Sermons to mariners...

Front matter

Class! 451fo

SERMONS

TO

Contents

Preface pa £ e l

Ser inons to Mariners, SERMON I.

Psalm cvii, 23, 24,— 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. ... 9

Preface

them abroad as he appears at home, studying simplicity of speech, that he may be understood by the humblest, and freely indulging in those expressions of tenderness, which are due from the pastor to his people, and which have their use iri promoting reciprocal affection.

In that season of the year, when the greatest number of his seafaring parishioners are at home, they compose an interesting part of a large assembly. By their solemn attention in the house of God, and sometimes by the manifest emotion, with which they have received his counsels from the pulpit, particularly those, which were personal to them, he has been often encouraged. He hopes therefore not to be refused now he solicits in this little volume to go with them to sea. If admitted to be their companion and monitor, he will remark to them on the works and wonders of God in the deep; and will dissuade them from those sinful indulgences, which tend to destroy the soul, and from that presumptuous language, which awakens the divine indignation. He will improve a favourable moment to excite them to repentance and holy resolution; and, to animate them to return unto God,and to give them the fullest assurance of finding mercy if they do, he will present to their faith their mighty advocate at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens. In the dangers which are thick around them, especially in every extremity, he will admonish them to flee to God as a present and willing refuge; and, when the tempest is past, gratefully to acknowledge him, as the God of their salvation. Often is a companion and brother snatched from them by

4 PREFACE

death; on such occasions of surprize and grief, he will be with them, as one who comforteth the mourners. In a word, he will be with them in this little volume at sea, as he is personally with their families at home, anxious to unfold to them the worth of the soul, and to excite them, by every consideration of present comfort,of peace and hope in the dying hour, and of everlasting life and joyio regard the care of it as the supreme concern. And that they may have their minister with them as far as is consistent with this plan, he will lead them to the throne of grace in petitions consonant to his discourses and to the vicissitudes of the voyage. In this manner, so far as is practicable by so humble an expedient, he will continue to them the religious instruction and social devotion of the house of God, or at least of a pious -family.

The author indulges the hope, and to his beloved parishioners he freely expresses his earnest request, that these discourses may be read on suitable occasions to the ship's company. It will lend them an interest, which otherwise cannot be expected; and some may hear them, who* cannot or will not read. In what a dignified and paternal attitude will the Captain, or one of his officers, appear, condescending to instruct his family and to lead them in devotion? It will strengthen the reverence and attachment of every generous sailor to his commander, when he perceives the interest he feels in his highest welfare.

The Sabbath is not a day of rest with mariners in the same degree as with others. But in pleasant weather surely the day can be hallowed with a solemn assembly, a discourse, and a social pray-

PREFACE.

er. This measure would not be without respectable precedent. Not to mention the employment of chaplains in vessels of war, the interesting author of "Christian Researches in Asia" remarks "The East India Company require the Commander or Purser of every ship to read prayers on Sunday, when the weather permits. The service is performed in many cases, in a serious and truly impressive manner; and the acknowledged good effects in such cases convey the strongest recommendation of the measure which has been proposed."*

Not unfrequently, it is apprehended, persons are found on board, who have never been taught to read. The author wasonce called to attend the dyi ng bed of a sailor, who most bitterly lamented his ignorance of divine truth, and his inability to read the bible as the chief cause of it. If the number of this unhappy and, in our land, reproachful description, be not very considerable, humanity as well as christian charity demands some attention to their instruction. Others, however, who have ability, may be indisposed to improve their leisure moments in reading. These are arguments for social reading; and more and stronger arguments might be urged for social prayer. And who, that cannot look through eternity, can calculate the happy effects of the simple exercise, which has been now recommended? A chapter or a discourse, impressively read by abeloved Captain, and folio wed by a solemn prayer, aided perhaps by the influence of a recent storm,or a sudden death,or the simple and melancholy rites of a sea funeral,

PREFACE.

and, above all things else, by the divine blessings may make impression on the mind of the most heedless and ignorant, which shall end in salvation. This labour of love, due to a class of men so little favoured with privileges, so constantly beset with dangers, and so environed and impelled by temptations, it is confidently hoped that no serious and even no generous minded Captain (and such are most that sail) will withhold. To this charity let them be excited by the memorable words of Christ, (whose unparalleled example of condescension to the ignorant, the thankless, and the wicked for their instruction and salvation, should add sweet compulsion to his precept) Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

While the author recommends the reading of the discourses and prayers as a social exercise at sea, he by no means designs to discourage the private reading of them. It is hoped that the sailor in a leisure hour will often take them up, when alone. It has been the author's object to prepare for him a compend of the most needful instruction, and to provide a word in season on every occasion. Is he unhappily embarked with profane companions? Let him fortify his mind against the influence of impious example and the force of ridicule and scoffing, by reading the 4th Sermon. He may find it of happy influence to read the 2d, and particularly the 3d Sermon, before exposing himself to the allurements of a populous town. A perusal of the volume will disclose otheruses of doctrine and caution,of counsel and consolation, to which it may be applied >

PREFACE.

