the spirit of the worldling, they mif^ht have concluded that it was unreasonable, absurd, ridiciUous to ask men, situated as they then were, ta attend Religious Ordinances or to mingle in public worship. But JJS- ry^ SERMON. 278 « to they vfere ftctuated by a disposition Uie opposite of all Uiit. While it is evident that they were not " slothful in business," is it not equally manifest that they were " fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." No one for a moment will suspect them of indolence, or cf making ihelr attendance u;)on the preach- ing of Christ a plea for its indulgence. But they hud a dis- position and a relish for Divine things. They were willing to seek first the kingdom of God, believing that all needful earthly good would be granted them. And that ever bounti- ful Lord, whom they strved, failed not even at once to reward them. Simon and his companions without hesitation or de- mur letdown the net in deference to the ttiandate of Him whom they called Master. " And, when they hud done this, they in- closed a great multitude of fishes : and their net brake," or was tent. While this is fraught with instruction to all men and all •ii'lstians, it is so most especially to \hoae whose business it is to minister in holy things, to watch for souls as they that must give account. Who will not admit that the qualities, here displayed by these fishermen of Galilee, wece eminently fitted to qualify them for their subsequent high and sacred calling ? Obi>erve the activity, industry, patience, assiduity, perseverance, fortitude, self-denial, trust in God, and holy simplicity which characterized them. Who does not perceive what suitable preparatives these were, and what an excellent training they indicated for the " fishers of men V* The ministers of God should apfirove themselves " in much pa- ti^ce, in labours, in wnt^hings, in fastings," as well as in many other ways. " But thou, O man of God," says the Apostle to Timothy, " follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."* Let ihe servant of Christ, who may have been visited with a long and dark night, con- sole himself with the assurance thai " the day eo~neth." And in the morning he may see Jesus, yea, though he may have toiled all the night and taken nothing, yet, let him not de- spair. For the same miraculous power, that was here dis- played over ihe fishes of the sea, can bring men, " dead in • 1 Timothy 6, 11, 274 8BKM0N. trespaases and sins/' alive into the Gospel net, ** Who hath heard such a thing % who hath seen such things 1 Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day ? or shall a nation be bom at once 1 for, as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.''* Surely the enquiry of the sublime and inspired Seer was a realizing anticipation by faith of the great fact. And ivhat enlightened Christian is not preparwl to expect the glorious era when such achie?ements shall bo effected '{ Let the modern missionary and faithful minister of Christ rejoice that a reaping-time of joy will come, even though he may ** sow in tears." Hindooiam, and any oUter idolatry or superstition may fall, as if instantaneously, witlia mighty crash. Even now its foundations may be being sapped in the Christian education of not a few youths, in the imbuing of the public mind with the knowledge of the Saving Truths of God, in the leaven of the impressions and convic- tions that the exhibition of consistent and genuine Chiistianity never fails to produce. All that may be wanting is a pente> costal effusion of the Spirit of Christ to quicken the mighty mass of perishing sinners to spiritual and Divine life. Oh ! that in faith and striving earnestness of supplication the Church and the children of God would take the Heavenly Boon ! How well may we apply to either the sorrowing believer, or the labouring yet unsuccessful servant of Jesus Christ in the Gospel Ministry, the counsel of the Psalmist, ** Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart : wait I say, on the Lord."* ** In the morning," says the wise man, " sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper : either this or that, or whether they both shall beaUkegood.":!; ^''Preach the Word," said the dying Apostle of the Gentiles to his beloved son Timothy, " be instant in season, out of sea- son ; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doc- trine."§ How well may we anticipate Uiat men, who work * Isaiah 66, 8, fPaalmar, H. X Ecclesiastes n , 6» § 2 Timothy 4, 2. Iiohath mil the itionbe brought me and he great tared to thall bo nisterof e, even ny other ff with a e being B, in the B Saving I convic- [istianity apente- mighty , Oh! lion the leavenly believer, ;;hri8t in Wait on len thine g,»» says ihold not prosper : good.»'t entiles to t of sea- and doc- irho work 8EBM0N. 275 and wait as Simon and his friends did, who evince such a taste and relish for <' the sincere milk of the Word," in sea- son or out of season, " that they may grow thereby," and who will act just as their Lord directs, — ihat these men shall suc- ceed in their ministerial calling. 1 ruly the record of their piety should stimulate both those who minister, and Ihose who are ministered unto, to be ever ready for every good work, not to be easily discouraged, to avail themselves of every proper <^portunity either to hear or to communicate the Word of life, and to follow the Lord fully, walking in all His com- mandments and ordinances blameless. We are next invited to witness the wonderful effects of the presence of Christ and of the miracle wrought by Him. We have seen that the net was rent or in danger of breaking ; for it did not actually break, else the fish would have been lost. At verse 7th we read, " And they beckoned unto their part- ners, that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." They were in danger of being sub- merged. Peter in particular was affected in an extraordinary degree, " When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me ; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Verse 8). To understand something of the feelings, sentiments, and deep convictions of Peter, we should remember that he had long been a godly man. He and his brother Andrew, who first brought him to Jesus, appear to have been disciples of John the Baptist. Since the ministry of Christ began, Peter had from time to time heard Him preach, and he believed in Him as the promised Messiah. He with his brother Andrew and James and John, all of whom were now present, had been called to follow Jesus, who told them that He would make them " fishers of men." Peter had just been listening to the words of the Son of man, and they carried conviction to the conscience of the upright and solemnized disciple. He had been convinced of some special sin, of coldness in his love to God, of backsliding, of sin against Jesus. He had experi- enced a renewed,manIfestation of the Truth to his conscience. He felt mcMre than ever that Jesus was the Omniscient. After ■r 276 911M0N. the miracle of the fishes, and vtW he ship aeemed abouito sink, he took guilt to himself. * lought his sinuiloeaithe cause of the catastrophe. Ovjrw.almtd with emotion, lie exclaimed, not knowing what he said, ** Depart from qae, for 1 am a sinful man, Lord." What seriousness and simplicity do ive witness in this good man ! How contrasted does he stand with the evasive, un- candid, and carnal spirit of men in genr;ral, as respects their own fiins ! There is in the case of Peter m jre than tlie Divine manifestation of Truth to the conscience. The women uf Samaria, Nathanael, Thomas and others experienced this manifestation,, and powerfully felt that Jesus was the Omni- scient. Peter also realized this awfulidea. But he did more. He obtained such a view of the Divine purity of Christ, and of his own defiltiment, as made him heartily conclude that his proximity to his Master was the cause of ruin to himself and his bi^cthren. We may discover similar states of mind in Job and in Paul, when brought nigh to the full apprehension of the unsullied brightness of the perfections o( God, together with deep convictions of personal guilt and vileness. The Lord of the conscience and the God-man Saviour of sinners spoke comfortably to His prostrate and contrite follower. Notwithstanding the error of the utterance of Peter, Christ knew that his heart was right. It was the opposite of that of the wicked who desire the Almigthy to de- part from thm. Nothing did the humbled and repentant Peter so greatly desire as that he were meet for the society and communion of God. Accordingly we hear his Lord encour- agingly address him. " Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men." If any part of Simon's sin consisted in not having rendered that constant attendance upon Jesus that love should have constrained him to give, he'and his companions sinned no more in this respect. From that hour they relinquished their secular calling and devoted tl^mselves entirely to Christ in the ministry of reconciliation. " And, when they had brought Hieir ships to land, they forsook all and followed Him.'' (Verse 11). How admirable is the W^ord of Gk)d ! When carried home . \ i ibouiio loeMibe tion, lie om vfktt his good live, un- cU their than tlie B women iicecl thi" t|B Omni- lid more. Bt) and of that his nself and nd in Job ion of the 1^ with etviour of contrite ranee of was the hy to de- repeutant )ciety and 1 encour- )rth thou rendered luld have i no more bed their Christ in d brought !d Him." ried home »B4TBm. J77 to the understandin"' ind the heart bj the Spirit of Christ, It quickens the dead backslider, €(' ^ Who can estinio Tast throngs, wYv. Salvation, were mc r, searches, rebukes, and restores the hens, and comforts the believe dness of which many among the ipon Christ to hear the truths of ic put akers ! It is animating in no com- mon degree to contemplate a mighty mass of travellers to eternity congregated to hear what God the Lord will speak unto them. How incalculable the responsibility of the Minis* ter of Christ, who delivers the message of God to them ! How appropriate the counsel of Paul to Timothy for every such ambassador of the Cross, " Meditate upon these things ; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine : continue in them : for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."* The spirit in which we ought to hear the Word of God is impressively set before us in the text. With joy, alacrity, and self-denial we should unite with others at all proper times for this duty. We should listen ivith attention, spirituality of mind and self-application. Let us guard against judging otliers. Let us seek to obtain the saving and sanctifying manifestation of the Faith of Christ to our own conscience. Humbled, yet believing and confiding, let us turn from all sin, advance in all goodness, forsake all and follow Jesus fully. Let us sing Paraphrase 39, 2. Let us pray* What shall vre render to the Lord for all His benefits ? Thanks be unto God for His ** unspeakable gift," Christ Jesus. May we all individually. Heavenly Father, know the blessedness of the man who is both a hearer and a doer of Thy Word, " whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin ia covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquities, and in whose spirit there is no guile." May • 1 Timothy 4, 15, 16. h3 ^-^ ^w^ ^^^ \%^^ ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^cr /. 1.0 1.1 ut lU 122 111 lAO 1^ H^ ^ M 6" ► '/ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STMIT WIUTM.N.Y. 14SM (716)«72-4S03 r peas ™WFffE~"-l,.l,.-.lWi'. .* J m VRATXB. each nf US be eoabled with Thy holy senrant to aay, " How £recioii0 also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God ! how great I the sum of them ! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake» I am still whh Thee.»»» Manifeit Thy Truth, Gracious God, in the convictions of our consciences that the Word read and heard is Thine, and that it is designed for our salvation. Enable us to receive the IVuth in the love of it, and to walk in it. May we dejpart from all iniquity. May we keep our tongues fVom evil, aq4 our lips from speaking guile. May we be readv for every gocxl work. While we guara against being " slothful in business^" mas' w» foe << fervent in i^irit, serving the Lord." Our earnest prayer, Lord, u, that all old things, which are evil with respect to ourselves, may pass away, and that all things may become new. And may we with a growing sense of our impurity and vileness, and of Thy infinite purity and hatred of sin, yet cleave unto Thee with full purpose of heart. To whom. Lord, shall we go hut to Thee, in whom aloqe is our hope, against whom we have sinned, and !^'>m whtMB alone we can receive the remission of our sins. O purify us. Almighty Father, unto Thyself, as of Thy peculiar people who are jealous o( all goods works. Bless all whom we should remember in supplication. Bless Thine ancient peqple, the Jews. May the tribd of Israd with the Gentile nations believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Bless our fellow*seamen of every countty and class. May they fear Thy name, and strive to convey the knovrledge of Salvation to their periphing fellow-men. Bless our own country, our Queen, her Royal Consort, the Roval Family of which they are the parents and heads, and all who are under our Sovereign and over us^ Enable us, Holy Father, to be faithAil and conscientious in the discharge of every duty, not as eye-servants, but as those who serve the Lord Christ. And, when our service in this world shall come to a close, and the TOyage of life shall have been performed, O may we be ad- mitted to th^t blessed state where all are perfectly bl^ased in • Psalm 139, 18. PIUTBR. 279 the enjoyment of God for erer. And this we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Psalm 25, 6< The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the lote of God^ and the communion of the H0I7 Ghost, be with us aU. Amen^ -., $i w ^\ nATii« »l ELEVENTHSUMDAY. Let us begin fhe worship of God If singing to His pnise inPsfdmS^S* liOt us pray* We adore Thee, Heatenly Father, as the God of all goodp ness. Thou art infinite in wisdom, power, and all pmee« tion. We rcgoiee in Th j glorious character. How marvel^ lous are Thy condescension ^nd kwe to a guilty and ruined world ! May we be partakers o€ the benefits which flow from the mis^n and merits of Thy Only«begotten and weU Beloved Son. We would now by faith » behold the Lamb of 06d that taketh away the sins of the world.*' Sec^d forth the Spirit of Thy Son into our hearts that we may be quickened tb newr ness of life in Christ. We feel that we need such a Savbur, who can both pardcm our sins and renovate our namcn. Blessed be Thy name, the blood of Thine Anointti On* cleanseth from all sin. His «tonraient is edentate Ibr tU sinners who apply to Him. May we be deansea htm ail our pollution for His sake, and hate the guflt of all our ^s removed. Justify us freely by Thy grace thnN^ the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. And implant m our soul, Thou God and Father of our Lord and Savkiur, the righteousness that dwells in Hkn. By a vital union with Him may we participate in aU Uie principles of H&i hedinesf. May the meekness, gentleness, purity, love, long-sufferinc, patienoe, self-denial, and unwearied beneficence, which w exhibited in our nature and on our behalf, be reflected in us. May we receive out of His fulness, even grace for grace. H4 282 PBATSB. Pour out upon us, Thou Giver of all good, a spirit of true and earnest devotion* Enable us to cease from all profane- ness, and to attain to the happiness of those who are prayer- ful. Teach us to ** pray without ceasing." With Thee is the residue of the Spirit. It was Thy grace that taught the Disciples in the storm to cry to Jesus for help and safety ! So teach us in like manner to trust in the Lord at all times. When in darkness, may we, like them, know how to address the cry of our humble supplication to our King and our God. How full of consolation tc the child of God is the Word of Inspired Truth I Thy promise is to every such one, " He, that keepeth Thee, will not slumber. Behold He, that keep- eth Israel, shall neither clumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper."* Adored be Thy name, Almighty Parent, for the abundant consolation whieh such assurances supply to the Christian mariner. Oh ! make each of us to be in very deed of this class. May we be followers of Christ in faith and love* All Thy Promises are in Him Yea and Amen. And by our uni(Hi with Him we shall realize the felicity that flows from Thy everlasting love to His ransomed people. It is our delight to call to remembrance upon this Thy Sacred Day that the Lord is with us. How happy are they who have an Omnipotent and sympathising Saviour with them ! And such, blessed be the God of Salvation, has every contrite and believing seaman. We triumph in ^e conviction that our Redeemer rules the winds and the storms and waves of the sea. Though He may seem tojbe asleep, our rcgoicing is that no real evil can befal any who are His. May we be so* And, when the tempests, and voyages, and trials of this our mortal life are closed, may we be among the glorified throng of every kindred and clime, of landsmen and '' those who go' down to the sea in ships," who shall dwell for ever with the Lord. , Be graciously present with us. Holy Father, in our solemn exercises upon the present occasion. May Thy Word be ac- companied with saving power, with Thy effectual blessing to our souls. Bless all our fellow-seamen and feUow-wor* *F8alm 131,3 &c. Isolemn beac- flessing r-wor- SEAUOK. 