The Sailors' and Soldiers' Magazine

adder." Prov. iv. Thine eyes shall behold strange." xxiii. "Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out to see the daughters of the land; Shechain, the prince, saw her, took her, and defiled her " Genesis xxxiv.

Sailors and soldiers, steamers and fishermen, river, canal, and watermen, and families, the voice of God loudly calls upon you also from the bible, saying, “ Add to your faith, virtue, temperance," according, as a converted restored sailor fisherman apostle was inspired of the Holy Ghost to write, saying, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, "in every room, every house, every street, every ship, every boat, barrack, garrison, publichouse, company, church, chapel, and highway," seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter v. "The end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." And another sailor preacher wrote, saying, "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John v. Therefore now being nearly 80, and as a naval sailor formerly, and a minister of the gospel, in the United Kingdom, and upon the Continent, 55 years; now, in closing the year 1859, and looking forward to begin the year 1860, I would most solemnly advise that the Virtue Abstainers' Moral Reform Christian Mission be established and promoted by all evangelical ministers, churches, and hearers, and by all converted sailors and soldiers, and their families, with this New Year's Covenant Vow and Pledge:-" 1 promise (by divine assistance) to add unto my faith, virtue, temperance, and godliness, for the good of mankind and the glory of God. I will not be negligent,' that ministers, congregations, sailors, soldiers, wives and families, fathers, mothers, and children, may be in remembrance; yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, "to slir you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle. Moreover I will endeavour, that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance." 2 Peter i.: and as the Royal Proclamation of Her Majesty and "Our Privy Council," publishing to the whole British empire, at home and abroad," For the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for the preventing of vice and immorality, we will upon all occasions distinguish persons of piety and virtue: and we do charge all officers and ministers, (the Queen says) and all our subjects whom it may concern, to be very vigilant, to incite and stir up to the practice of piety and virtue; that all vice may be prevented, and religion and virtue practised by all officers, private soldiers, mariners, and others employed in our service, by sea and land: we do strictly charge all commanders and officers, that by their own good and virtuous lives and conversations, they do set good examples to all under their care and authority. Given at our Conrt of St. James's, June 21st, 1837. God save the Queen." And the bible now records that " a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." Prov. zii. The scripture also concludes with this gracious and glorious testi. mony concerning" a virtuous woman, her price is far above rubies. The beart of her husband doth safely trust her. She will do him good all

The Virtue Moral Reform Christian Mission.

and well acquainted with the fiery darts of hell against the ministry and the church, I am commanded to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not only against flesh, but" looking to all the armies of hell, and their king, Abadon, the Destroyer, Rev. xi., I read the millions of evil spirits at war with us in the church and the world, are mustered as "Principalities and powers, the Kulers of the Darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places Therefore we are commanded to take the whole armour of God; "praying always with all prayer, and watching with all perseverance." Eph. vi.

Evangelical ministers of the Church of England, at home and abroad, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord: Him that has called us to glory and tirtue, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust. Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, temperance. For if ye do these things ye shall never fall. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." 1 and 2 Peter. "Abstain from all appearance of evil: and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." I Thess. v. Evangelical, Presbyterian, and Independent ministers, "Add to your faith, virtue," and also" abstam." For it is written by the holy and blessed apostle, Paul, "I find a law that when I would do good, evil is present; I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind." Romans vii. Baptist and Methodist ministers, "Add to your faith, virtue," and also "Abstain;" For concerning the directions and admonitions of the scripture, "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter i. Evangelical converted male and female regenerate believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether members of church, dissenters, or methodists, in all parts of the world, "Add to your faith, virtue," and also" abstain," that ye may conquor the world. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," is the world's trinity. Judah fell by the wayside, seeing Tamar the widow; Gensis xxxviii. David fell by the sight of the eyes; 2 Samuel xi. The blessed restored apostle whom Jesus made a fisher of men, wrote of them who had "spots and blemishes," in the professed church, who he said, "feast with you, having eyes full of adultery, beguiling, unstable souls; wells without water. They allure through much wantonness; those that were clean escaped. If, after they have escaped the pollution of the world, they are again entangled and overcome, the latter end is worse than the beginning," Peter ii. Job said, amidst all his afflictions, and all his snares and temptations of the enemy, this venerable and blessed patriarch said to all his friends, however they might distrust and reproach him, yet he said, "I made a covenant with my eyes. Why, then, should I think upon a maid?" And the Lord Jesus preached to the multitudes on the mountain, in the open air, saying, "Blessed are the poor in heart." "If thy right eye offend thee, cast it from thee." Matt. v. Solomon wrote, 66 Let thine eyes look right on: ponder the path of thy feet: remove thy feet from evil." "Look not upon the wine; it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an