The prayers, though particularly designed for social use, may be used in private, with such alterations as will be obvious to the reader.

Though the author appears as a minister among his parishioners in this volume, he hopes it will not be the less interesting to other mariners on this account, nor less deserving of that encouragement, which the design has so promptly received in several maritime towns.

The author cannot conclude this preface without expressing his grateful sense of the kindness of many of his brethren in the ministry, who have recommended this work to the attention of their seafaring parishioners. Their aid is important in this attempt to benefit an extensive class of the community, whose temptations are many, and whose monitors are few. It has been also a circumstance most encouraging and grateful to his mind, that respectable merchants, in different towns, have^ doubtless with a view to distribution, liberally subscribed for a work, intended for the men, whom they employ. While mariners by their cheerful toils and deprivations are contributing to the wealth of the merchant, it is in him a truly Christian device to render them a gratuitous reward in spiritual things.

With the most fervent prayers to the Father of lights that it may be instrumental of good to the souls of men, the Author submits the work to mariners and the public, and is

their sincere friend

and humble servant,

Beverly. Dec. 1811, A. A-

SERMON I.

THE WORKS AND WONDERS OF GOD IN THE DEF^, OBSERVED AND IMPROVED.

Psalm cvii, 23, 24.

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.

JL HIS beautiful psalm is particularly designed to show the duty of a devout regard to God, and the efficacy of prayer. The sacred writer instances in "travellers in the desert, who have lost "their way, prisoners, sick people, mariners, hus- "bandmen, even whole countries, who, he shows, "are made strangely prosperous, if they have a "regard to God; and, on the other side, fall into "great misery, if they neglect him."* The description of each class of men, adduced to illustrate the general remark, is very pointed and affecting, and is closed with this earnest exhortation: that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

We have selected a passage from the mariner's portion in this psalm, to give occasion to a particular address to a considerable number in this assembly, who may soon leave us, to do business on the mighty waters. Several circumstances render this occasion a solemn one. It is a part-

•Patric.

10 THE WORKS OF GOD IN THE DEEP,

ing with souls, committed to my charge, if not final, at least for a season, leaving us, they will be removed from the reach of admonition, which will be constantly repeated to those who remain. They will cease to have the enjoyment of many of the means of grace, and may also fall into special temptations to forget God and the great concerns of religion. The regular return of sabbath privileges, of temple worship, of social praise, of ministerial instruct! on,and holy ordinances, will be interrupted. Add to this, they are departing into dangers, from which they may never return. These circumstances being justly affecting both to them and their pastor, I hope they will attend to this address with great seriousness, and will indulge me with being very particular and earnest in those counsels, with which I design to occupy the greater part of this discourse.

Let the text lead us,

I. To consider those works and wonders of God , which seafaring men constantly behold in the deep.

We will then endeavour,

II. To apply the subject to them, suitably to their employment and situation.

I. Let us consider those works and wo?iders of God in the deep, which seafaring men constantly behold.

1. The works of God in the deep.

Says the Psalmist, The sea is the Lord^s, and he made it. It is a world of wonders; who can look upon it without admiration bordering on terrour? When it displays to our eyes an unruffled

OBSEKVED AND IMPROVED. H

bosom, and is like a boundless sheet of glass, reflecting the image of heaven, the azure sky and sun by day, and the moon and stars by night, what an august spectacle do we comtemplate! Behold it, at another time, tempest-tost, when God commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves t hereof \ See yonder distressed vessel; they mount up to heaven; they go down to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. How T sublime and terrifick is the w 7 orld of waters in this dreadful commotion! Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.

These are views of the ocean, often presented to the mariner, which the dullest spectator cannot behold uninterested. Yet the surface, however varied by calm or storm, shows not half so many wonders, as lie beneath it. A short discourse cannot admit many things on this inexhaustible subject; I will mention a few, which should engage the thoughtful and pious, while they move upon the face of the deep.