38d shippers at sea or on shore Uiis day. Multiply grace, mereyy love and peace unto all Thy children. Remember for good the seed of Abraham. May they become spiritually the children of Thy friend, the father of the faithful. Have mercy upon all mankind. Listen to the voice of our humble and fervent prayer, and graciously accept of us through Jesus Christ our Only Saviour. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom^ and the power, and the gloryj for ever. Amen. Let us sing Psalm 103, 11. Read Isaiah 32. SERMON. Tou win find the subject of discourse in Matthevr VIII., 23-27. It is evident from the context that our Lord at the time referred to had been exceedingly occupied. This was occa- sioned by the multitudes that repaired to Him for the remedy of their bodily sufferings or on account of their spiritual ne- cessities. The Divine Physician and the Spirit-anointed Teacher, whose advent prophets had long ago predicted, the glories of whose reign inspired Psalmists in anticipation had sung, and for whose day the pious of every age had longed, was at length manifested in the person of the Man Christ Jesus. And though, when He came to His own, His own received Him not, He yet proved that the asseveration of the a84 vimxoir. ■ublime Sefer woulcl be Terified, '* He shall not fail nor b« iUeeouragedi till He hare set judgement in the earth: ami the Mes shaU wait for His law.''* c It is at once thrilling in the highest degree, and intense^ aieeting, to read of the progress of the Redeemer about ^m Griod of His career. Tlie appreciation also, in which He wis Id by rest numbers of those who felt that they were sinners ready to ppriAb, is grateful and animating. Surely it wm,^ eladden the heart of the Christian, and tend to call forth lua DMt affections to that Blessed Saviour who lored him and gave Himself for him, to listen to evangelist after erangelisl depitMng the scenes, that were then enacted, in such state- ments as the following, " And Jesus went about all CMile^ teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gosnel of the Kingdom,^nd healing all manner of sickness and all ciauier of disease "among the people. And His fame went through- out all Syria : and tiiey brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments^ and those that were possessed of devils, and those that were lunatic^ and those that had the palsy ; and He healed them. An<^ tiiere followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and frcmi Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. And, seeing the multitudes. He went up into a mountain ; and, when He was set. His disciples came unto Him. And He opened His mouth, and taught them."t Tliis introduces us to the longest of Christ's vt^ corded discourses. His Sermon on the Mount, the most com* prehensive and Uie most minute cf all sermons, the sermon which for simplicity, wei^t, power, clearness, and i^iritual- ity, has no parallel. Reiser, go through attentively and with reflection that choicest of productions, and then say if you cannot sympathize with the feelings of the mighty throng of prcrfbundly attentive listeners who first heard the Sermon, when of them it is said, <* And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine i For He taught them as one having auUiority, and * Isaiah 42, 4. t MatUiew 4, S3, fcc. ■IRMON. 285 t Mr be Atte ttbis miers i ( t Wfflff i khi8 * gelirt itato- ililee,^ Dftte Bnner DUgh- teople thoae e^ftnd tiiere , and , and went dples aught 1*8 re^ com* rmon itual- with you ng of rmon, Jesus t His and not as the Scribes."* Another of the addresses of the Ore«t Prophet of the Church of God is thus prefaced, *' In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumer- able multitude of people insomuch that they trode one upon another. He began to say unto His disciples first of all."t And in connection with our text we read of " multitudes/' of <* great multitudes" who had followed Jesus. At the close of a day> upon which it is truly computed that Jesus had per- lomed more miracles than had ever been accomplished by any preceding prophet during a life-time, we read, " When then even was cOme, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with deinUs : and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick." (v. 16.) Such was the dav upon tfaecTening of which Jesus embark- ed with His disciples to cross the Lake of Galilee. ReadY, as He always was, to instruct the ignorant, to comfort the sorrowing, and to save with an eyerlasUng salvation the peridiing children of men, His human nature, which, though sinless, was frail, required repose. It was no doubt partly to secure this indispensable rest and refreshment that Jesus in- timated to the eager crowds His desire that they should with- draw for the present. This was done by His giving command- mant to the Disciples ** to depart to the other side." Havinf met the necessity of every applicant and ministered the bread of life everlasting to every hungering listener. He left His Disciples to dismiss the people. He had fulfilled His pur- poses of grace and mercy to the immortal beings tnere assembled in so far as was needful then. And He hastened to embark on board of the boat which was to conduct Him to the locality where His Divine uower and goodness were to be very conspicuously manifested. While the individuals, men- tbned in the verses preceding our text, detained Him a little, His attendant ministers hs^ succeeded in persuading the throng to dismiss, with the exception of those persons who re- solved to accompany Jesus and the Disciples, for we are told that ** there were also with Him other little ships."t We • Matthew 7, 28, 29. ' Luke 12, 1. Mark 4, 36. \ 286 siftMOir. then read, (r. 23), " And, when He was entered into a ship> His disciples followed Him." If we associate the wonderful restoration of the demoniadenying, on ihd alert, wakeful, advancing in love, spirituality, and habits of beneficence. ** Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business,"! said the child Jesus to Joseph and Mary. This business was con- stantly present with Him and before Him. Who does not already see that in the instance before us He kept it steadily in view, so that, even when He was " asleep" in the boat, we may with propriety say. He lost not sight of it for a moment. How illustriously He glorified His Father even hy His bein^ asleep will yet farther appear as we advance I O let His friends and disciples drink deeply at the well-spring of the Word and Spirit and Communion of God, of the con8ec7a- tion and ceaseless devotion to the Divine glory which they may here observe exhibited in the Head of uie Church. How interesting to every one who loves Immanuel, and how (M^^iaUy interesting to ti^ Christian mariner and traveller, must the Lake of Galilee always remain ! We could almost fancy that, when there shall be *' a new heaven, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," that hallowed scene shall delight the ranswied inhabitants of a renovated world. Aud here I cannot deny myself the pleasure of quoting what were the sensations and reflections that were experienced by • I Corinthians 9, 2r. t Song of Solomon », 9, X Luke 2, 49. ■BBMOir. a bold, an enterprising, and a luccessAil lailor on witneittng its honoured waters. ** Lilce a mirror, it lay embosomed in its rounded and beautiAil, but treeless hills. How dear to the Christian are memories of that Lake ! The Lake of the New Testament I B!es>ed beyond the nature of its element, it has borne the Son of God upon its surface. Its cliffs first eehoed the glad tidings of Salvation, and from its villages the first of the Apostles were gathered to the Ministry. Its placid water ' and its shelving beach $ the ruined cities once crowded with men, and the everlasting hills, the handiwork of God,— all identilV and attest the wonderful miracles that were here per* formed— miracles the least of which was a crowning act of mercy of an Incarnate Qod towards His siiiAil and erring creatures Near by was the field where, according to tt'adition, the Disciples plucked the ears of corn upon the Sabbath. Yet nearer wos the spot where the Savionr fed tlie famishing multitude ; and to the left the mount of Beatitudes, where He preached His wonderful compound of wisdom and love."* One feature of the natural histpry of the holy Lake was, that it was subject to sudden and terrific storms. An unex- pected squall frequently endangered the lives and property of those who sailed upon its waters. I'he dread hurricane would come down from the surrounding hills, imperilling the safety of every bark on the surface of the Sea. For such a tornado the fishermen of Galilee had been able to make but little prepara» tion. They had not the aid of the famed barometer, whose omens might indicate the approach of danger. And what could they have done, had they even received the most cer- tain prognostications 1 We have seen the watchful and masterly commander of the well qualified sea-boat with an energy and skill that excited admiration, setting his ship in order that he might be ready for the storm which he saw was approaching with fearful rapidity. And we have read cf the practised eye of another iVi aster detecting from the dreadfully rapid falling of his weather-glass, while as yet the whole sea around was perfectly calm, that the raging and destructive * " The Dead Sea and the Jordan, by Lieut* Lynch. I tiMMing ')med in &rtbthe he New it^ithai t echoed efiratof id water ' dedwith od,^all liere per- fact of erring >rding to pon the r fed the atitudes, dom and ke was, n unex- )perty of ie would safety of nado the prepara- whose [id what lost cer- iful and with an ship in saw was d of the eadfuUy hole sea itructive ch. ■IBMON. f89 tempest was impending at the rate of a speed that threatened to engulf his bark and crew in the abyss beneath. To the sur- Cise of eren the experienced mariners every sail was ordered be instantly taken in. But, before this operation was com* pleted, the hurricane had overtaken the noble ship, which after every precaution could scarce sustain the onset and the gale. All would certainly hare perished, had not the praiseworthy shipmaster with his intelligent and scrutinizing glance read correctly the omened language of his glass. But the boatmen, with whom Jesus was crossing the Lake of Galilee, though destitute of the advantages of modem dis- covery and science, were yet safe. They had on board their HUle vessel One whose presence was a pledge and a guarantee aiii all would be well with them. How appropriately misht they by faith have n<^osted the sacred strains of Israel's In- spired Psalmist, '' My help cometh from the Lord, that made heaven and earth. He ivill not suffer thy foot to be moved t He, that keepeth thee, will not slumber. Behold, He, that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; he shall preserve thy soul."* What, though the storm might rage and the tempest be unprecedented ! They had not only the promises of 6od to His Israel to sustain their faith and animate their courage ; they had the Jehovah of Israel Himself along with them and as one of themselves, that elorious Personage of whom they had read and heard in the lofty lay of the enrap- ^ tured prophet who drew upon all the poners of language the ' most sublime to convey some idea of Him of whom he spoke, " For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is eiven : and the. government shall be upon His shoulders ; and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Ever* lasting Father, the Prince of Peace."t But, though these attached and genuine Disciples belicTed in Jesus as Uie true and promised Messiah, their knowledge * Psalm 131. t Isaiah 9, 6. I ^0 lERMON. jind understanding of His peculiar character and attributes were neither very extensive nor very accurate. Their faith consequently was neither very strong nor very specific. Their love and personal regard for their Master were in advance of their faith. At a much later period we hear Him saying to them, as if at once to reprove them for their slowness and to im^i them to growth and vigour, *' Let not your heurt be troubled : ye believe in God, believe also in Me."* To bear this in mind will the more readily enable us to apprehend exactly the position and spiritual stage of these honoured friends of " the Prince of Life." We will then be able to read with more zest and profit the narrative before us, *' And, when He was entered into a ship, His Disciples ^followed Him, and behold, there arose a great tempest in the Sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves : but He was asleep. And His Disciples came to Him, and awdce Him, saying, Lord, save us : we perish. And He saith unto them. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith V' How true a picture have we here of many a weak believer in the time of distress ! How frequently do the children of God fail to remember who is with them ! They look father to the elements of their sorrow and anxiety than to Him who assigns and controls and sanctifies to them the afflictive dis^ pensatiops of Providence. Observe one great cause of this sinful weakness is, they forget or are not sufficiently ac- quainted with the character of Christ, ttie Ruler in the allot- ments of life, the Governor of all things. Let the child of God with holy confidence and humble faith learn to say, *' My Beloved is mine, and I am His." What ill then can possibly befal me while under His guardiansh^) and guid- ance, while cleaving to Him in the path of duty with full purpose of heart 1 True, the disciple may not know his Lor4 Its be ought to know Him, may not know Him as Om- nipotent and full of love and con^passion. The Disciples in the storm did not do so. Hence their trouble. And often do the disciples, who are now called to endure the storms that wUl assail the voyagers who are sailing with Christ over life's ^ John 14.1. aSRMON. 291 troubloiM sea, lose sight, by reason of unbelief and smallness of faith, of their Lord's ability and willingness and determi- nation to do for them exceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think. Had the boatmen on Uie tempestuous Lake perceived with the eye of sense that they were guarded and preserved by legions of holy angels, they might have felt comforted and peaceful and assured of safety. But, had their eye of faith been piercing and unclouded, they would have discovered that tliey had with them and for them the Lord of angels, the Jehovah of Hosts, the Keeper of Israel. In tbe hour of trial, and when calamity threatens to swallow us up, O let every Christian know in whom he has believed, and know who his Lord is, and confide fully in Him. Hap- py, thrice happy are all they who thus trust in the Loi^. " Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."* The Christian seaman in particular, who has fled for refuge to Him who is " the hope of Israel," may derive comfort and confidence from the incidents of this little voyage of Jesus and the Disciples. Let the believer of " those who go down to the sea in ships*' realize the presence, love, wisdom and power of hb Lord. Let him be strong in faith. His Redeemer is with him as he ploughs the stormy Ocean. And, though there may arise " a great tempest in the sea insomuch that the ship shall be covered with the waves ; or though he may be well-nigh overwhelmed or submerged by any other personal or relative distress, by the sufferings of the body or the sorrows of the soul, yet let him rejoice. He knows in whom he has believed. Let him listen to the consoling proph- et, " And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest."! What unspeakable peace may the believing voyager derive, when his sins are brought vividly to his remembrance by the perils of the deep, by the Providence of God, from the teaching of the Disciple whom Jesus loved. *' And, if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous : And He is the Pro- • Psalm 27, 14. t IsBiah bt, 2. 8»2 •IBMON. pitiation of our sins $ and not Tor ours only^ but also for the sins of the whole world." Such a mariner knows well that the drift of all Holy Scripture is to teach them to " sin riot.*' Yet, alas ! his own conscience convicts him of innumerable and of aggravated sins ! His resource then, his only and infinitely adequate resource, is in his Advocate and Propitia- tion. And, oil I how well does it become ** Jesus Christ the Righteous" to be the contrite sinner's Advocate, to plead his cause before a just and righteous God ! It was for such He ▼ailed His Deity and Divine glory, became man, humbled Himself so that He sailed and slept, and lived a man while yet as man He fulfilled all righteousness, and after His seal and love had induced Him to do all this. He laid down *His life. He died a propitiatory sacrifice for man, guilty man. Does the noble and generous benefactor take live- liest interest in the individual upon whom he has bestowed his prayers, his means, his anxieties, his affections, his all 1 Oh ! how well may the Son of Man be an Advocate for the saved sinner, seeing that He loved him with an everlasting love and purchased his ransom and renovation with the price of His own precious blood. But again listen to that voioe of the Omnipotent, " Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and there is none else-"* And is this the voice of Him who is «< the Offspring of David V* It is. But, while it pertains to the office of faith to believe in His true and essential humanity, faith must also recognize the blissful truth that the Man Christ Jesus is Head over all things for the Church, angels, principalities and all heavenly powers being subject unto Him ; and farther that in the nature of man this glorious Head and Representative claims and receives all and more than all its primeval honour and dignity from the August Father of Creation. This is intimated by the Psalmist, *' Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands : Thou has put all things under His feet ; All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of ^ field ; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths * Isaiah 45, 29. •IRMOir* 299 o£ the seas."