Sailors and soldiers, steamers and fishermen, river, canal, and watermen, and families, the voice of God loudly calls upon you also from the bible, saying, "Add to your faith, virtue, temperance," according, as a converted restored sailor fisherman apostle was inspired of the Holy Ghost to write, saying. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, "in every room, every house, every street, every ship, every boat, barrack, garrison, publichouse, company, church, chapel, and highway, "seeking whom he may devour.' 1 Peter ▼. "The end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." And another sailor preacher wrote, saying, "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John v. Therefore now being nearly 80, and as a naval sailor formerly, and a minister of the gospel, in the United Kingdom, and upon the Continent, 55 years; now, in closing the year 1859, and looking forward to begin the year 1860, I would most solemnly advise that the Virtue Abstainers' Moral Reform Christian Mission be established and promoted by all evangelical ministers, churches, and hearers, and by all converted sailors and soldiers, and their families, with this New Year's Covenant Vow and Pledge :-" 1 promise (by divine assistance) to add unto my faith, virtue, temperance, and godliness, for the good of mankind and the glory of God. I will not be negligent,' that ministers, congregations, sailors, soldiers, wives and families, fathers, mothers, and children, may be in remembrance; yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, "to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle. Moreover I will endeavour, that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance." 2 Peter i.: and as the Royal Proclamation of Her Majesty and " Our Privy Council," publishing to the whole British empire, at home and abroad," For the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for the preventing of vice and immorality, we will upon all occasions distinguish persons of piety and virtue: and we do charge all officers and ministers, (the Queen says) and all our subjects whom it may concern, to be very vigilant, to incite and stir up to the practice of piety and virtue; that all vice may be prevented, and religion and virtue practised by all officers, private soldiers, mariners, and others employed in our service, by sea and land: we do strictly charge all commanders and officers, that by their own good and virtuous lives and conversations, they do set good examples to all under their care and authority. Given at our Conrt of St. James's, June 21st, 1837. God save the Queen." And the bible now records that “ a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.” Prov. zii. The scripture also concludes with this gracious and glorious testi. mony concerning" a virtuous woman, her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust her. She will do him good all

Morning Psalm for Closing the Year in Prayer and Hope.

the days of her life. She is like the merchant ships; she bringeth her food from afar; she perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Strength and honour are her clothing. She looketh well to the ways of her household; her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleth. She is not afraid of the snow for her household. Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Now, then, let us begin the New Year by forming Institutions through the kingdom, as The Virtue Abstainers' Moral Reform Christian Mission.

Morning Psalm for Closing the Year in Prayer and Hope.

