104 Cause of Seamen.-Bible Era. Lord Jesus Christ, that he would a note of high praise to the God of grant us, according to the riches of the seas. You, sir, will not fail to his glory, to be strengthened with make the paper, of which you are the might by his Spirit in the inner man,' ,"editor, an instrument of advancing that we may be "always abounding in the best interests of this long neglectthe work of the Lord.” ed, but truly important and valuable class of men. Might not Christians do an important work by putting one number of your paper on board every ship in your harbor, every week?” [So. Intell❜r. "In the fellowship of saints, we remain yours, &c. "W. GOODELL, CAUSE OF SEAMEN Extract of a letter to the Editor of the Intell igencer, from a Clergyman, who sailed from harleston in June last, in one of the packets for New York, dated. From the Rhode Island American. THE BIBLF ERA. If there were nothing else, the institution of "the British and Foreign Bible Society" is sufficient of itself to designate the commencement of the "New-York, June 30, 1823. "On the passage we several times joined in prayer, and service was per-nineteenth century, as an era of the formed at table. On such occasions very first importance--nothing analothe passengers and sailors gave a gous to which has previously existed. serious & respectable attention. Capt. It is fraught with more important conencouraged us to perform our sequences to future generations, duty. One evening, when the rain throughout our world, than all the and winds prevented him from com-political changes (simply considered) ing below, he came to the cabin win- in the nations, which have been efdow and said to us, "I must do my fected by military prowess, from the duty here, do your duty below." He age of Nimrod to this day. Already often spoke to me very favorably in has it put into operation, an engine of regard to the benevolent exertions of such moral power, as bids defiance to Christians to establish religious in- opposing efforts. It stands pre-emistruction among seamen, and said that nent, like the sun in the centre of his he meant to do all he could to promote system; and, by diffusing its benign the same cause. This is highly hon-influence to the remote regions of the orable to him, and I most sincerely wish that all masters of vessels would unite with him in doing good. The seaman's life is truly a life of hardship as well as of danger. They have numerous temptations to vice, to which other men are not exposed. Shall they not call forth the sympathies and the beneficence of the friends of Christ, and the souls of men? They are not incapable of receiving religious instruction, or of being actuated by religious motives. Their souls are as valuable as the souls of other men; and if saved through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, they will raise earth, it has called into being, and put in harmonious motion, a number of inferior orbs; each in its own sphere, sending forth moral light warmth and animation, through a dark world of bewildered pilgrims. Already are their eyes fastened on its splendor; and they are coming out from the shadow of death, to obtain a brighter inheritance. The time is passed by for successful opposition. Soon after the British and Foreign Bible Society commenced, Lord Peterborough and a few other prelates of similar cast, seeing it begin to flow in a small rill, disliking the complexion of its waters and apprehending that it might American Colonization Society. 105 invade their possessions, attempted to || Montserado where the settlement obstruct its progress. Immediately has been commenced & where a town it became a river. A second attempt has been regularly laid out, is well increased it to a torrent. A third situated for trade, and will, it is swelled it to a deluge; and they (it ap- thought, become a place of great impears) were overwhelmed and disap-portance. AMERICA COLONIZATION SOCIETY. The following are some of the ob peared. 2. The laws in most of the slave The American Colonization Society was organized at the commencement of the year 1817. The Board of managers holds its meetings in Washington. The anniversary meet ing of the Society is held in the Capitol in January. The President is the Hon. Bushrod Washington of Vernon in Virginia. On the list of its Vice Presidents are found the names of Mr. Crawford of Georgia, Mr. Clay of Kentucky, Gen. Mercer holding States prohibit (and, as is of Virginia, Gen. Harper of Maryland, generally thought, for good reasons,) Bishop White of Pennsylvania, Pres- the emancipation of slaves. Many ident Day of Connecticut, and Gov. slave owners feel anxious to do somePhillips and Mr. Webster of Massa-thing effectual for the benefit of those chusetts. The object towards which whom Providence has made so entirethis Society is directing all its efforts is the establishment of a Colony of free laws, and the public safety, and the ly dependent on them. blacks from this country on the coast welfare of the blacks themselves of Africa. In the prosecution of this forbid their emancipation. The Codesign, they have already purchased lony will afford to these benevolent a large tract of country on the west-masters, and there are many such, ern coast of that continent, and sent the means of confering on their out to it about 200 settlers as the slaves the greatest possible benefitcommencement of the Colony. This liberty and all the privileges of freeterritory, to which the name Liberia has been given, is healthy, especially to the blacks, with a fertile soil, well wooded and watered, on the banks of a large river 3000 miles long, and with one of the best harbors from one end of the continent to the other. Cape men. But the personal knowledge when he says V 106 The Best Civilization.