* It is in the person of the Man Christ Jeini rather than in that of our first Federal Head, of the second rather than of the first Adam that we must look for the iln« plementing of this grandeur of position. Especialljr is thli tlie case as respects the sea and its inhabitants. How full of grace and tenderness, as well as of fidelity and truth is the adorable Redeemer ! While He fails not to^ re- prore what is culpable in His followers, He fails not on the other hand to compassionate their infirmity and dispel their fears. He verifies the statement of the Psalmist, ** Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame ; He remembereth that we are dust.'*f So it was with the Disciples in the storm. We read that they came to Him, saying. Lord, save us ; we perish. And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith 1 Then He arose, and rebuked the wind* and the sea ; and there was a great calm." The question might here be propoeed and discussed whethef the Spirit of evil, ** the Prince of the power of the air" sue" eessfuUy employed his agency in raising this storm. Marking the unprecedented success of our Lord's mighty and miracu- lous works, the multitudes that were repairing to hear the Gospel from His lips, and the prospects that appeared to be opening of new triumphs on the other side of the Sea of Gennesaret, the Leader of the Hosts of accursed and potent spirits, dreading that his empire and sway might immediatehr be annulled, may have resolved to put forth a stupendous ef<* fort to destroy " the Holy One of God." Gathering what his object was in going to ** the country of the Gergesenes,'^ the deliverance and restoration of the demoniacs, especially of the unhappy subject of whom a legion had taken possession^ Satan may have resolved to use his mightiest exertions to swallow up and sink in the depth of the Sea the boat in which Jesus sailed. To what extent the exercise ot such a power may be tolerated in the mighty head of the rebel creation, of be consistent witk the wisidom of the Most High, we knotr * Psnim 8, 6, 8. t Psalm IDS, 1S,14« 294 8£BM0N. _ not But here is the important truth that should alwavs be borne in mind ; he is after all only allowed to go so fiur as will si^serve the purposes of God. Be it, if you wUly that the great Dragon is permitted by his knowledge, skill, power, and the aid of his subordkiates, to produce at any given time, or in any giren way, a storm ; and this may not11>e mo*^e mysterious than that he should be allowed to imiict calamity, disease and insanity upon man, still it is ultimately Jehovah that << commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind," as it is He who suffers and directs the opera- tion of the disorders of mankind. And it^^ should also be im- pressed upon the understanding and the heart that Jesus not only rules in Providence and sways the sceptre of universal empire, all creatures and things being subject unto Him in His capacity of Head of the Church, which He has purchased with His Mood, but moreover that since His advent in the flesh, since the ejection of the evil spirits by His word after His incarnation, the inroads of Satanic spirits upon humanity as to demoniacal possession and their ability in general have been restrained. They dread most exceedingly the Son of God who, they are aware, will one day summon them to His bar of judgement and award them to be for ever incarcerated in the prison-house of Hell, to be restrained from evil aggies- lAons upon this world and to be made to endure more direful punishment than previously they had experienced. We thus can understand one reason of their protest against the Saviour as arising from their fears of immediate imprisonment and fulness of the penalties to which they are doomed, llie devils, we are told, " cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God 1 Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time V (v. 29). What an attesta- tion have we even here of the Sovereignty and Supremacy of the King of Zion ! We thus perceive that the question, whether " the prince of this world" was the agent in the storm that seemed to bid fair to swallow up both Jesus and His disciples, is of very minor importance. '* This is the only place in our Saviour's life in which it is said that He was asleep, and is just the very occasion on which we might have supposed Uiat He sXRMoir. 295 iviour's the He should hare remained awake. But Jesus sometitnes sleeps in'order to try the faith of His disciples, and to lead them to feel their constant need of His watchful care." The Chris- tian will in all circumstances find perfect peace and entire satisfaction in the assurance that " all things are yours ; whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come ; all are yoyrsj And ye are Christ's ; and Christ is God's.*'* We are often, perhaps, struck at the slowness of the Disci- ples to believe all and fully that with which we see they ought to hare been familiar. An instance of this kind we have in the text. << But the men marvelled, saying. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the Sea obey Him !" (v. 27). Now why, we may ask, were they so as- tonished 1 Had they not already seen miracles in abundance performed by their Master 1 And were not some of them as really grand as that was which they now beheld ? — ^that, fur example, of the cure of the Centurion's servant "without the personal presence of Christ 1 Had Jesus ever been baffled or any thing been seen that was too hard for Him ? And yet the surprise of the seafaring friends of the Messiah was natural. They had never heard of or seen or imagined such a suspension of the laws of nature as that before them. IVhat would add to their wonder and admiration was the instan- taneousness of the calm that followed the storm. Usually after a heavy gale there is a great swell before the sea is calm. But here was a man who by His own authority stilled the tumults of the elements and changed the infuriated Sea into the peaceful unruffled Lake. There was here no del- egated power. The omnipotent God Himself was here pres- ent and had performed the miracle, had issued His mandate to the winds and waters, which without delay or demur ren- dered promptest obedience to their Lord. AH this conspired to produce amazement in the minds of the fishermen of Gal- ilee. Their faith required expansion, enlargement, vigour. Had it been more matured, they would have recognized in * 1 Corinthians 3, 2i, &c« m PBATfiB. Jews of Ntiareth thft Jehcnroh who of old ** rode upon « eheruli w^ did fly ; yea He did fly upon the wings of the wind.'** « To him that hath shall be given.'* So it happened in the case of the Disciples of Jesus. They were true men. They had gi?en themselves heartily unto the Lord. We have seen that their love was in advance of their faith. Their love would impel their faith, for faith works by love. How happy are all they who love the Lord Jesus Glirist ! They are so even in darkness and distress. In every season of difficulty let the followers of the Lamb pray. Even though weak in faith, their prayer will never be rejected. Their Redeemer will interpose for them. On His Mediatorial throne He ever lives to plead, intercedes for them, and present* their prayers. Hearers of the Gospel, oh ! obey the caH, sent yon in it, tO' jpepeht, believe, and be saved. O love the Lord whose com- passion is commensurate with His power to save. Kesolve !» His strength cheerfully and cordially to submit to Christ, to deny self, take up the Cross daily, and follow the Captain of Salvation until finally you have gained the Land of up* rigbtness and glory. Let us sing Psalm 43, 7. Let us pray. We again draw nigh unto Thee, Father of mercies and God of all grace, in the Name of Thy Only and Well-Beloved Son,^ leseeching Thee to bless to us the truths and lessons of Thy Holy Wora. Ob I let none of us fail to become of the genu- ine Pisciples of Christ. May we supremely love Him and s& believe in Him as to know Him in the power of His Salva- ti(m from sin and in the progressive renovation of His Spirit unto all that is good and well-pkasing in Thy sight. We entreat Thee, O Lord, in behalf of Thy servants who we ealled to labour in the Ministry of the Blessed Gospel of Thy Son. May they be men of nrayer, of strong and en- larged faith^ with much love to Thee shed abroad in their * Fsalm 18, 10. VSATEB. 297 hearts. Maj they be faithful, self^enying, docile, and able men, apt to teach. And, Oh ! may they have abundant iuc- ccM in their holy work. May the Word from their Hpa be felt by unnumbered multitudes to be, not the word of man, but the Word oi the Living God, a Divine treasure committed to earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be man« ifestly oS God. ivlay Thy servants be honoured both to save themselves and those who hear them. Bless all who are favoured wi/h Christian privileges. Bless our Country, our Queen, and her Royal Consort, with the in- teresting Koyal Family which Thou hast entrusted to their charge. Bless all our fellow-subjects and fellow-f eamen. Bless all over us in lawful authority. Regard with Thj favour our friends, benefactors, and well-wishers. Forgive our enemies. Compassionate a world of perishing sinners* Graciously accept ol us through Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Paraphrase 29, L The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Ibve of God, and Uie communion of the Holy Ghost, be with ua all. Amen* i2 VAAlriB. rWELFTH SUNDAY. Let lu begin the wonhip of God by lingiog to Hit praiee im Paraphraie 46, 1. Let ua pray. Almighty and Most Merciful t'ather, ire adore Thee ai thft Holy One of Iirael* Praised be Thy Name, we are for the sake of Thy Blessed Son permitted and encouraged to draw nigh unto Thee with confidence, lolre, and rererence* III Jesus we have boldness both to supplicate and f^rt tlutnki unto Thee, the God and the Giver of aU good. We would this day ayail ourselves m the graee that is through Christ Jesus and unite our humble devotion witfi the serapUm who " rest not day and night, saying. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and Is, and is to come » We desire. Heavenly Father, to give gloty unto Thee for all Thy goodness to us. We praise Thee for '< the Holy Scriptures," and all the means of Salvation with which we are favoured. May we sincerely and strenuously endeavour to '^sin not." Alas ! our own consciences cpnviet us of innumerable sins, many of them against light and the sUivInn of Thy Spirit. Lord, have mercy on us and renew Us to all holiness in the image of Thy Anointed Son. We plead guilty before Thee, O Thou against whom we have sinned. We dare not do otherwise. For our own hearts cfondemn us, and Thou art greater than our hearts and knowest all things. Our consolation is that the contrite sinner has "an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." O how well does it become this great High Priest, who can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, to intercede for the repentant sinner. It was for such He came to this world. For such He fulfilled His mission of mercy and restoraition. For sdch He vailed His Deity and Divine glory, became obedient unta death, fulfilling all righteousness ak the Representative of HJ0 800 PSATBS« people and gifing Himielf a ransom for their lins. May we naTc the faith and love that will enable us to say truly, ** And He is the Propitiation for our sins." We rejoice, Holy Father, in Thy compassion in having furnished us with such an All-sufficient Saviour, and that He pleads with perfect iuecess on behalf of every humble disciple what He has done as *' Jesus Christ the Riehteous,*' and what He has endured as '' the Sin-offering" of His followers. how affecting is tiie plea I May we learn esperimentally how powerful and all-prevatting it is on our behalf. We implore Thy rich blessing. Thou God of all goodness, upon the exercises in which we are now to be engoj^d. Ac- cept in the Beloved our devotion. And may we meditate upon the marvellous power, wisdom and loving care of the Good Shepherd of the sheep with great delight and profit. Bless all our friends and fellow -worshippers this day. May the Lord of the Sabbath impart to them the holinesi which the Sabbath has been given to promote. Compassion- ate the ignorant,, the profane, and all who^are out of ihe Wav. Sanctify the afflQctions of the seed of Jacob. And overrule for their everlasting good the trials of many who have not yet become wise unto salvation. In an especial manner we commend unta Thee all mariners, and those who are connect- ed with the sea* May they be touched by the constraining love of Christ to obey His commands. May they yield thema selves tu Him as His ransomed children- And the glory we wUl ascribe to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in Heaveni hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Tl^ will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : for Thine is the king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Let ui sing in Psalm 135, 4. Let uf read Luke 18. IBBMOir. • ERMON. 801 Tou will find the subject of discourse in Matthew XIV. 22 —33. From the narratiTe of St. John we learn that the multitude, who had participated in the miraeulous repast upon the five barley loaves and two small fishes, were resolved to take JMUf by force and make Him a king. With this small supply He had fed five thousand men besides women and children. Al^ these had eaten abundantly and been satisfied. Twelve baskets, full of fragments or broken meat, had afterwards been gathered by the Disciples, from which it is evident that all had enjoyed great plenty. *< Then those men," says the Apostle, ** when tihey had seen the miracle tliat Jesus did, said. This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world."* Excited by temporary admiration and convictions, impa- tient of the Roman yoke, and longing (or their expected Messiah, who, they supposed, would not only restore their in* dependence, but would elevate them to the highest superiori- ty as a nation, the multitude before us, convinced that Jesus was the predicted Saviour, and concluding that an excess of modesty prevented Him from asserting His rightful claims and, sovereign dignity, resolved that they would employ a little firiendly constraint in order that He might assume what they considered His proper position. With the power of working miracles, which their Benefactor possessed, they doubted n<^ that He could overcome and suppress every enemy. But He, who knew what was in man, and- who was the Wisdom of God, was well aware both of the error t)f their carnal sentinKnts respecting the King of Israel, and of the unbroken enmity of their hearts to the things of the Spiritual Kingdom of God. He at once therefore determined to pre- vent the farther attempting to carry out the proposal, and also to address rebuke and instruction to the persons who wished to act in such a manner, in the sixth Chap, of John we have recorded our Lord's conversation with the people who cune • John s, 24. 802 ■iiMoir. to Capernaum seeking for Jeaui, in whieli Uie Dirine Teacher ■ifla and separates between the precious and the tile, the worldling and the humble child of God. From what we know of the Apostles, we may conclude thtt they would not have been unwilling to see their Mtfster obliged to aTOw Himself in His kingly capacity in the man- ner intended by the multitude. Though men of a itrf dif- ferent character, thev sympathised not a little with the na- tional pride and ambition which actuated those men who did eat of Uie loaves and were filled. The one class was actuated by that love of the world which cannot consist with the love of the Father in the soul, the other were regenerated children of God. This was very stirkingly shown at the time when many of those, who had been professing disciples of Christ, went back and walked no more with Him* **Then said Jesus unto the twelve. Will ye also go away 1 Then SimOn Peter answered Him. Lord, to whom shall we go 9 Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus answered them. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil 1 He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son c€ Simon, for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the tw<^lve.»'» Wh n He, whose kingdom is not of this worlds intended to disap|Oint the plans of selfish and designing men, we read, " And straightway Jesus constrained His Disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Hito unto the other si.'o. w'n^k He sent the multitudes away." Wt learn from the par Vitri j . ^ sago in Mark (6, 45), that Bethsaida was the town viiic; the Disciples were to set out in their boat. *' And straight- way He constrained His Disciples to get into the ship, and to go to t^e o^her side unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people." V.'c lo?rn from St. Luke that the Apostles had been with their Lo *«^- in a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida, (9, 10 ;> This dessert Mrns probabl} uistant a few miles from Bethsai- da, and seuaratol from it by some bay or arm of the Sea * John 6, 6r flbc. / •iiMOnr. 