When we expose water for any time to the sun and air, we perceive that it soon loses its salutary qualities, becomes offensive, and is even pestilential. How is it that the ocean is preserved from corruption, so that it is a fit and pleasant abode for the innumerable creatures, which live and play in it; and its very vapours are not only harmless, but even salutary to men, who sail on its bosom or live on its shores? This is effected in the w r ise providence of God by the immense body of salt; by which the waters are impregnated, and that

12 THE WORKS OF COD IN THE DEEP,

continual motion, in which they are preserved by wind and tide*

With respect to living creatures, the ocean is doubtless in a great measure a world unknown to us. We are ignorant of the treasures and of the inhabitants, which lie hid in its dark and unfathomable caverns; but, judging the unsearchable parts of the ocean by those, which we can penetrate and examine, or judging of the waters by the land, we may believe every part well inhabited. It is said that every portion of air, every handful of earth, and every drop of water, is animated with living creatures, chiefly too small to be discovered by the naked eye. It is generally observable also in the watry world, that in proportion to the body of waters, collected together in a pond or lake, a sea or ocean, is the size of creatures found in them. What vast and wonderful creatures, therefore, is it supposeable from analogy, must inhabit those largest oceans on the globe, which the adventurous mariner has been able but very imperfectly to explore.

Without entering the field of conjecture, enough has been discovered of the inhabitants of the deep to claim our grateful wonder and praise to their great Creator. The variety of kinds and of species is almost infinite; large and small; some to devour, and others to be their victims; some excellent for their strength, others for their beauty, and others for their usefulness and comfort to man. There is that leviathan, whom God hath made to play therein* He makeih the deep to

* Psalm civ, 26.

OBSERVED AND IMPROVED. 13

boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. Thus he is described in Job.* %

To pass by other surprising works of God in the deep, astonishing is that inexhaustible supply of fish, which several thousands of enterprising men are annually employed in taking on the banks of Newfoundland, without appearing in the least to diminish their quantity in the course of a century. How worthy also of grateful notice is the circumstance that fish are found on the Grand Bank, not young and old, but all in full size, as if kind Providence had nurtured them in other places, perhaps inaccessible by hook and line, and had conducted them to that spot, as a convenient place of delivery to his dependant creature man. Who can fail to observe the merciful goodness of God, who has caused these fish, and those animals and birds, which are most use* ful to man, the fastest to multiply and the most to abound; while noxious creatures propagate slowly, and seldom appear to annoy us? How manifold are thy works, Lord God Almighty, in wisdom hast thou made them all!

Such are some of the works of God, of which our seafaring brethren are spectators. In the deep also,

2. They see many wonders of his providence.

We all indeed are dependant on the providence of God for our being, and for any comfort and success, which we enjoy in the world. The hus-

J 4 T HE WORKS OF GOD IN THE liEET,

bandman must look to God for his seed time and harvest, for the former and the latter rain; and for all which he gathers for man and beast. Yet the scene of providence occasionally appears more marked with affecting changes on the water, than on the land. A wind or storm, from which we take safe refuse in our houses, brings the mariner into the jeopardy of his life. He has no place of retreat; he must meet the howling tempest and subsist as he can amid the war of elements. Hence with just concern he watches the sky. and perhaps, with the Prophet of Israel apprehends important change from a cloud, rising out of the sea, no bigger than a man's hand. Frequently his fears are realized; and he perceives the vessel at the mercy of the winds, suffering no control from those on board, and hastening to the shore and to almost certain destruction. Many in this assembly have at times felt this to be their own situation; and did you not also look up with the conviction that God only could deliver you? You cried unto the Lord in your trouble? and he bi*ought you out of your distresses. He made the storin a calm, so that the waves thereof were still. Then ware you glad, because you were quiet; so he brought you to your desired haven. Then praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful wo7 % ks to the children of men *

It is not uncommon for us to hear the mariner talking over his dangers and hair-breadth escapes. Surely they were so many occasions of divine kindness and interposal in his behalf. At one

OBSERVED AND IMPROVED. \ ~y

time the wind died away, or shifted to another point, so as just to save him from a rock or shore: Will he ascribe this to chance? or to Him, who gathercth the wind in his hand? At another time a friendly vessel picked him up in the midst oj the ocean, floating on an oar, or exposed in an open boat. Will he call this a lucky accident, and be grateful only to his human deliverer? or also to Him, whose watchful providence brought the deliverer timely to his relief? In regard to ail these occasions, let him say with devout emotion, / have seen the wonders of the Lord in the deep.