-Rock Honey. 3. The slave trade-that outrage | The conversion of the Wyandotts, on humanity that commerce in the and some others of our Indians is a blood and souls of men-is still car-demonstrative proof of the power of ried on to a tremendous extent, and the gospel to reform the savage heart, with aggravated horrors. It is sup-even before the light of civilization posed that every year no less than 60,- has enlarged his understanding and 000 slaves are carried in chains from changed his mode of living. And Africa. Now the only way in which this truth is fully developed and conthis horrible traffic can be effectually firmed in the early history of the suppressed is the establishment of church, and the labors of the primiColonies along the coast, which shall tive preachers and evangelists. When open to the natives the sources of a they went forth to preach "Jesus and lawful trade, and not only so but the Resurrection," they did not wait shall be able by their military and for the slow process of civilization to naval force, decidedly and effectually prepare the way for the introduction to prohibit this trade which the Unit- of gospel truth; but they addressed ed States' Courts have denounced as themselves in the name of the Lord piracy, and which has been formally immediately to the heart, and poured abolished by every civilized nation the light of divine truth into the unexcept Portugal under heaven. derstanding; and civilization follow4. This colony if properly support-ed as an effect of religious reformaed & cherished will be the foundation tion: So our modern missionaries, of a mighty empire. The settlement following, though at a respectful disof Montserado may extend itself by tance, the footsteps of their venerable degrees-schools and churches, villa-predecessors in the missionary field, ges and towns and cities may spring have witnessed similar results. The up along the coast-the ensigns of natives have bowed their necks to the liberty may be planted there-halls yoke of Christ, have felt the transof legislation and justice may be er-forming power of truth upon their ected--agriculture and arts may flour-hearts, and the work of civilization ish there-commerce may spread her has commenced under the influence sails along the coast-and the 200 settlers who are now exposed to peril and distress, may be the fathers of a nation which shall carry the institutions of freedom and the light of the gospel into all the gloomy recesses of Africa. Christians! remember this object in your prayers; remember it in your contributions. [Rec'r. From the Methodist Magazine. THE BEST CIVILIZATION. "It has been a question among theorists, whether it be practicable to evangelize a barbarous people before they become civilized. This question has been recently completely set to rest, by the most irresistible of all evdence, that of actual experiment. of religious excitement, which it is hoped will eventuate in their complete emancipation from barbarian thraldom. Thus, while christianity shall reform the heart, science shall enlarge and refine the understanding, and the arts of civilized life, meliorate and adorn their conduct in domestic and civil society." Human Life: by exposure to the weather, becomes hard, and of a color which cannot easily be distinguished from the rock itself. Suppose a person making an incision, in this outside coat of wax; by applying his mouth to it, he would easily succeed in sucking out plenty of honey. To a person viewing him from a little distance, and observing some of the honey dropping from his chin, he would seem to be sucking honey from the flinty rock. about in the garb of pilots, offering their services. Being ignorant, and curious to know what all these things meant, I applied to a grave old man who stood by, giving instructions to the departing passengers. His name, I remember, was the genius of human life. "My son," said he, "you stand on the banks of the stream of Time; all those people are bound for Eternity, that undiscovered country from which no traveller returns.. The country is very large, and divided into two parts: The one called the Land of Glory, the other the King The bees frequently cover trees in the same manner, with their honey and wax. I have seen also the gable end of a Dutch farmer's house plas-dom of Darkness. The names of those tered over in the same way. It proved to him a perpetual mine of honey; for he had no sooner cut and carried away a portion of it for the use of his family, than the bees set to work to fill up the excavation he had made. As his necessity required continued supply, he kept them constantly at work. They are most expeditious workers in winter, for that is the flower season in such climates.-Rev. J. Campbell. HUMAN LIFE. in the garb of pilots, are Religion, Virtue, Pleasure. They who are so wise as to choose religion for their guide, have a safe, though frequently a rough passage; they are at last landed in the happy climes, where sighing and sorrow for ever fly away; they likewise have a secondary director; Virtue; but there is a spurious Virtue, who pretends to govern by himself, but the wretches who trust to him, as well as those who have Pleasure for their pilot, are either shipwrecked or cast away on the kingdom of dark ness. But the vessel in which you AN ALLEGORY.