309 Teacher ▼ile, the lude thtt > Mtfster the man- Terf dif- the na- who did actuated the love children ae ivhen r Christ, hen said n Simon >f Thou re Bure^ Jesus one of son of one of snded to reread, to get vniCtA traight- and to way the ad been y called iethsai* the Sea running ud into the land. It was this water thui Jesus now eojoireil His Disciples to cross in their boat that they mifht I ) .< V ih '*ity. In seeking to account for the evident unwilN Uifjtiest.' i-t tlie Apostles to leave their Master and to lUlow Hi I A to dismiss the vast company now in attendance, we mi^nt suggest that they did not wish Him to be oblige 1 to walk by land to thn town, a distance of from three to six milere obun- )w Him : they not the voice \j within, isible, no ate them vely they ih will be ified unto Father's laded the t seen by ■ead/' on le Son of me with tie must gressors. rould be re. His long for « And, ipinto a » come, t impor- hristian, jed with ;ements, society tinually *it alone Igorated by intercourse with God. Observe it is the duly of secret prayer that is here exhibited and taught. No public devotion, no religious zeal, no pious activity in promoting gocd can compensate for this essential element of spiritual life and prosperity. The more we may be occupied by these, the more need have we to secure time for reflection, meditation, and closet communion. None can plead justifiably the calls of business, not even the necessities of perishing sinners who need to have the Gospel preached co them, as a reason for omitting and neglecting secret converse with our Heavenly Father. Who can be compared with the Redeemer of men as to the crowds of immortal beings that repaired to Him, and the engrossing subjects of attention by which He was contin- ually solicited 1 And yet how frequently do we read of Him betaking Himself to some place of solitude, and there pour- ing out His soul unto God. How brightly do we see this image of Christ reflected in His most eminent followers f How beautifully may we see it embodied in the practice of the busiest of men and cliiefest of the ministers of the Saviour \ The beloved physician in detailing the voyages and travels of St. Paul mentions that, afler leaving Troas, ** we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul : for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And, when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and cdme to Mitylene."* There is every reason to believe that Paul in '* minding himself to go afoot" was walking in the footsteps, imitating the example of his blessed Master in tlyis seeking opportunity for devout contemplation and secret communion with God. If this practice be neglected, the grace of the Christian character in the believer will droop and be almost ready to die. It cnnnot be absolutely unknown to any real Christian, and that Christian, who has attained to most of this spirit, is the greatest in the Kingdom of God. This hallowing communion has often been most sweetly ex- perienced by some babe in Christ, some beginner in godli- ness, loving much, fervently calling upon God and making rapid progress towards perfection in the Divine life* And to • Acts 20, IS, H. 806 8ERM0K. the mature, the contrite, the deeply humble believer, it is un^ speakably precious. By such it is prized above all gifts and sublunary advantages. " But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father that is in secret ; and thy Father, that seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."* We saw that the Disciples set out from the place, where Jesus fed the multitude^ for Bethsaida. Bethsaida was situ- ated upon the Fastern shore of the Sea of Tiberias. But, while seeking to cross the creek or water that was interposed between where they had been and the place whither they wished to go, they were assailed by a sudden tempest. John says, " And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew." This hurricane caused them to steer for Capernaum on the Western shore of the Lake. How affecting the circumstances of the poor boatmen, for ** it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.'* He was on the mountain, alone with God. Thither He had re- paired after dismissing the multitude : " and, when the even- uig was come. He was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the Sea, tossed with waves : for the wind was contrary." There were two periods to which the term even- ing might be applied among the Jews. From three in the afternoon till sunset was designated evening, and from sunset till dark was also styled evening. The Jewish night was divided into four watches, which at the time of the equinox particularly would divide thus ; — the first from six to nine, the second from nine to twelve, the third from twelve to three, and the fourth from three to six in the morning. It was not till the last had begun that their Master proceeded to join the Disciples. For upwards of nine hours, during the greater part of which they had been contending with the stormy wind and the swelling waves, their little bark apparently ready every moment to be swallowed up in the depths of the tempestuous and troubled Sea. Had Jesus then forgotten them all that time 1 Had He, though at His command they had launched out into the deep, omitted to provide for their • Matthew 6, 6. 8BEM0N. 807 'i it is un<« gifts and est^ enter . pray to seeth in !e, Tvhere fvas situ^ IS. But« iterposed ler they ^t. John ind that pernaum men, for »» He had re- le even- as now ind was n even- in the I sunset ;ht was iquinoz o nine, ) three, ras not oin the greater stormy irently oC the gotten d they r their safety 1 Or was He unable to help them % Had the storm been unforeseen by Him and taken Him by surprise 1 Or were His own devotional exercises on the mountain so en- grossing th&t He had altogether lost si^ht of His faithful Inends 1 To all these interrogatories you are ready to re« turn the one encouraging reply. No. Had the faith of each of the humble seamen in the boat that was being tossed upon Galilee's angry Lake by the contrary wind, now freshened to a gale, been but so strong as fully to know Him in whom he believed as the promised Messiah, how beautifully might he have sung in the hallowing strains of Israel's inspired and regal minstrel, " I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, that made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : He, that keepeth thee, will not slumber. Behold, He, that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy Keeper ; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.*'* *' He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth : He maketh lightnings for the rain : He bringeth the wind out of His treasuries." f Let the believer then, let the Christian mariner, when " in the midst of the sea, tossed with the wo ves," remember that his Saviour is Jehovah, and that the Man Christ Jesus is " Immanuel, Lord with us." He never for a moment ceases to remember every contrite sinner, every broken- hearted, self-abased follower. Did the high-priest of Israel wear and bear upon his breast-plate, when he went into the Holy of Holies, the names of the twelve tribes 1 Our great High Priest has inscribed upon the fleshly tables of His heart the name and the temporal and eternal welfare of each hum- bled, blood-washed, Splrit^quickened disciple. For every such one He is the Advocate with the Father, for such He is " Jesus Christ the Righteous," for such He is " the Propitia- tion", infinitely adequate and acceptable for all sins. * Psalm 121. t Psalm 193, 7. 80d 8KAM0K. When the hearts of the tried attendants of Jesus were well* nieh sinking by reason of the increasing wind and foaming biflows, and were, it may be, not only doubtine, but on the ▼erge of despair, O could they but have realized the compas- sionate supplications and the all-prevailing intercessions that their Redeemer was then offering up for them that their faith should not fail, th**! they might become thoroughly spiritual, that they were not of the world even as He was not of the world, that they were His ransomed children, that they might be kept unto life everlasting ! how tvould they have admired and loved and adored Him who loved them and gave Himself for them ! How manifestly would they afterwards perceive, and how perspicuously may every Christian here perceive that the path of duty is the path of safety, thai, if the mandate of the Master be given at even to go to sea immediately, to the eye of sense, at the risk of life and in opposition to some favourite scheme, some cherished purpose, it is our most solemn obligation, our highest wisdom, our certain happiness to obey. And let every intelligent mind here observe that, if we be the children of God, if we be born from AboTe, if the root of the matter, the essence of the Divine life be in us, we will feel constrained by the love, without which there is no life, no regeneration, no adoption, by the love which is im- planted in every member of Christ, by this love of Christ, tlie principle which actuated and suided and kept from dcdly error the first Disciples, we will feel constrained to obey, to comply, to do our Lord's bidding, to render unto Him the glory that is due unto His Name. And, O Christian brethren, let us not leave or pass from this stage of the narrative without taking on a deepened, holier, and more influential conviction than we have hereto- fore attained of the importance of cultivating communion with God. Do we aspire, do we hope to be for ever with the Lord ? Shall we in the Celestial Sanctuary be ever praising Him *{ Will it be our chiefest delight, as it will be our highest honour, to commune with God, to ascribe praise and dominion and blessing to Him for ever and ever ? O I then let us even in this point of view feel the necessity of pre- paring by cultivating the habits and exercises and privileges SERMON, d09 which even now pertain to the Body of Christ, and which the example of our Divine Head so impressively inculcates. It is the unalterable law of the Kingdom of grace that « the just shall live by his faith." << I will stand," says the prophet, " upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." The instruction of the iVlan of God is applicable in every tim j of darkness and diffi- culty that may come upon the children of God, << For the ▼ision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie : though it tarry^ wait for it ; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.''* In effect the dealing of our Lord with the Apostles in the instance before us en- joins the same truth. It may be that now, *' in the midst of the Sea," when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, which would bring them somewhere about the middle of the Lake, they were ready to cry with the Psalmist, *' But I am poor and needy : make haste unto me, O God : Thou art my help and my Deliverer ; O Lord, make no tarrying."! But deliverance and comfort were nigh at hand. For we are told, " And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the Sea. And, when the Disciples saw Him walking on the Sea, they were troubled, saying. It is a spirit; and they cried out (cried aloud) for fear." Here was a striking and an unprecedented miracle. Job says of God that He " alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea."| Yet by the light, which is almost always in some degree present on the water, and by the light of the moon now probably in her last quar« ter and so visible at that hour, it being as estimated about three weeks before the celebration of the Passover, they saw a person in human form walking upon the surface of the agitated waters. What was the more remarkable as a tidal of their faith, Jesus seemed determined to pass them. Fol- * Habnkkuk 2, 1 , &c« t PBRlm ro, A. t Job 0, h. 310 8EBM0N. lowing^ the popular belief in apparitions, the Disciples " sup- ?08ed it had been a spirit and cried out. For they fill saw lim and were troubled." How relieved and joyful must they have been to hear the voice of their Master, the voice of their Beloved, the Author of everlasting consolation ; *' But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good eheer ; it is I ; be not afraid." Delighted beyond measure with this manifestation of the personal presence of his Lord, Peter with characteristic ardour and forwardness answered, " Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." There is in this incident something to blame, but there is also that which is good. There is a want of reflection, an undue putting of himself forward, a slighting of his brethren, egotistical confidence, and a desire of miraculous display when that was unnecessary. On the other hand there is deference to the authority of Jesus and an implied testimony that without His permission and warrant he ought not to attempt walking on the water and could not be successful in doing so. He evinces bold and confiding faith in the power, goodness, and wisdom of his Master. To the request of the Apostle Jesus replied by granting it. *' And He said. Come." Nor did Peter hesitate for a moment, but at once descended from the ship, *' and walked on the water to go to Jesus." Let us now mark where this believer failed. So long as he looked to Jesus and confided implicit^* ly upon Him, he was safe and continued to walk upon the Sea. The tempest was raging, the billows were dashing, the fierce wind set in commotion all the elements of nature, the Sea was roaring and the fulness thereof, yet the Disciple of Jesus was sustained and went upon the Sea as though he ha4 been walking on the high-way of the quiet land. It was only when he began to look away from his Divine Protector, whose miraculous gift had caused the water to support his body, that the Apostle b^gan to sink, '* But, when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid j and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." In this weakness of the faitli of Peter we may behold a pic- ture of the failings of the faith of any believer. The Disci* sm SIBMON. sn pie began to sink immediately on looking merely to sensible things and calculating his risk from the surges of the perilous deep. So long as his Master's word ard power and alU sufficiency were present and prominent before his mental vision, all was prosperous. But, as soon as he began to speculate about the terrific aspect of the mountain billowb, and the dangers of the sea-storm to himself, he at once began to go down. Why had he not considered all these, before he wiUi undue self-confidence requested permission to go to Jesus on the water 1 It is the will ot Christ that all should count the cost of being His Disciples before they avow them- selves His. When His service is entered upon after such deliberation, there will be more unfaltering decision and more entire devotedness in proportion to the justice with which the whole case has been weighed. And, as this is essential at the beginning, of the Christian course, so is it of vastest moment in aU the subsequent stages. Let the faith of the follower of Jesus be enlightened, deliberate, humble, and we may expect it to be sustained, vigorous, and consistent. Let the Christian always by failh look to Jesus. He, O ransomed sinner, is thy Lord, worship Him. Trust Him at all times. Then may the children of Zion sing, " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. There- fore will fj)Ot wc fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the moun- tains shake with the swelling thereof."* Even amidst the sins of God's people there is that which will show us that *' Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for His seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, be- cause ho is born of God.^f There will always be that which shows the renewed soul is one with the Saviour. Peter in^ stinctively as a new creature, in the moment of sinking, cries to his Lord. Here then is faith amidst all his weakness and looking to things sensible. He does not attempt to savehim^ self by his skLllin swimming, an Art in which, as a fisherman, * Psalm 46, 1. t John 3, 9, 312 ■XRMON. he likely excelled ; beginning to sink, he cried, laying, ** l^ord, help me." The prayer is instantly ^eard and as instohilj answered, *' And immediately Jesus btretched forth His hand, and causcht him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didat thou doubt t - i '. with new faith, love, and devotion Thomas exclaimed, *' My Lord and my God." *' After these thinss," says the inspired historian, *' Jesus showed Himself agaui to the Disciples at the Sea of Tibe- rias." This visit occurred between the second appearing of Christ to His congregated followers on the First Day of the week and that promised discovery of Himself upon a moun- tain in Galilee for which they were waiting. While looking with longing expectation for the time of this interview, Uie Disciples did not hesitate to engage in those avocations by means of which they could procure for themselves, and those dependent an them, an honest main- tenance. During the personal ministry of their Lord upon earth, they were probably sustained for the most part by those who ministered of their temporal good things unto their Mas- ter. From the day upon which Peter and his associates had been favoured with the miraculous draught of fishes, when the future Apostle, profoundly conscious of the glory of Christ and of his own guilt, exclaimed, not knowing well what he said, but intimating to the unerring, omniscient, and com- passionate Saviour, a state of mind most humble and accept- able, " Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord j" to whom Jesus replied, " Fear not ; from henceforth thou shalt catch men." From that day up to the period specified in our text, we have no account of Simon and his friends follow- ing the occupations of the fisherman. In reference to the former we read, — " And, when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed Him."