minister gave; nor does he know how far his poor relation seemed to obtain scriptural hope or Christian peace before she died. But her lamentations over neglected Sabbaths, and abused means of grace, now for ever gone by, did at that time so fasten on his mind, as to defy all the vicissitudes of time and place to obliterate. Nor was it very long after he quitted the shore, and embarked on the great deep, ere he was called to stand by the dying bed of his most early naval friend and commander, and to receive his last look and his last words,-words of lamentation for having neglected to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling while it was called to-day; seeing the night of death was close att hand, nay, had overtaken him, even that night wherein no man can work.

Surely, if ever one truth were fully established on earth, it is that contained in Solomon's declaration concerning the unconverted men of this world: "The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live." (Eccles. ix. 3.):

Let every thoughtful Christian then, whether on the land or sea, endeavour constantly to "stir up the grace of God within him,"-to do the works of him that sent him, even all the wilk of his Heavenly Father. So shall he fall asleep in Jesus, "and be for ever blessed." As to the

1

many, in every rank of society, who shut their eyes and stop their ears, and harden their hearts, against conviction, let us implore that mercy for them which they will not ask for themselves:

"O God, their inmost souls convert!
And deeply on each thoughtless heart

Eternal things impress;

Y

Give them to feel their solemn weight,
To tremble at their guilty state,

And wake to righteousness,

Before them place, in dread array,
The pomp of that tremendous day,

When Thou, with clouds* shalt come;
Oh! may they now themselves prepare,
To stand before thine awful bar,

And hear their endless doom!"

"Be this their one great business here,
With ceaseless care and holy fear,

To make their calling† sure:

Thine utmost counsel to fulfil,
To suffer all thy righteous will,
And to the end endure!"

* Rev. i. 7.

† 2. Peter, i. 10,

No. X.

THE FAIR-WEATHER AND FRESH-WATER SAILORS.

"NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, Lord,

SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: BUT
HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN
HEAVEN.-
-Matt. vii. 21.

ON board of large ships there are all sorts of characters, and not a few who are called " fairweather sailors." These, so long as all is fine and smooth on deck, can talk much, and boast of their knowledge and readiness to do great things. But when the sea gets up, when the gale comes on in earnest, and the ship is in some danger, these boasting talkers are often found to be good for nothing. They have neither knowledge to perform their duty, nor courage to go through with it.

There are also in every sea-port town many fresh-water sailors, or young men, who, on a fine day, put on a gay jacket and pair of trowsers, and pull or sail about in a boat up and down the rivers, or at some harbour's mouth;

on these occasions they curse and swear, and think themselves as brave men as Nelson himself. And what still makes this folly and wickedness the greater is, that it is frequently performed on the Lord's day, that holy Sabbath, when they especially ought to be worshipping God, instead of thus taking their childish pleasure on the water. But do the fine jackets and trowsers which these men put on, or the oaths they swear, or the swaggering language they use, make them really brave men? No; for if the sky becomes cloudy, or a breeze freshens up, these counterfeit mariners soon hasten to the nearest land, and run with all their might from the vulgar gale, and unpleasant breaking waves, preferring a snug house and comfortable fireside, where they can sit and talk brave language, and admire their unspotted sea-dress, leaving it to others to face the storm in deep water. In one word, it is not a man's appearance nor his language that proves his real character. stormy day and real danger are things that no true seaman ever wishes to meet for the sake of showing his skill and bravery; but they are the things that actually prove who are brave and skilful seamen, and who are only fair-weather and fresh-water sailors.

A

So in the Christian world, and in every society of professing Christians, whether by land

There

or by sea, there are a variety of characters who much resemble those above described. are fresh-water, or rather counterfeit, Christians, or, if you please, imitators and impostors, who put on the profession of religion, and sail down the stream, indulging their own pleasure, and exhibiting their tawdry dress, and their dear idolized persons; and while they are thus mocking God, they often persuade themselves they are pious characters. These, however, are never found to bear reproach for Christ, nor to deny themselves one darling lust or pleasure. And if at any time their profession of religion threatens to bring such a trial, they quickly turn to the world, and leave vulgar Christians to encounter envy, hatred, malice, and reproach for following that Saviour, who, with his disciples of old, was despised and rejected of men, and who is found to receive the same treatment from the lovers of pleasure in our own times. Others proceed a little further; they embark in the cause of Christ, go with his real servants, and are often, like the fair-weather sailors, found to talk with more confidence and freedom than old and experienced Christians. Yet these, with all their self-confi dence and showy profession, are frequently found to shrink back in times of trial, and in seasons of difficulty and danger to betray great ignorance and great cowardice. As no real sea