-An Extract. A few mornings ago as I was taking must embark approaches;-you must begone; remember what depends on my walk upon an eminence which commands a view of the Forth, with your conduct." No sooner had he the vessels sailing along, I sat down, ed by these pilots I mentioned before; left me, than I found myself surroundand taking out my Latin Bible, open-immediately I forgot all that the ed by accident, at a place in the book old man had said to me, and, seduced of Job. ix. 25. "Now my days are passed away as the swift ships." by the fair promises of Pleasure, chose Shutting the book, I fell musing on this affecting comparison. Whether the following happened to me in a dream, or waking reverie I cannot tell: but I fancied myself on the bank of a river, or sea, the opposite side of which was hid from view, being in-carried on, regardless of the past—of volved in clouds and mist. On the the future unmindful. On a sudden shore stood a multitude, which no the sky was darkened, the winds man could number, waiting passage.bottom of the deep-the angel of the roared, red rose the sand from the I saw a great many ships taking in passengers; and several persons going chor with a fair gale, the sky serene, him for my director; we weighed anthe sea calmn; innumerable little isles lifted their green heads around us covered with trees in full blossom; dissolved in stupid mirth we were waters lifted up his voice. At that some ant, sending her cries abroad, “A fabrication! a fabrication!" Why is this uncharitable exclamation? permit us to ask For what purpose would a young man who has already commenced preaching the gospel of glad tidings, tell a fabrication to a companion Instant a strong ship passed by; I saw many of which begin to create so much inter Religion at the helm; "Come out from est in the community, has been the means among them," he cried. I and a few of saving one soul? The patronage extendothers threw ourselves into his ship.ed to all such now in existance is not lost. For The wretches we now left were toss-the expense of supporting them, the commued on the swelling deep; the waters nity has been doubly repaid One soul saved! on every side, poured through the One soul is worth a world! But methinks I riven vessel; they cursed the Lord; hear incredulity, with all the industry of the when, lo! a fiend rose from the deep and, in a voice like distant thunder, thus spoke "I am Abaddon, the first born of death-ye are my prey; open thou abyss to receive them." As he thus spoke, they sunk, and the waves closed over their heads. The storm was turned into a calm, and we heard a voice saying, "Fear not, for I am with you; when you pass through the waters they shall not overthrow you." Our hearts we e filled with joy. I was engaged in discourse, when one from the top of the mast cried, "Courage, my friends, I see the fair haven, the land that is yet afar off." I started and awaked. I CARLISLE, SEPTEMBER 5. RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. in whom he had so much confidence as to re late to him his religious experience, the means which God had used to call him to his duty. "By asserting (replies the objector) that such great benefits have flowed from periodical works, is but a roundabout manner of tell ing you to subscribe for them "Where will such a reason lead us? It will lead to this con clusion, that religious people are rascals and falsifiers! We hope there are few in this land where religion and religious institutions are so much respected, that are disposed to brand the leaders in the precepts of the gospel, as such vile and obnoxious beings, acting altogether from sinister motives --But where is the improbability of a person being awakenWe have just been reading an account of ed by such means? Will it be doubted for a the effects produced, by reading the New moment but that many things are communiYork Christian Herald, on the mind of a cated in religious publications, highly calculatyoung man, who has since gone through the ed to awaken the most serious reflections in regular course of studies, preparatory to the mind of the reader, when it is left open entering on the duties of a christian minister. to receive them? If this be admitted, the It was no less than that of directing him to fact must stand good, that many do receive the Bible. We shall give it in his own words.impressions from them, let the motives for Being asked by a friend, what give rise to his communicating an instance be what they may. first impressions? he answered, "I was once But the only reason given for calling this a very wild, but particularly ambitious It hap-fabrication, is, that it is calculated to secure pened (what a providential circumstance!) that I came in the way of the "Christian Her ald" which I read. But at the time it was more to please my friends than for my own gratification. At length I became interested in the Herald, & my mind was awakened to a sense of my situation as a sinner. Soon I was led to the Bible and betook myself to prayer We need scarcely add, that God heard his supplications,—He is the prayer hearing God: And is it so, that thro' the instrumentality of one of our religious periodical publications, patronage to these publications, and thus increase the income of their proprietors! Now, supposing that the facts which they object to be true, where is the crime in shewing the advantages of patronizing them? There can be none. They are put in operation for the purpose of doing good; and it is an assurance that the professions of the editors were not empty, when their promises are realized. If fruits of their labors were evident, some would object to them on this account |