* But now, when they were being separated fVom the bodily presence of Jesus, when they were entering upon that experience foretold by Him, when the Bridegroom should be taken iVom them, it W93 neeemary that they should have recourse to that method •••mrf ■ II. •!.•»■ ' — — ^— .«-— i I I II * See Luke A. - 8EBM0N. 319 which in Providence was within their power for securing their livelihood as men of integrity. How apt and willing they were to pursue this course, the text aiTords a specimen. These followers of Jesus present the most perfect contrast to those who from empty pride, contemptible vanity, debadnff love of idleness, or unprincipled imposition upon others, wi» not earn for themselves by honourable labour, where that is practicable, an adequate subsistence. The Christians before us were men of an opposite stamp, they would *' with quiet-^ ness work and eat their own bread." Like the young prophets who were encouraged by EUsha to remove to an enlarged locality and secure there an improved residence by means of their own industry,* and like the Aposlle of the Gentiles, whose hands often ministered to his necessities by working at his craft, so also did these ministers of Christ with cheerfulness and alacrity betake themselves to a calling with which they were familiar, and where their hardy energy and intelligent skill would be blessed to them for all ^ngs needful and good. ** There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two other of His Disciples. Simon Peter saiUi unto them, I go a-fishing. They say unto him. We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship imme- diately» and that night they caught nothing." What a beautiful picture have we here represented to us ! How amiable do these good men appear in tiieir companion- ship. Let us draw near and scrutinize them a little. First, we have Simon Peter. We always think of him as an old and a well known friend. He is tlie leader of the little company, and the woposer of the intended fishing-trip. The next named is Thomas, called Didymus, recently so full of doubt and so painfully resolute in his unbelief that his Lord after saying to him, ''Reach hither thy linger, and behold My hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side," added, " and be not faithless, but believing." Thomas is now, however, one of this interesting group, which affords us a fine exemplification of the fellowship of saints, and which may well cause us to exclaim with the Psalmist, '* Behold _____^ * 2 Kinga 6, i. 320 SERMON. how good and how pleasant it is for brethren ^o dvireli together in unity !"• Yes. Thomas is no longer ah abscn-^ tee from the society of the Disciples. He is now in spirit and in presence, avowedly and in heart, one of them. We come then to " Nathanael of Cana in Galilee," the type of simplicity and godly sincerity, of secret communion with God, and of the public reward with which such unostentatious devo- tion is rewarded What progress do we discern in this prayer- ful and candid enquirer, since that first coming to Jesus of Nazareth, of which we read in the 1st of John ! That com- ' ing was indeed an era in his history of brighest omen. How. advanced now, as compared with what he then was, in the faith of Christ '} To the pious and energetic friend, who first informed him of Messiah, he replied, " Can there any good tkiing come out of Nazareth V* How wise, how felicitous, how instructive the answer ! *' Philip saith unto him. Come and see." He did come, he had the secrets of Ma heart re- vealed to him by the Omniscient, and now we see him the confirmed believer, the advanced Disciple.the favoured iVitness of the risen Saviour. The sons of Zebedee, we knotv, were James and John, the intimate friends of Peter and along with him the most highly favoured Disciples of Jesus. White capable of the most deeply-seated love to Jesus, they were also so distinguished for their fearless ardour and zeal that their Master designated them, *' Boanerges, sons of thunder." The *' two other of His Disciples" that yet remai|i are sup- posed to have been Philip and Andrew, both of Bethsudaneaf the &ea of Tiberias. Andrew first brought his brother Simon to Christ, and it wtts Philip who persuaded Nathanael to come and see whether Jesus were He ** of whom Moses in the Law, and the prophets, did write." Thus were they both spiritual fathers and in Christ before some of the loved brethren with whom they were now associated. Such was the circle of select and dearest friends" of whom we here read. When Peter declared his intention to " i*o a- fishing," the whole of the little band resolved to join him in his enterprise. Their number seven has been noted in con- * Fsaim 193,4, BERItbN. 321 dwell 1 absen* in spirit n. We type of ith God^ us devo- 1 prayer- Fesus of latcotn- I* How ), in the IV ho first iny good ilicitous, n, Come leart re» him the liVitnesB )w, were 3ng with White ey were Eeal that lunder." Eire sup- lida neaf 'T Simon to come the LaWj spiritual ren wiih )f Tvhom * |:o a- 1 him in nection with the Roman law requiring seven witnesses to a testament. They were to be unitedly and indiridually wit- nesses of the Death and Resurrection of their Lord. We may learn from the arrangements of those Disciples that it is good and edifying that Christians should choose and prefer each other's society, not only in the exercises of the congregation, but also in the ordinary and secular business of life. Certainly they ought to possess more of that upright- ness and diligence, without which none needs expect to prosper, than others. And certainly they have most reason to look for the blessing which maketh rich and dddeth no sorrow, when they for Christ's sake unite in pursuing their calling, preferring each other's fellowship to that of the worldling who hates Christ and His Religion. And, if they may prosper more in the things that are of this world by such connecUon, much rather may we suppose that in their Christian principles, comfort, and growth in grace, they will be benefited by such choice and preference. Let the Disciples of Christ, who would walk in His Spirit, and as followers of them who are now through faith and patience inheriting the promises, remember that they are required to aim at this. The good kingHezekiah was severtly renroved by the prophet for violating this duty of the believer. " Shouldest thou lielp the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord "i therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord."* The disregard or setting aside of this law of the Divine life may arise from timidity, the .relish for carnal pleasure, the adoption of current views and practices, a desire not to offend or to be singular, the idea of both effecting worldly gain and sufficiently maintaining fidelity to Christ at the same time, or from any similar motive. But that Chris- tian is indeed a very poor one, who fancies that " the offence of the Cross is ceased," or that he has discovered how he can both serve Christ and conform to the world, or who supposes that by conceding to the spirit of the world in some small matters he will not be accounted stiff or too particular. No, brethren ; none ever yet succeeded in such an attempt, though many, many have made it. The world is too sharp fbr such. * 2 Chronlclei 19, 2* 322 SERMON. The world will not give them the credit for which they hope* It does not allow iMm to be actuated by even sincere good intentions as to the things of Christ, but regard them with contempt except in so far as they serve the worldling's pur* pose. We ask then all humble, simple-minded, earnest Christians to seek Christian fellowship, as much as possible, in things secular as well as in things sacred. And they may rest as- sured that they will be more likely to be successful in both. We would ask fishers and all connected with fishing to do this. We would not then have the violations of the Sabbath or the substitution of the norship of Mammon on that Holy Day which, alas ! is now too common in this business, and which undoubtedly draws down the curse of the God of Holiness upon those who refuse to ' remember the Sabbath- day to kficp it holy.' And we would ask seamen and mas. ters, and aJl connected with the sea, to strive earnestly to imbibe the beautiful spirit so beautifully set forth in the text, and to aim at it, in the selection of the ship's company and in the choice of companions. There are facilities in the pres- ent day afforded for the attainment of this object which may well encourage the hopes of the Christian seaman. And we despair not of the most wonderful improvement in the char- acter of those who compose the officers and men of our Marine. Surely God in His Providence and by His gracious Spirit is able to accomplish all this. Why thenf should we despair 1 How soon may the fisheimen and the seamen be- come living witnesses for Christ and living epistles of Christ in every port and on every sea. Let us pray for such a beatific result, and let our prayer be that of faiUi, importuni- ty, and affection. Seldom or never is honest industry unrewarded with some degree of success. Unlike the gambler, the fraudulent, the unsteady, and the profligate, who may in thf» commencement or for a time seem to prosper, those who dutifully and per- severingly ply those labours, to which in Providence they are called, will be sure to succeed, in some measure at least. The children of God have tiie promises of His Covenant for the blessings of time, as well as those of eternity. The jy hope, re good sm with g'» pur- hrisUant ' in things rest as- i in both. Qg to do I Sabbath liat Holy ness, and i God of Sabbath- and maso rnestly to I the text| pany and the prea- hich may And we the char- n of our B gracious hould we samen be- of Christ or such a mportuni- ?ith some lulent, the lencement and per- they are at least, renant for lity. The •ERMON. 323 widow may be reduced to " a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse ;'' but " the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."* Or the proph- et's widow may be in great distress because ** the creditor is come to take unto him her two sons to be bondmen. But she sbf II go by Elisha's directions and borrow of her neigh- bours empty vessels not a few. And she shall pour out from her pot of oil, the only property that now remains to her, and the oil shall miraculously be so multiplied that she shall go, according to the benevolent prophet's injunction, and sell the oil and pay her debt, and live, she and her children, of the resf't So we shall find in the case of the Disciples of whom we read, *' They went forth, and entered into a ship immedi- ately, and that night they caught nothing. But, when the morning was now come, Jesus ei^od on the shore : but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat *? They answered Him, No* And He said unto them. Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore ; and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." (v. 3, 6). Thus may we again perceive the verification of the A postol- ical statement that " godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."| Let us not fail to remember that all suitable tem- poral good, all earthly blessing, that are really good for them, are covenanted to the children of God. They are promised as well as spiritual, everlasting, and heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus to th^^' ransomed and sanctified followers of the Lamb. Surely the devoted disciple of Jesus may ever rejmce in the King of Zion. Prosperity and lack of success are alike at His disposal and under His control. He is *' the Head over all things to the Church." Oh ! that we may fed the weight of the argument to be assuredly Christ's. How * I Kings ir. t 2 Kings 4, 1. t I Timothy 4, 8 824 SERMON. happy are all those who by faith are fully His. They need not have recourse to the dishonest means of the children of this world in order to secure this world's good. They ought not to be unduly anxious with respect to their personal or rel- ative necessities. Their Father knoweth that they have need of all these things. And He, who feeds the ravens and hears the young Mons when they seek their meat from Him^ andSidorns the fields with beauty for man, will verily not fail to provide things sufficient for them. He has pledged Himself to do so. He has not left us even to infer it upon'the strongest grounds. He has explicitly stated it. He has lovingly promised it in tlis Holy Word. Nothing can really injure a believer walk- ing with God, and nothing good can be wanting. The lan- guage of Scripture to such an one is. " For all things are yours ; And ye are Christ's ; and Christ is God's."* Oh ! strive then, beloved friends, to be Christians, Christians in- deed, confirmed, undoubted Christians. *' Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure : for, if ye do these things, ye shall never fall : For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour^ Josus Christ."t Nor is it essential that the disciple must be eminent or strong in order to be warranted to look for a participation in all the love and goodness that enter into the CoTenant of Re- demption. Let any of us be but decidedly and heartily for Christ, and our gracious Saviour admits us to the felicity of His called, ransomed, chosen friends. So it may be said to have been with the delightful ship's company of our text. They had no doubt learned much, and were now established in the faith of Christ. Yet they had much to learn. The style of their Lord's address to them and His designation of them is worthy of consideration. They had toiled all night and had caught nothing. The grey light of morning was now dawning, and it does not appear that they hrd any supply of provisions, not even for a single meal. Yet were they not * ) CorinthfansS, 21, 23. t 2 Peter i, lo, ii. 8KBM0N. 826 dajnU^ or down-cast. It is a well known fact that the 90st needy are often the least clamorous. We may witness it here. That these worthy men were needy no one doubts, that they had vigorously and perseveringly sought to supply themselves is evident j but they had not succeeded, no, not with all their best exertions. Shall they then give way to discontMit, mourning) despair 1 Not a syllable of such a character do we hear from their lips. They trust in Divine Providence, and the God, whom they tlius honour, will not fail to lumour them* They had spent the nieht in fruitless efforts. Oh 1 that tibeir Master were with wem t they may have sished. Former miracul&ui inte<'positions may have been thought of or mentioned. When the morning light began to appear, a soemug stranger stood on the shore, &nd with great loudness, and a power that impressed them with respect, enquired, " Children, have ye any meat V What question could have been more pdnted, more seasonable 1 Does this visitor indeed know their circumstances 9 Oh I brethren, was Ke not with them, though unseen, all night 1 •' Children," He calls th«m. The word is remarkable. It is the same as that em- ployed by John (1 Ep. 2, 12), ^little children," a term of great affection and also implying that those addressed were but beginners in the Christian race* Observe too the tractableness and docility of these good men. They replied to the question of the unknown speaker, ** Have ye any moati" any thing besides bread, any thing to be eaten with bread 1 ** No." And He said unto them ** Cast the net on the ri^ht side of the ship, and ye shall find." They immediately ac(|uieseed. They did not jHroudly demand who He was that directed them, and how He had better knowledge than they. On the contrary they at once com- plied witti His instructions, as those ^ho were willing to be taught and told what was for their benefit. How wise and remunerative their humbleness of mind was, the event strik- ingly shows. <' They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." Brethren, imitate these fishers in their exemplary spirit of persevering endeavour, trust, patience, hope, teachableness. And seek by faith to realize the presence of your Lord in the E 326 8XBM0K. nigl^t of fatiguing and seemingly fruitless work. It may be that of the trial of your principles. In the morning Jesus may stand on the shore. And the good conduct of those who have done and endured so well may be blessed to many be** sides themselves. Let the fishermen and the seamen espec- ially try and turn what our text records to good account. When disaster or want may threaten, let them still hope in God. Oh ! let them be persuaded, like the Galilean boaUnen, to choose the one thing needful, and to prefer Christ to the pleasures of sin or the gains of ungodliness, and most assur- edly may they rely upon His Providence and love for the things of the bo«iy as well as the things of the soul. He will be with them in the gales of prosperity and in tlie blasts of adversity, in the sunshine and in the storm, when surrounded by plentv or when pinched by want. Their Redeemer will make all work together for good to them. ' John was the first to discover that the speaker was Jesus. Perhaps the miraculous draught of fishes caused him to think of his loved Lord. And, when he remembered the voice, we can hear him as it were exclaiming, *' the voice of my Be- loved V* John was the Disciple whom Jesus pre-eAiinently loved. And he in return most eminently loved Jesus. We find him alone of all the Apostles standing with the mother of Jesus at the Cross when the sword was piercing through her soul. Peter and John were most endeared friends. They answered admirably to each other. The one was the bolder and readier, the otl^r the calmer and more meditative. They were most intimate and chosen associates. See them run- ning together on the morning of the resurrection to the sepul- chre, wlien told by Mary Magdelene that tlie body of Jesus was not there. Peter is the first to start, but the other, being younger and fleeter, is the first to arrive at the sepulchre; '* yet went he not in,'' until Peter came up, " and went into the sepulchre. Then went in also that oUier Disciple." The beloved Disciple knew what joy Peter would realize in the society of Christ. Peter had much forgiven and he loved much. Only observe the noble Apobtle. So soon as he heard, '^ It is the Lord," he girded on his fisher's coat unto him, as he had only had on his inner garment while fishing, and with SEKMON. 327 bis outer clothing, which may have been of the nature of oil- cloth, he swam to the shore, so overjoyed and delighted that he could not wait till the boat and fishes were brought to land." And the other Disciples came in a little ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with ushes." Here Peter was right and they were right also. Both were accepted by the Lord and served good purposes. The fishes required to be taken care of and secured, and Jesus must be honour'^d by this fervour of love on the part of His truly ex- cellent friend and repentant follower. Both grace and nature delight in variety. It is of little moment, whether the *' fire" mekitioned was miraculously supplied, or in an ordinary and a natural way. *' Bring of the fishes which ye have now caught," said the Lord to His apt Disciples, teaching them to use with cheerfulness and devout gratitude the bounties of Providence. " The substance" of those diligent men was " precious." Account was taken of the number of fishes caught. There were " a hundred fifty and three, yet was not the net broken." The fishermen noted this that they might praise the Lord for His goodness, and it may bo Uiat they might efiect an equable division of the gain. They (hen in obed" ience to the command of their Master participated in a full or principal meal, as the expression intimates. How highly honoured wer«^ these good men by the company of Jesus I Converse, union, and communion with this ex- alted Saviour are man's highest dignity and felicity. Our Lord afforded many more convincing and indubitable proofs oi His resurrection. This was the third manifestation of Himself on the part of the risen Redeemer to the Disciples collectively. He was seen also of Mary Magdalene, Cephas, James, and the two Disciples going to Emmaus individually. This was to establish satisfactorily His resurrection. Let. us rejoice in that glorious resurrection. Let us make sure of spiritual life from the glorified Messiah. He offers it to us freely in the Gospel. If we believe in Him, we shall also rise to the resurrection of eternal glory. 328 PIATEB. Let us fling Paraphrase 23, 1 2. ^ ^^^^^ Let U8 pray. *' O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth ! Oh ! how great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee ; which Thou hast wrou2ht for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men !"* May the Record of the love and resurrection of our Blessed Redeemer be to our souls as manna from Heaven. Almighty God, may we with our heart belieye unto righteousness upon Thy Only-begotten and Well-beloved Son. May we |tnow Him as * the firead of life.' May we have life in Him. May the life that henceforth we shall live in the flesh be that of faith in Jesus. May we love Him who loved us and gave Himseli for us. From this day forward may our life be ** hid with Christ in God.'' May we live to Him who died for us and rose again. We rejoice to be assured that, though as- cended up on High and seated on the rieht hand (^the Eternal Mi^esty, He is still the same loving and omnipotent and mer- ciful Saviour. Oh ! we would cleave to Him with full pur- pose of heart. Lord, begin and complete Thine own work ci grace in us. Quicken, keep, and guide us. Strengthen our weakness. Either preserve us from temptation or sustain and deliver us when tempted. And finally bring us to the land £i perfect safety and happiness. May Thy Holy Word and Blessed Gospel have free course and be glorified. Bless tdl ends of the earth and those who are far off and those who are nigh upon the sea. Bless the fishers of men. May they be truly successors of the Apostles, ^f ay they p** -««>es8 the same holy, loving, meek, humble, spirit that actuated the fishermen of Galilee. Bless our country. We thank Thee for whatever glory she may have attained as Thine instrument for publishing the glad tidings of Salvation to the nations of the world. May our land be honoured with far more of such glory. And may her mariners je faithful • Psalm 9, 1-3I, 19, PRATBK. 329 messengers of Christian trutli and lioliness. Bless our Queen and all under her and over us. Dismiss us now with Thy blessing, and accept of us in the Beloved. Amen. Let us conclude the worship of God by singing in Psalm 96,1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God. and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all.'' Amen. PRATIH. 331 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY. Let us begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Psalm 46, 1. Let us pray. Thou, who art the Arbiter of our destinies, with solemn reverence would we now draw nish unto Thee, and worship at the footstool of Thy Throne. Thou art the God of the sea and of the dry land, the Only True and Living God. The children of men in their blindness have made to tlwmselves gods many. Some of their gods have been imagined protectors of seamen and some of landsmen. Thou, who art God Thy- self alone, we will hop« h Thee. They have all been false Sods, vanity and a lie» We are assured of this j we lament \M unhappy condiUMi «m their worshippers and those who put their trust in them. We would now with all our soul do homage to Thee« Jkesades whom there is no god at all. We come unto» Thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, Thy Wcll- biiloved Son, eior Blessed Saviour. We come that we may confess and that we may forsake our sins. O grant us the dpirit of Mfe in Christ Jesus. May we feel His influences in godly contrition, humbleness of mind, earnest desires after Thee and Tliy holiness, and a penitent turning away from all our sins. We bcKCch Thee, Good Lord, to grant us saving faith. May it be both genuine and lively. We acknowledge that we have not always believed that Thou art and that Thou art the rewarder of them that diligently seek Thee. O mav we now so believe in Thee as that our faith shall be well pleasing in Thy sight. We desire this day devoutly to praise Thee for our Prov- idential blessings and for all the Christian privileges which have been conferred upon us. We thank Thee for V-; 332 VRAYER. whatever we truly know of Thee, the Only True Ood, and of Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. May the Spirit so enable us to know the Father and the Son as that we shall be par*> takers of life eternal. We rejoice that we are this day in Thy kind Proridence inWted to meditate upon a portion of Thy Holy Word. How inestimable is the treasure contained in the precious truths of ^ Scriptures ! O may we be enabled to seek it for ourselves. May we fifud the Pearl of great price. May we know in our sanctified experience what it is to be concerned for our souls and for the one thing needful, what it is to be awakened, anxious, striving, and believing unto salvation. May we be justified from our accumulated guilt and sins by faith in Jesus } realize the blessedness of peace with God through Hia peace-speaking blood. May the Spirit of holiness and joy rest upon us and dwell in us, making us meet to serve and glorify Thee in our body and in our spirit which are Thine. But what are we, O Lord, and what is our father's house that we should thus ask 1 Blessed be Thy Holy Name, weapr^v not required to have any merit or desert tiiat we may obtain ill these unspeakable blessings. We are worthless helli-deserving sinners. But Thou bast encouraged us, the poor and the needy, seamen as well as more favoured inhabitants of Chris* tian lands, to aspire after all this honour and felicity. O then let us not fail or come short through presumptuous unbelief. Dispel our darkness, remove our ignwance, cleans^ us from our pollution, and make us strong in goodness by Thy mighty power and love in Jesus Christ^ Bless, we beseech Thee, all our friends and brethren at sea or on f^re, in sickness or in health. Bless all our fellow-worshippers upon this Thy Holy Day. Bless Thy servants who minister in holy things and preach the glorious Gospel of the Son of God. May their labours and prayers be accompanied with the saving power of the Holy Spirit. May vast multitudes be turned from dark- ness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. Bless the children of Zion, the loving folbwers of the Lamb. May they be joyful in their Redeemer and King. for tiiat bliss- ful day when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the channel of the deep. lERMOIf. 333 We pray that Thy richest blenings fnay descend upon our lawAil aoTereign, the Queen, her Migeety'^s R^al Conaorty and aU the members of the Royal Family. Bless all our gOYcrnors, rulers and superiors. Bless especially all connect* ed with this ship, those who are in authority and those who are under authority. May we all in our seteral places and relations serve the Lord Christ in the zealous, faithful, and conscientious discharge of erery duty. Be with us to bless us with grace, mercy, and peace, while engaged in solemn exer* cises. And to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost^ be ascribed the kingdom, the power and the glory now and ever. Amen. ^ Our Father, which art m Heaten, hallowed be Thy Name* Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive ua our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil s for Thine is the kii^ dom, and the power, and the glory, for eter. Amen. Let us sing Psalm 65^ 5* Read Acts 27. SERMON. Tou will find the subject of discourse in Acts XXVIL, 1. As the Apostle of the Gentiles, Paul was not only abun- dant in labour, but also a most indefatigable traveller. Many of his journeys by land and his voyages by sea are briefly re- corded by Luke, his faithful friend, who was associated with him in many of them. When tarrf ing at Troas on the diore of the Egean Sea, Paul saw the vision and heard the cry of Uie Macedonian, soliciting him to render help to the European X 2 334 SEBMOir. tientilest Immediatfly the great Apostle crossed the Sea to Samothracia, then to NeapoTis and Philippi. In this and his subsequent journey, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, lie was accompanied by Luke. From Philippi Paul passed through Amphipolis and ApoUonia to Thessalonica, thence to Berea $ after which he visited Athens. His next landing-place, so to speak, wi^ Corinth. Here he tarried for more than a year and a half, preaching the Gospel with great success. From Corinth he sailed into Syria and came to Ephesus. From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He next went down to Antioch. <* And, after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went o?er all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strength- ening all the disciples." • After a stay of three months in Greece, the Apostle return- ed into Asia. Taking ship at Philippi, Luke and he met some friends at Troas. From Troas he went alont, by land, to Assos on the Asiatic sea coast while his friends saUed* This was Paul's own arrangement, he " minding himself to go a-foot." We can easily euppose that retirement and de- votion were the reasons that caused him to adopt this course. The hint thus furnished to the Christian is very important. After joining his company, Paul, not wishing to stop at Ephesus, sailed te Miletus, a city thirty miles further to the South. To Miletus the elders of the church of Ephesus went to meet the Apostle, who there delivered the admirable ad- dress recorded in the 20th of the ^Acts. From Miletus he proceeded to Tyre, where ''the ship was to unlade her burden,'' calling at various places by the way. The Apos- tle's visit to the disciples at Tyre was most interesting and impressive. On his way to Jerusalem whither he was bound, he touched at Ptolemais, and tarried at Caesarea *' many days." It is unnecessary to dwell upon the uproar created by the Jews in Jerusalem against Paul. By means of the interposi- tion of Lysias the Roman tribune, he was rescued from their deadly malice and violence, and conjeyedto Caesarea, t^ere Felix, the Roman governor, resided. Ultimately, after hav- ing been before and preached the Gospel to Felix, Festus and 8BBM0N. m )y the rposi- their wifere hav- 8 and King Agrippa with many others, Paul, h«^?ing alptoealed unto Gaeaar, iras sent to Home from Caesarea. He had long l)eea anidous to see the Christians of Rome, luid hi^ prikver was that he might have a prosperous journey thither. Tmit his yisit to Rome, though a prisoner, proved a spiritually prosperous one, the last two chapters of the Acts abundantly < prove* That his prayer was answered, though not as he might have anticipated, is equally clear. Even this brief review of a part of the Apostolic career of Paul may enable us in some measure the better to appreciate whi ' H declares of his experience. *' Thrice was I beaten wiiV 1 >d>i once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a n% t ^^d a day I have been in the deep ; In journey ings offen, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea^ in perils among false brethren ; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without^ that which cometh upon me daily> the care of all the churches."* The style of St. Luke is well known as that of an accurate and elegant writer. In recording the sea journeys of St. Paul, however, and especially his royage to Rome, as found in the Chapters before us, while we have the most satisfac- tory evidence that the narrative was written by one whe was himself a fellow-passenger with the Apostle on board the dif- ferent vessels referred to, and well competent to report the in- cidents of the voyage, it is also established that the historian was not a nautical person* This has been shown by tins Christian critic from the absence of those sea-terms wmch a professional .sailor would not omit to employ ; the language is correct, but the phraseology is not that of a mariner. It is precisely such as an educated Christian and a superior traveller might be expected to use. Instances of similar rel- ative expressions in connection with sailing and a ship have been (I believe) lately adduced from the correspdhdence of a navy surgeon^by a very accomplished writer.f Thisfurniirtiea ' ■ ' ■ ■ ■ ... I I . I .. * 2 Corinthians ii,25, &c. t Mr. Smith. 336 SBBMOir. a rary pSeanng and curious testimony, apart fiom its inspini" tion, on behalf of the authenticity and perfectly trast^ivorUiy nature of theaccount of the interesting voyage now befofe us. An actual examination of the localities and the relation U the Etangelist has enabled a highly accomplished writer to teace the voyage ** almosi as minutely as if he had had the l^>book of the ' ship of Alexandria' before him. Kbt a pomt is left unexamined, not a difficulty unsolved." The whole course has been perspicuous)^ and instructively traced with great ability and success. It IS our purpose merely to take a cursory glance at the circumstances and occurrences of this celebrated voyage. We shall dwell briefly on some of those great lessons whueh are interspersed in &e earnest hope that our rapid review and reflections may be productive of spiritual good. Tbroughout we shaU find that Paul is really the princ^l person on board. Though only a passenger, though a chain- ed prisoner, hu presence and influence are always manifest. iWt he proved the instrument of endless blessings to many of his fellow- vc^agers, of the seamen and of the solmers, of the passengers who believed in Christ and of those who knew^ Him not, we may humbly trust. That the centurion espec" iaUy was benefited in the salvation of his soul through the crucified Redeemer, whom Paul preached, will appear highly probable* What a treasure are the company and zealous exertions for good of a consecrated disciple of Christ ! Every mem- ber of the mystical body should ceaselessly aim at the highest benefit of those with whom he may be, though but for a time, associated. The Minister of the Gospel of the Son of God sliould particularly labour with love, ardency, prayer, and steady continuance, for the souls of those with whom he may •ail 1*2 some ship, and the souls of all whom he can reach who are sailing the voyage of mortal life on life's troubled sea to the land of eternity. Let every voyager, whatever be his position, Ivhether that of a seaman or that of a passenger, be awed and awakened to solemn thought and desire for holi- ness by the voice of Providence, the goodness of God, and lERMOir. 337 the obligttioiu under which all are laid to repent and bring fortii liruiti meet for repentance. From the inwresiion made upon the mind of Agrippa by the defence of Paul, the King appears to have regretted that the Apoitle's appeal to the Emperor rendered it impossible to set him at liberty, which he felt much disposed to do. The result of his conference with Festus was that Paul should be sent to Rome. We are told accordingly that he and certain other prisoners were committed to the charge of a centurion named Julius, belonging to the Emperor's own cohort, ▼. 