These are my scripture verses, comforts, trust, and hopes, this Monday morning, December 12th, after all my preachings and labours in the chapel and streets yesterday, with tracts, and at the long new Pier with ships, and in my open air services in the afternoon; and reckoning from scripture reading and secret prayer till the prayer meeting after our preachings, and then the last meeting in a dwelling house, up to near ten o'clock. Now glory be to God for this morning, recollecting the words in Psalm ixxi. 21. I read through the psalm and prayed over it, as I have often done, and then I marked the following verses as mine this morning for closing the old year of 1859:-"In thee O Lord do I put my trust. Be thou my strong habitation, where I may continually resort. For thou art my Rock aud my Fortress. Thou art my trust from my youth," as I was called by grace at Reading, in Berkshire, at the age of 21 years. "By thee have I been holden up from the womb. Thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb.' For she might have died and been a coffin to me just before time for me to be born. "I am as a wonder to many." Yes, Lord, that is indeed the truth with me, and a greater wonder of free grace to myself. "Cast me not off in the time of old age," for 1 an now nearly 78 years old. "O my God, make haste for my help. I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more," and as for all future labours, "I will go in, the strength of the Lord," and in preaching and prayer, "I will make mention of thy righteousness, even thine only" Blessed be God, I can say, with David," Hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works," both by sea and land, in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, Spain and France. "Now, also, when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not;" and I think I may venture to hope, after all my persecutions, trials, imprisonments, and sufferings, that I may add, "Thou who hast shewed me great and sore troubles" for the last forty years, "shalt quicken me again ;" and then, in conclusion I dont know but perhaps through the sovereign, unmeritted grace of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, I may almost venture to say, "Thou shalt increase my greatness and comfort on every side," and I may at last conclude, as David did in the blessed 71st Psalm, "My lips shall rejoice when I sing unto thee, and my soul which thou hast redeemed," even Jesus Christ at Gesthemane and Calvary, and perhaps, I may almost venture, as the most anworthy, tried, and persecuted minister,-perhaps I may look up unto

the Lord, and say, in conclusion, if I live to see the approaebing New Year of 1860, "My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long, for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt."-G. C. S.

Early Rising on Lord's Day-the Preacher's Blessing.

What a blessing from God Almighty it is to enjoy early rising, and the grace of God to pray without ceasing, as the scripture enjoins. Last evening being Saturday night, we had a blessed prayer meeting as usual in our temperance halt, and having retired to rest, praising God for thus concluding every week in the service of Jesus Christ; and then this morning, as I prayed earnestly last nigh, that the Lord would wake me at five o'clock this morning, that I might read the bible; for that's the time to read and pray, and think, and praise, at five and six every morning. Oh, the sluggard! who neglects his thanks and praises each morning at five and six, to whom God has given sleep, to refresh and renew his energies for the labours of the coming day, and commanded as we are to "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. xxvii.; and our Divine Master says, every day," Be ye also ready; for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke xii,

Thus having read Isaiah liv., and prayed over it, in my bedroom, as my Old Testament morning chapter, and 2 Thessalonians i. and ii., as my New Testament chapters, going regularly through the bible every day. I now prayed as usual for all relations, individually, and all our friends and agencies by name, until I concluded as usual with humble hope and confidence; and now, as seven o'clock was approaching, I hastened to attend our sabbath day regular meeting for praise, scripture reading, and prayer, with such two or three persons who may attend; and having read Ephesians i. and ii, we sang and prayed: then I delivered an address, commenting on these blessed words, "The exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us, though Christ Jesus.' Eph. ii. The prayer meeting followed, and 1 concluded in prayer just about eight o'clock this morning rejoicing, as I always do, at the words of Jesus Christ respecting such meetings.

Now all this was before breakfast, and then I entered my closet for another halt hour's communion with God, in the anticipation of my text and sermon for this morning; and having finished my breakfast at nine o'clock, I now look to Isaiah, chapter xliii., and consider the blessed words I shall preach from this morning ;-" Fear not, I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name. Thou art mine." Lord, I hum. bly and thankfully believe I am thine.

One o'clock. Having preached this morning, I have delighted to describe, that born as we are to troubles in this world, the chief blessing we require, passing through this wilderness, is solid substantial scripture comfort, which God alone can give, through the Lord Jesus Christ, by pardon, salvation, and the prospect of eternal glory. Thus I preach both afternoon and evening, also visiting ships end sailors, and praising God for neighbourly prayer meeting after preaching, until past nine o'clock-for my days and hours belong to God.

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The Sailors' and Soldiers' Magazine, Band 40,Ausgabe 1