We sometimes hear our brethren, who draw treasures out of the water, remarking that they have been lucky and made excellent fares. Let them not forget whose blessing it is, which mak* eth rich. Let them not ascribe too much to their own skill or industry; though a blessing commonly attends the industrious. Let them be very cautious, lest the Prophet's description of some in his time should be applicable to them: They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net and gather them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and are glad: therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous *

Having considered some of those works and wonders of God in the deep, which seafaring men behold and experience, I shall now endeavom\

10 THE WORKS OF GOD IN THE BEEP,

II. To apply the subject to them suitably to their employment and situation.

This, my brethren, you will permit me to do in several distinct counsels or exhortations, which I think of great importance to be observed in your seafaring life. As.

1. Are the works and wonders of God in the deep so great, so surprising, and affecting? Then suffer not your minds to grow careless and ut> observing of them. Things which are familiar we are apt to behold only with a glance, and to think little of them. But let not this be the case with you. When you look upon the vast ocean, think how great He is, who made it; how mighty He is, who hath assigned to it a habitation, and fixed his bars, where its proud waves are stayed* Let what you behold lea J you to think also of the wisdom of God; it is wonderfully declared by that amazing multitude of living things, with which the waters are filled; and also by that divine art, with which God preserves the water in a salutary state, purifying it with salt, fanning it with breezes, and swelling it with tides.

Let it be a point of great interest and importance with you to realize the providence of God; that this great family in the deep are all fed by their Maker. Of them particularly the Psalmist speaks — These wait all on God, that he may give them their meat in due season. But especially bring the idea of divine providence home to yourselves; and while you lie on the bosom of the watery waiting and seeking your subsistence, look

Mob xxxviii, U,

OBSERVED AND IMPROVED. 17

upward with a sense of your dependance; acknowledge, gratefully acknowledge it. How strikingly is your case described in that same excellent psalm, to which I have just referred; I mean the 104th, which I recommend to your particular attention — That thougivest them, says David, they gather. How pleasingly does this text show the providence of God and human industry consistently working together! You pull the treasure out of the water; but, I may say, GOD brings it to your hook.

If you acknowledge the providence of God in the success of your labour, be sure to acknowledge it in the preservation of your lives. The sea is a grave always open for the mariner; thousands have been buried in it. G forget not the kind hand, which, unseen, hath delivered you from all your perils. In all your ways acknowledge God y and he shall direct your steps.

2. If you are thus thoughtful, it will be the less difficult for you to keep my second counsel, which I will express in words of holy scripture — Stand in awe, and sin not* This is the grand point; and, in order to carry it, call to your aid all the solemn considerations of the preceding head. Surely, with these present to your minds, you will stand in awe; and, standing in awe, you will not dare to sin. Cultivate, therefore, an habitual sense of the Almighty Maker of sea and land; of his dreadful power, his unerring wisdom, his perfect goodness, his omnipresence. Remember the words of the Psalmist, If 1 dwell in thf

* Psalm ir,. 4r y

18 THE WORKS OF GOD IN THE DEEP, uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.* If you are tempted to sin, consider you have no refuge from the dangers around you but God; and will you forfeit this? You have but one effectual Helper; and will you provoke him against you? As against all sin, so particularly against the sin of profaneness, let me solemnly caution you. I would not wish to conceal my reason for being in this respect particular; it is, that seafaring men are said most frequently to fall into this sin. I by no means consider the charge applicable to all in this way of life. I rejoice in believing, and even in being informed, that many of you are free from this dreadful impiety. With all those, whose consciences convict them of this sin, let me earnestly expostulate. do not this abominable thing, which God hateth. It is a crime directly against himself; and he declares that he will not hold him guiltless, who taketh his name in vain. Will you attempt to excuse yourselves with saying you mean no harm by profaneness; that you fall into it through carelessness? This is what offends your Maker, that you can be careless in regard to him; that you can trifle and sport with his dreadful name. Think you that the third commandment intends only malicious blasphemies? I will not hold him guiltless, saith God, who taketh my name in vain. This expression marks the very sin, which you so freely commit. Let me entreat all, who are thus guilty, to think justly of the horrid impiety, and to repent and

*Psalra exxxix, 9 % id.