1. There was at Caesarea a ship of Adramyttium, a city of Mysia. By this ship on her return to her own port the company were to proceed that far on their way. At Adrampt (the modern name) Julius bellered that he would be able to get another vessel by which he could proceed to Rome* Mysia is not far from Pergamos, where was one of the candlesticks of the Reyelation. The voyage was intend* ed to be a coasting one along the shores of Asia Minor. Tliere was then no mariner's compass known, by which the navigator could safely steer his way, however distant from land. Stem necesdty alone ever induced a vessel to go out into the open sea and lose sight of land. Aristarchus, a Macedonian c^Thessalcmica, is named as one of Paul's fellow-voyagers. He is repeatedly mentioned as a companion of the AposUe and accompanying him. Like Luke, he appears to have had tiie greatest affection and esteem for Paul.* The Apostle designates him his ** fellow-prisoner." If, as we suppose, he was voluntarily so, his love and regard would be very highly prized by Paul. We thus see m the fnends who accompanied* him, and even in the highly hon- ourable centurion with whcmi he had to deal, good tokens fitted to encourage the prisoner of the Lord. At v. 3 we read that alter leaving Caesarea the vessel on the following day '* touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh Umyself." Thus from the be^nning we see the ccmsidera- tion and the obliging and kiMly demeanour of the Roman ■ " — ' " — ■ I !■■ I I !■■ I I H I I— ■»■ — I.I I ■■■ ■l « -ll...»B ■— ii * Bee AcUi 19, 29 : 20, 4 : Colossians 4, lO : Philemon v. 24, 338 8IRM0K. officer tow: y this heroical servant of Jesus Christ. AJf'eadfy may Julias have conceived an extraordinary respedt for this most remarlcable man. How much he now knew of his reli- gion and history we are not informed. But in all his inter- course we discover the affable, educated, dignified, and gen- erous man. Surely He, who forgets not the cu(» of cold water to the humblest disciple, will not fail to reward thiB ertoellent soldier for his kindness to the Apostle. Had the wind favoured, the ship would have at otice sailed to Myra by a direct course, keeping outside or west of the bland of Cyprus. But, '* the winds being contrary*," she sailed between Cyprus and the Asiatic continent, and efUt- wards westward, passing Pan phylia and Cilicia, till she reached Mjrra, a city of Lycia. " And there the centurion" (says the historian) found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy ; and he put us therein." (v. 6.) This ship was prob- ably in the corn trade between Alexandria and Rome. From the former place large quantities of grain were shipped for the latter. Alexandria was then the chief city of Egypt. Thence was exported to Italy, which furnished a great market, East Indian and Persian goods as well an corn of Egypt. From Alexandria the ship proceeded to the harbour of Fair Havens in the island of Crete, which, owinf;to the contrary winds^ they only reached after considerable diffi- culty. We read that Paul while at Fair Havens, addressed the whole company as to the propriety of wintering there. He had had no little experience in the business of the sea* in this respect, and as a man of God, his opinion cilght to have had great weight. '* Sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past." This refers to the seasoii of Expiation, which occurred about the end of September or banning of October. The fast spoken of was that of Tisri, mentioned in Leviticus 16, 29: 23, 27 : Numbers 39, 7. After that time favourable weather was not to be expected by the maritime traveller. There had been longer detention than had been expected. Navigation in the Egean Sea is understood to be alarming and hazardous even to modern shipping after the " Michaelmas flows," which take place in November. SEBMON. dSd We find that the owner of the vessel was on board. He would act in the capacity of supercargo. This with other circumstances will show that the ship was a large one. In small vessels the same individual would! likely act both as master and supercargo. The duties of a 'ship-master of that day appear to have been similar to those required in our own times. The ancient commander must have possessed con- siderable knowledge of astronomy. He sometimes guided lus ship by the constellations. Though the Centurion and others had a respect for Paul, they would not act upon his counsel. Perhaps they thought him a dreaming enthusiast ! The Romans treated Christiani- ty with contempt and would not investigate its claims. We read that " the centurion believed the master and owner oi the ship more than those things which were spoken by Paul." If Paul spoke by inspiration and made them aware by what auttorily he admonished, the preference of the centurion is just an instance of worldly wisdom. He trust8«4n an arm of flesh, and will not exercise faith in God." As a man of shrewdness and calculation he thought that there was no comparison between the value of Paul's advice and that oftte master and owner of the ship. Here however, as in many other cases, *' God taketh the wise in their own craftiness.'? Tile advantages of Phoenice over Fair Havens as a port to winter in caused it to be sought after. Probably it was bet- ter protected from the South»west wind (the wind most dreaded) than Fair Havens. Whether Phoenice would an<^ swer to the modem Latro, it is of little consequence for us here to enquire. It will answer our purpose to know that it was a preferable harbour in the same island of Crete, distant from Fair Havens about fifty miles. Favoured by the gentle breezeWomithe South, our voyagers set sail, coasting along the shores of Crete, in hopes of speedily gaining the desired haven. What an incalculable blessing to the mariner or the fisher- man is a good harbour ! The numerous inlets and Refuges, with which the coasts and islands Of many countries are supplied, present a striking instance of the wisdom and benevolenceof the Godx)f nature. And how admirable the power of this great 340 •SMiON. First Caiue u seen in the intelligence and means which He has bestowed upon the children of men, by which they can form harbours where they can scarcely be said to eiist, and improve them where they do I Of how little advantage would the sea be to commerce, destitute of safe and commodious havens I The Sea, Gulf, or Bay, that might possess exhaust- less riches in its finny inhabitants or in the resources, of the land which its waters lave, would yet be comparatively value* less if destitute of creeks and places of shelter for the storm* endangered seaman or fisher. At verse ] 3 we read, " And. when the south wind blew sofUy, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete." We have here almost a picture of human life, with its hopes and fears, the former im- pelling to exertion. The mariner well knows the inconstancy and variableness of the wind, yet, wishing to gain another port, he almost believes that the breeze, which now is fair, will remain witlk'him, and that he will surely succeed. At all events he will risk it. The landsman acts in his affairs in a similar manner. All this is right, when properly regulated under the influence of godly principle. It is the will of the Supreme Ruler and Arbiter that thus it should be. In this way the business of this passing, transitiny world is propelled uid ensured of accomplishment. And, if man, if the voyager through life, will but live godly in Christ Jesus, all will be well. Traveller to eternity, seek, O seek first salvation through the blood and righteousness of the Saviour of man* kind. Make your calling and election sure. Be reconciled, in harmony — right with God, through the finishecl work and all-prevailing intercession oi His Son. This is the one thing needful. Then follow the leading of Providence and be re- freshed with every good token which may present itself. Such will not fail to attend vigilance, the courageous and skilful discharge of duty, and devout submission to the Divine will. The gallant ship had left " Fair Havens" with the hope- inspiring South wind. But, alas I how soon is the clear sky overcast ! How soon is the welcome breeze supplanted by the terrific hurricane ! We shall not discuss the kind of wind indicated by the term used in our version, Ev/roclydon. SEHMON. 341 Doubtless it was what in modern time is called a LevaiUtr. flow soon bad our travellers exchanged a situation, which beauty of jcenery and delightful climate entitled to the ap- pellation of '* Zion," for the dismal terror and gloom of a destructiTe gale, blowing in all directions. Amidst this dan- ger they ran under the lee of Clauda for partial shelter. Here they did what they could for their own safety, securing by much exertions the canoe or boat by which they might ^ '^ pre- served in case of the loss of their vessel. As she had suner- ed much from straining, the operation " of undergirding the ship," or passing round the hull several coils of cable or rope, was used, an expedient not unknown even in oui^ times ; al- though from the superiority of the ships now built, and their mode of rigging, it is very seldom needful to practise it. Afraid of being driven upon the quicksands of the Mediterranean, the Greater and Lesser Syrtes, with which the wind from East North-east threatened them, the seamen turned the head of the vessel offshore, loosed the appropriate sails, and hove to on the starboard tack. They were aware how a ship will < of •XftMON. 845 liceni and a rosponsiblo human being 1 The roaion ii that, while he was deeply humbled and grateful to that God of •a?ing mercy who had called and chosen him as a vessel of His grace, he was also honest, manly, earnest and dcToutly rational in all his conduct. It is obserTable thr i.the centurion and soldiers believe Paul now, though thev disregarded Ais counsel at the outset of the voyage. They ** cut off the ropes of the boat and let her fall off," the ^'Cst poviblo course of action. Remonstrance would have been mispiaced and vain to the unfeeling men who cared only for themselves. It is pleasing to observe that even this shameful behaviour did not interrupt the harmony of the company. The Aj-ot .le*B influence may have told here also. lie again appr r\n to great advantage. While the crew and passengers were anxiously waiting for day-break, " Paul besought them all to take meat," &c., (see v. 33). Amidst the terror and turbu- lence of the surpassing gale, that had now for nearly fourteen days threatened them with destruction, the regular meals had been neglected, and all on board had practised partial absti- nence. The man of God assured them of perfect safety, ** There shall not," said he, " a hair fall from the head of any of you." Nor did he fail to discharge the duty of devout thanksgiving '*in presence of them all," that they might join in it, or be aware of their obligation to do o This refresh- ment and the ApoAtle's exertions had a saluu^iy effect. They were " all of good cheer." Not an exception is stated, but the reverse, among the < science, but having overcome, obtain admission to the haven of everlasting rest and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Paraphrase 29, 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all. Amen. M H w i ii i n 1 — — PRAYER. 849 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY. Let U8 begin the worship of God by singing to His praise in Psalm 89>1. Let us pray. ** How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, God ! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy House, and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasure. For with Thee is the fountain of life : in Thy Ijeht shall we see light. continue Thy loving-kindness unto mem that know Tnee ; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart."* We adore Thee, Lord, as the Creator and Preserver of all mankind. Thou art good unto all, even to the evil and un- thankful. We praise Thy most Holy Name for that Blessed Gospel of Thy Son, which offers peace and pardon to the re- penting sinner. We praise Thee Uiat in Thy merciful Prov- idence we have heard its glad tidings. Oh ! give us the Spir- it of life in Christ Jesus to enable us to know savingly the joyful sound. Enable us to receive the Truth in the love of it. JVlay the life, that we shall henceforth live, be by the foith oi the Son d God, who loved us and eave Himself for us. May the operation and effects of our faith be such as that they will be manifestly the fruits of the Spirit. Giving all dili- gence, may we add to our faiUi virtue ; and to virtue knowl- edge ; and to knowledge temperance ; and to temperance patience $ and to patience godliness ; and to godliness broth* erly kindness ; and to biotherly kindness charity. For, if these things be in us, they make us that we shall neither be . * Isaiah 36, r. k3 350 FBATEB. barren nor unrruit.^i who had escaped the sea, should have swelled with inflamma* tion, or taken fire, or fallen dead instantly : *' but, after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." The Apostle would be still less gratified with this supposition than their first. This case reminds us of that of Lystra where the people would have sacrificed to Barnabas anU Paul as deities ; but the men of God ran in among them, crying vout, and saying, " Sirs, why do ye these things 1 We also are men c^ like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the Living God, that made heaven, and earth, and sea, and all things that are therein."* We may well believe that Paul at Malta preached the Living and • Acts 14, 15, SEBMON. 353 eayen. We ngand True'ft^bd and Jesus Christ whom He had sent for guilty and ignorant men. What a blessing Paul and his companions would be to the people of Malta during their three months* sojourn in the island ! Doubtless they fully made known the wretched state of man b^ nature and practice^ and the aboundhig riches of the Divine grace in Christ Jesus. We read particularly of the chief man of the island^ the Roman governor or prefect. His name was Publius. The historian, including himself and probably Aristarchus with the Apostle, says of Publius, '* who received us, and lodged us three days courteously." These servants of Jesus Christ eom^ mended themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. The courtesy of this great man, the highest of the island, to the ministers of the Crucified Nazarene, is record- ed, like that of Julius, in the inspired narrative. The Spirit of all goodness presents in these instances illustrations, bor- rowed from distinguished heathen, of his own precepts which Christians may well copy. Julius and Publius exemplify what Peter inculcates, ** having compassion one of another j love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."* The Christian, who violates the law of courtesy, does dishonour to the Mas" ter by whose name he is called, and is reproved by the excel- lence of the Roman officers of our narrative. The Christian benevolence and miraculous power of the Apostle were evinced in restoring from the utmost prostration the father of Publius, and in the healing of many who were diseased in various parts of the island. Doubtless the salva- tion of their precious souls was never lost sight of by Paul in his dealings with the Maltese. And that his ministry was attended with the effectual blessing seems implied at v. 10th, where we read of the fruits of righteousness, love and Chris- tian liberality, which fruits, when they are not discoverable in the professing Christian, there is reason to fear that the Holy Spirit of Christ, whose fruits they are, has never been saving- ly experienced in the soul. It was otherwise with the good people of Malta. Of them St. Luke says, " Who also.. • Petor 3, 8, k4 364 ;^S:RM0N. honoured us with many honours ; and, when we 'departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary." All the crew and passengers seem to have shared in the kindly and beneficent attentions of those who were grateful for the priceless benefits that had been conferred upon them through the instrumentality of the Apostle. We may infer from this that the whole company, who had been saved from a watery grave by the special goodness of God, had conducted them- selves well during their protracted residence at Malta. What a happiness both for them and their generous entertainers was the admirable character and influence of Paul ! And how manifestly may we here see that bonds, afiSictions, journey* ings, sailing, peril, storm, ship<*wreck, are all made subser- vient to the eternal good of those who are the objects of the Divine favour ! How perspicuously too may we behold that in every situation the devoted disciple of Jesus is a blessing of inestimable worth to his fellow-creatures ! Let every follower of the Lamb ceaselessly aim at being so. We come now to the concluding part of the Apostle's voy- age to Rome. Again did Paul and his friends sail '' in a ship of Alexandria." Compared with their previou.s expe- rience during the boisterous gales, and wintry tempests that had overtaken them, the present passage was quiet and pros- perous. We may form some idea of the weather from the fact of this new ship of Alexandria not starting till after three months subsequent to the ship-wreck. She " had wintered in the isle." We are told that her '' sign was Castor and Pollux." This painting probably indicate, that the ship was committed to the protection of these two deities. These were according to heathen mytliology twin sons of Jupiter by Leda. '' The appellation of the 8ign of Gemini or the Twins in the Signs of the Zodiac is borrowed from them. They were supposed to be lesser deities under Neptune, the god of the sea, and to have influence over storms and winds. Paul had no control over the ship or its sign. He no doubt regretted with deepened intensity the blindness of idolatry, and we may be certain that whatever was in his power would be done to ' turn men from dumb idols and lying vanities to the Living God. I- ■BRMON. 355 The preservatirii of thb ship of Alexandria, whilst that in wl\ich Paul was a passenger was destroyed aptly point out to us the Ticissitudes and uncertainty of this mortal life, the business of the world, and the calling of the seanken. We see here two ships of Alexandria, both bound to ItalVy both passing the same route, both, it may be said, reaching Malta t yet how different their circumstances ; the one a total wreck with the entire loss of a valuable cargo, the other having reached Malta in time, lying snugly moored there, and, when the proper season came round, taking her departure for her destined port. Thus " the Lord miJceth poor, and maketh rich ; He bringeth low, and lifteth up."* And *' promotion Cometh neither from the east nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; He putteth down one, and set- teth up another."! Let all then remember that God reigneth, overruling all the affairs c^ men. And let us not fail to im- prove our meditations in connection with the si^bject before us by having the conviction more deeply engraven upon our souls that even " the cloudy and dark day," that even the dispensations of Divine Providence which appear the most disastrous, that disappointment and delay, storm and shipN wreck—are all made to work for good to the followers of the Lamb, and may be made the instruments of inestimable bless% ing to many who otherwise would be left living without God a(^ without salvation in the world. Let us see Gud in every thing. And let us rejoice when we are told, " The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked : the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rci* buketh the sea and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers : Pashan languisheth and Garmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burnt at His presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. ":( The first place at which the Apostle and his companions * 1 Samuel 2, 7. t Fsalm 6.5, 6, r. } Nahum 1 , 3, £cc. \> 366 8EBM0N. stopped was Syracuse. There they landed and t&rricd three days« probably for the purposes of trade. Syracuse was situated on the east coast of the Island of Sicily, and was its Srincipal city. There was much intercourse between it and lalta J and the shin probably had taken freight or passengers for Syracuse from Malta. We do not read that there were any Christians there. Thence our voyagers went round to Rhegium (the modern Reggio), a city in the southern ex- tremity of Italy. Here they remained one day; we are not told that they landed. The evangelist goes on^ " and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next (or second) day to Puteoli : Where we found brethren, and were desired (or invited) to tarry with them seven days." Puteoli was a sea-^ort tdwn near Naples. The growing regard of the Centurion for Paul and those who were his endeared Christian brethren, obtained the valued privilege of spending a week with those members of Christ who resided at Puteoli. Puteoli was situated within the Gulf of Cumae or Bay of Naples, near to Baiae, the Bath of Italy. This was the place to which the ship was bounds so that here, we may ob- serve, the Apostle's sea-voyage ends. He and the rest of the party were conducted to Home by land. From the " Eternal City," as Rome is wont to be desig- nated, a large proportion at least of the members of the Church went to meet Paul. The inspired narrator informs us, *' And from thence they came^to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and "The Three Taverns." The brethren of Puteoli, it is likely, had conveyed to those of Rome the tid- ings of the arrival of the Apostle of the Gentiles. And the latter, " beloved of God, called to be saints," contributed a tes- ' timony of respect and affection most seasonable. Paul felt it to be so. When he saw them, " he thanked God and took courage." He had long cherished the hope of a prosperous journey to them. But it may be that even the great Apostle, the noblest of noble Christians, and you know that Chnstiani- ty is the highest stylo of man, it may be that even this noblest of Uie noble in Christ Jesus had felt depressed in spirit, saddened, and cast down by the severe trials through which he was passing ; he would not have been a man, not a 8EKM0N. 357 iree ormi Appii of tid- id the a tcs-" felt took )erous lostle^ itiani- this sedin rough not a noble man, hnd he not /«//,— doubtlesa he felt moat acutely. Grace had eiven a tone, but in no decree impaired the live- liness, depth, and energy of emotion which were natural to this hero of the Gross. But, as he was cheered during the pro* gress of his yovage by the vision, and the " Fear not, Paul," of the angel of God, so now again b^ tiie sight, the numbers, and the bearing, of the excellent Christians oi Rome, *' whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage." When we see the sympathy and love dS the Head of the Church totvards His chosen servants and to all His member» how well may we say with the prophet, " In all their afDic- tion He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them : in His love and pity He redeemed them ; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old."* The precept of the Holy Apostle himself may apUy here be addressed to the Zion-ward pilgrim. ** Rejoice ever more, and pray with* out ceaiting." When the Christian brethren of Rome came to ' The Three Taverns,' a distance of thirty-three miles, and to Appii Forum, distant fifty-H)ne miles from Rome, todo honour to this most distinguished servant of Jesus Christ, and were not ashamed of the prisoner of the Lord or his chain, surely God was glorified. His servant rejoiced in God his Saviour, and many, we may hope, were savingly benefitted by witness- ing the operation of Vaia genuine Christianity. The reflec- tions, which the inspired record of it is fitted to s waken and call up, ought always to be productive of great benefit to the reader or l^arer of the Word of God. At verse 16 we read, ** And, when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him." From the account sent byFestus, and the friend- ly report and commendation of Julius, the Apostle was thus privileged. Every thing good in human nature and. every Christian feeling will ever honour the memory of Julius for his kindness and aid to Paul. He was probably one of the chief captains, and, it may be, had heard the Apostle's bril- liant and unanswerable defence before king Agrippa. He * Isaiah 63. 9. 358 8MM0N. wu perfectly satisfied u to the purity of hit motives and ex* cellence of his character. And who can tell how much In- debted this soldier may have been to the Minister of Christ I Through his instrumentality Julius may have become a cor* dial Believer in Jesus of Nazareth. All praise be to the dis<* tinguished Roman who became increasingly a iViend to the Erisoner who was so for the sake of the Cross of Christ Let is name and his memory be cherished In the affections' and esteem of Christians, until the world titat now is baa been superseded by the world that Is to come, and then let us hope we shall see Paul and Julius in holiest and unendbig fellow- ship. The exercise of the offices and Dualities of humanity and kindness is ever honourable, especially to the Individual who bestows and evinces them. Read such a passage as the fol- lowing, with which the prophet Jeremiah closes his Book, and say ifyou are not constrained to render a tribute of esteem and gratitude to the Babylonish monarch for his royal favour and munificence conferred upon his princely Jewish prisoner. '< And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, King of Judah, In the twelfth month, In the five and twentieth day d the month, that Evil-mero- dach, King of Babylon, in the first year of his reign' lifted up the head of Jehoiachin, King of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison. And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the Kings that were with him In Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there Was a continual diet ghen him of the King of Babylon, every day a pcMrtion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.*' This is god-like. It elevates man In the scale of being. Even his erring and disobedient people God pities, and, when in the hour of sorrow they call upon Him, He hears their prayer. The Psalmist savs of Israel of old, '' Nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when He heard their cry: And He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies. He made them to be pitied of all those that carried them cap- tives."* Does the Lord manifest such compassion and tend- • Psalm 106, 44, ac. • •XftMON. 359 :ap- «niei0 towtrdf thoM who hare not walked worthy of their holy vooation 1 Much more mav we expect that He will macniiy the riehef of Hie loving-kmdneM to Hie choieii and loTed children who glorifv Him by a conTersation becoming the GoepeL It wae Hu Spirit that caused the brethren to actio choeringlj) who^ when, a« Luke informs us, they heard of the prisoner for Christs's sake> '* came to meet us as far as Apii Forum, and the Three Taverns : whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage." Let those who now bear the Christian name, if they would be counted worthy to belong to the saoM holy fraternity, evince a similar disposition, show- ing consideration,* love, courase, and activity. These quali- ties are all prominent in the believers before us. In what remains of .the chapter there is much related that is fitted to show that the Apostle Paul had in the hiehest sense of the words a prosperous journey to Rome, notwithstanding dl the apparently untoward lincidents of the voyage. At verse 17 we read, *' And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called Uie chief of the Jews together." When they were come together, he explained in a brief, manly, and perspicu- ous manner the incidents that had brought him among them, eoncluding with the affecting words, ** For this cause therefore have I caUed you to see you, and to speak with you : becauHc that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain," (verse 20.) The crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth the Apostle avowed to be the Messiah, « the hope of Israel." It was for his ikiUi in this Redeemer and his love to Him that he now appeared chained to a Roman soldier who attended him. How intensely affecting was the statement of the Minister of Christ ! All present seem to have been moved by it << And they said unto hbn. We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest : for, as concerning this sect, we know tl^ it * Much evil results among prefessin^ Christians from incon- sideration. This ttate or habit is highly culpable and ainrul. The love or God in the soul never fails to render the individual considerate. How attentive is the worldling to serve his mas- ter* Can he who is totally inconsiderate be a Christian t . \N 1 360 8SBM0N. everywhere it is spoken against. And, when tliey had ap- pointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, per- suading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.'* Verses 21—23. Here was a long discourse. It occupied ** from morning till evening." The preacher was fUU of his subject, he was fired with the constraining love of his Master, and with patriotic and Christian affection to his audience. We behold m Paul the philanthropist and the patriot. Where will you find such another 1 With perhaps one exception, Moses, the annals of our race supply no such specimen of man> The preaching of " Christ crucified" was not absolutely unsuccessful on this occasioa. While some believed not the things that were spoken, ** some belived." Be of good cour- age then, herald of the Cross. Thou shalt not labour in vain. The Word of the Sovereign Lord shall not return unto Him void. And with regard to thine own duty Uiat Word to thee is *' Be tliou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Wo may estimate something of the Apostle's success at Rome from what he tells tiie Pnilippians, ** But I would, ye should inderstai.d, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have," &c., (verses 12, 14 of 1st Chap, of Fhilip- pians.) To the same excellent society of Christians he says (4. 22), '* All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cesar's household." We read at v. 30, 31, ** And Paul dwelt," &c., no man forbidding him ! Why could not tiie soldier to whom he was chained forbid him 1 Because the soldier's heart was dis- posed not to do so by the Omnipotent God of the heart. Or it may be that freedom was conceded to the Apostle to a cer- tain degree on his parole. During all these two years there was no persecution of the Christians. God was preparing His Church for that of Nero, the Caesar of that day. After the two years had elapsed, Paul was probably set at liberty. He was a second time a prisoner at Rome and became a martyr for Christ. But in the prospect of sealing his testimony with L. VRAYER. 361 ley had ap- lit lodgings DfGod,per- nrofMoMf, 5,»» Verw* »n morning iect, he was >, and with We behold ire will you , Mosea^the an> t absolutely Bved not the Pgoodcour- our in vain, nunto Him ^ord to thee lee a crown success at would, ye h happened . of FhUip- ans he says that are of c, no man loro he was was db- I heart. Or le to a cer- lyears there Uaring His After the [berty. He (e a martyr lony with his blood we hear the aged champion and the strong believer exclaiming, ** I am now ready to be oflfered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Rizhteous Judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me onfy, but unto all them also that love His appearing.'* (2 Timothy 4, 6, &c.) Beloved flriends, be it our constant and lofty aim to live so as to obtain the reward of grace, " a crown orf* righteousness, wnich the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give at that day'* to all those that " love His appearing." Let every thing we do, and every thing that we do not do, be associated in our minds with the love of Christ and a meetness for His coming. Amen. Let us sing Pharaphrase 55, 2. Let us pray. Almighty and Everlasting God, grant, we beseech Thee, that the truths and lessons of Thy Sacr«!d Word, to which we have now been listening, may be permanently and savingly engraven upon our souls. O number us with Thy saints, who fight the good fight of faith and lay hold upon eternal life* Par- don for the sake of the once Crucified Redeemer, Thy Beloved Son, all our sins. They are beyond all number, yet Thou knowest them all ; they are exceedingly sinful because o^ the light and the love against which we have sinned. May we, through Thy Spirit enabling us, repent us truly of them ail, and experience the blessed remission oi sins, which is received by all those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ. May we not only be freely justified by Thy grace through the Redemption of Christ Jesus, may we abound also in every good word and work. May all old things pass away, and all things become new. May our hearts be pure and our lives holy. Let no profaneness or evil speaking proceed out of our lips. May we be enabled to crucify the flesh irn the afiections . 362 PRATIR. ^ and lusts. May we be kindly-affectioned one to another, loring as brethren. May we eyer be charitable, beneficent, and earnestly desirous to advance the safety, comfort, and lutppiness of all around us. We commend to Thy Paternal compassion the widow, and the fatherless, and the stranger. Protect, guide, and bless all who in the pursuit of their honest calling are required to travel by land or by sea. Bless our country, our Queen and all under her and over us. Bless those who serve their country either as soldiers or seamen. May they be blessed with par" don and renovation through the blood and Holy Spirit of Christ ; and become blessings in their sphere. May sea- officers and land-officers be just, humane, courteous, and ob- liging ; above all may they be thoroughly Christian. May the Missionaries of the Gospel and the Ministers of Christ receive the same Spirit that animated the holy Apostle of the Gentiles, and follow him as he followed his loved Lord and sought the promotion of His kingdom in the salvation of perishing sin- ners. And, when the voyage of this mortal life shall to our- selves be ended, may we be admitted to the House of many mansions, which our Heavenly Master prepared ibr all His followers. And Hie glory we shall ascribe to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. Let us conclude by singing Psalm 25, 8. ' The grace of the L«: rd Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost^ be with us all* Amen. THE END. Printed by Armour fc Ramsay, Montreal. one to another, able, beneficent, f, comfort, and I the widpw, and ide, and bless all are required to y our Queen and nre their country tlessed with par" I Holy Spirit of ere. May sea- irteous, and ob- istian. May the 3f Christ receive i of the Gentiles, I and sought the )f perishing sin- ife shall to our- House of many ired ibr all His > the Father, the Amen. le love of God, >e with us all* eal.