OBSERVE© AND IMPROVE*. \Q

offend no more. In that storm, to which the prophet Jonah was exposed, every mariner cried to his God for deliverance. This should be and I trust is the case with you, when in like distress and danger. But can you, with hope and confidence, open that mouth in prayer, which has been commonly employed in venting blasphemies? When the sky is serene and the ocean calm, bar not that door by your profaneness, which you wish may be open to your prayers in a tempest.

3. Let the constant view, which you have of the works and wonders of God in the deep, render you devout. Think it not enough, my brethren, that you lay so much restraint on the tongue, as not grossly to violate the third commandment. It is mentioned in holy scripture as a great sin to forget God, as it is inculcated also as a great duty to remember our Creator. By being devout I mean that you have a temper of mind habitually serious and pious; and that every day you offer unto God thanksgiving and prayer. Let every day be opened and closed with a humble address to your Maker. If this you do with a sincere mind, with what hope and confidence will you be able to flee to him as your friend in the hour of tempest, danger, and death.

4. Let me exhort you not to forget your past dangers and deliverances. These very many of you have experienced, some several times, and many of you on your late return from sea. Then, with some of you, your hope was as the

giving up of the ghost. You were weary, dieheartened, exhausted, despairing: then, when you could do no more, GOD brought you salvation,

20 THE V/ORICS OK GOD IN THE DEEP,

And will you forget it? You received distinguishing mercy Alas! your brethren, where

are they? Not one sad messenger arrives to tell.* — May the impression of that scene attend you now to sea, and, through the grace of God, have the most salutary effects upon your hearts and conversation. Jonah was in danger and was delivered; what was his resolution? / will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed; salvation is of the Lord .f Go, and execute the same.

5. You are about to take leave of your families; then prayerfully leave them with God; and, while absent, commend them every day to his mercy and care. This you can do, and this is all, that you can immediately do for them. For a season your wives must lose the solace of your conversation, and your children the benefit of your counsels; but your prayers, if fervent and sincere, may avail them much. Bearing your families habitually on your hearts before God, humbly submitting them both to his care and his disposal, you will be well prepared to meet them again, wjiether they have been visited in your absence by the smiles or strokes of his providence. What changes may occur God only knows. The experience of some of you in the past season was truly affecting.

6. While diligent in your occupation, seeking treasures hid in the sea, remember there is a

•There was allusion in this passage to the loss of a schooner in the antumn of 1803* belonging to Beverly, with seven men and two boys •/*■ feoardt

fJonah ii> 9*

OBSERVED AND IMPROVED. 21

dearer treasure, which you ought to be ever seeking. While you perceive your dependance on the providence of God to secure your temporal subsistence, for this infinitely more precious treasure, this meat, which endureth to eternal life, feel and acknowledge your dependance on the grace of God. Because removed from our worshiping assemblies, and from some of the means of grace, do not for a moment think that you may be remiss in religion, Rather double your diligence to improve the means, which you still may have. You will by no means neglect to carry with you what the brave and the pious Admiral Nelson calls his cabin companion, a bible. With this be familiar; consult it constantly as your guide, and repair to it as your solace from fatigue, and your support in danger.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Though your ears may not be saluted with the pleasing, solemn sound of the church bell, calling you to public worship; yet do not forget that this blessed day is equally holy on the sea and on the land. You need not deny yourselves the pleasure of social worship. It is indeed your duty; and remember you may obtain the promise — Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them* Should any one of you be tempted to employ holy time in secular business, I recommend to him a striking passage in the history of the Israelites in the wilderness. While they lived on manna, if they gathered in any day more, than was consumed

♦Mf.tt. xviii, '20.

22 THE WORKS OF GOD IN r THE DEEP,

that day, it corrupted and bred worms; except what they gathered on the sixth day for the Sabbath, which remained sweet and good. This may show you that God by his blessing will supply that, which might seem to be lost by suspending labour on his day. Bring this thought home to yourselves, and be persuaded that no man is the richer by any unnecessary labour in holy time. All, that a man might seem to collect on this day, will be like that surplus of manna, gathered by covetous Israelites, which bred worms. Ever remember that the blessing of God on secular business is worth more, than one day's labour in seven; without it, the other six days are spent in vain. I urge the observation of the Sabbath by more solemn and awful considerations; by the authority of God in the fourth commandment; by the resurrection of Christ and the completion of the work of redemption, of which the christian sabbath is designed to be a perpetual memorial; and by the fitness of this, as a mean, to break excessive worldly mindedness, and to fix attention on those great realities, which the gospel reveals and men are so apt to forget. Turn away thy foot from the Sabbath therefore, from doing thy pleasure on God's holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable*