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their devotional exercises on board the Grampus, tranquil and unmolested, to the edification and improvement of some depraved thoughtless sailors they have found on board. The Committee mention this, because these pious seamen were from ships where the Bethel Flags had often been hoisted.

The Sailor's Magazine has proved of the most essential service to the great cause of this Society, embodying the various plans and schemes of benevolent individuals for Seamen, and recording the public meetings of Societies in their behalf. It has given a most powerful stimulus to thousands in this kingdom, who have now become active labourers in our great maritime vineyard. It is now a direct and constant medium of communication to the friends of seamen throughout the world. It forms the most genuine and appropriate source of information of the universal progress of religion among sailors. It furnishes Societies with the most interesting and suitable narratives and circumstances for public reading to sailors, and it now attracts from all quarters the zeal and piety of men who God is disposing to promote religion. In the commercial world, the Committee are happy to say, that its sale is greatly increasing, and that many instances of its real usefulness in the conversion of sailors have come to their knowledge. They invite all the zeal of their friends to promote the circulation of this periodical work.

The Sailor's Hymn Book has also recently issued from the press, in two parts, for the edification and enjoyment of seamen, and Societies connected with them. The selection of Hymns has been carefully made with suitable portions of Scripture, and the work will no doubt be very useful in our various devotional services. Some smaller Hymn Books for seaman have been published; but it was felt that a book on all the various subjects that usually occupy such a work was absolutely necessary to suit the rapidly increasing attention to seamen, and supply ministers and Christian friends with Hymns, adapted to every occasion, on which sea sermons might be preached, or religious services provided for sailors.

(To be Continued.)

HYMN FOR SEAMEN.

By JOHN JACOBS of St. Ives.

YE sons of the main, ye that sail o'er the flood,
Whose sins big as mountains have reached up to God,
Remember the short voyage of life will soon end,
Now come, brother sailor, make Jesus your friend.
Look astern on your life, see your way marked with sin,
Look ahead see what torments you'll soon founder in,
The hard rocks of death, bear fast on your keel,
Then your vessel and cargo must all sink to hell.
Lay by your old compass, 'twill do you no good,
It ne'er will direct you the right way to God;
Mind your helm, brother sailor, and dont fall asleep,
Watch and pray night and day, lest you sink in the deep.
Spring your luff, brother sailor, the breeze now is fair,
Trim your sail to the wind and those torments you'll clear:
Your leading star Jesus, keep full in your view,
You'll weather the danger, he'll guide you safe through.

Renounce your old captain, the devil, straightway,
The crew that you sail with will lead you astray;
Desert their black colours, cruise under the red,
Where Jesus is captain, to conquest he'll lead.

His standard's unfurled, see it wave through the air,
And volunteers coming from far off and near;
Now's the time, brother sailor, no longer delay,
Embark now with Jesus, good wages he'll pay.

The bounty he'll give when the voyage doth begin,

He'll forgive your transgressions and cleanse you from sin,
Good usage he'll give while you sail on the way,
And shortly you'll anchor in heaven's broad bay.

In the harbour of glory for ever you'll ride,

Free from quicksands and danger, and sin's rapid tide,
Waves of Death cease to roll and the tempest be o'er,
The boarse breath of Boreas dismast thee no more.

Your tarpaulling jacket no longer you'll wear,
But robes dipt in Heaven, all white, clean and fair,
A crown on your head that would dazzle the sun,
And from glory to glory eternally run.

NOTICES, &c.-NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.

THE second anniversary of the New-York Bethel Union will be celebrated in the Church on the last evening (Teusday) of this year. The President will take the chair at half past 6 o'clock. The Committee expect to give such evidence of the utility and success of the institution as shall renew its high claim to the favour of their fellow-citizens. We do not know that there is to be a collection, but people had better go prepared. There are many small seaports along our extensive coast, where even the small expense of a Bethel Flag would be a heavy burthen; and when their attention shall be turned to this subject, they will naturally look to the first American Bethel Union for such a donation. Besides, the Union have done but little, as yet, in distributing suitable books among sea men. They should have the means of putting into the hands of sailors that valuable little volume, the "Devotional Assistant,"* designed to aid mariners "in the daily worship of almighty God, at sea," which some of the poor fellows are not able to purchase, though it cost but half a dollar. Suitable books and tracts should also be furnished for sailor boarding-houses. Several addresses will be made after reading the report.

The Mariners' Church is open for divine service three times every sabbath. In the morning at half past 10-at 3 in the afternoon, and at half past six in the evening. We are reminded to give this notice again, by the many inquiries which are made respecting the habitude of sailors in church. The propriety of behaviour which generally obtains among them in church is peculiarly gratifying; and we invite our merchants, and all classes, to unite with them occasionally in public worship. There is a meeting, also, in the Lecture Room under the Church, every Wednesday evening.

Donations for the Society, in wood, lamp oil, candles, or cash, will be thankfully received by R. DAVENPORT, Treasurer, corner of Peck Slip and Front-street, or at this Office, 182 Broadway.

This book, published by the "Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen," is for sale at John P. Haven's Bookstore, 182 Broadway.

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RELIGION IN THE COTTAGE.

It is one bright characteristic of the Christian religion, that its reception ever makes men better than it found them, whatever may have been their previous condition. While it dissipates the dark clouds of error so often thrown around human philosophy, and exalts the highest views of natural reason, it also stoops to enlighten and cheer the tenant of the lowliest cot. It is too late to say that it is the only religion which is adapted to the people of all situations, even the most humble; and that it is the Star of Bethlehem alone that so often soothes and directs those whose condition would otherwise be truly comfortless. There is much instruction to be acquired by seeing the effects of pure religion in the lower walks of life ;for it is there that you find her in her loveliest garb, without any of the fanciful trappings of the fashionable world. The truth of the last remark may perhaps be more clearly illustrated by the following incident, which, though it may contain nothing marvellous is nevertheless a simple fact.

Several years since, while riding through the centre of Connecticut, I was one day unexpectedly caught in a tremendous thunder storm, far, as I feared, from any shelter. The rain was falling in torrents, and those "groaning travellers of the sky-the lightning that glares and the thunder that rends," shook the very ground, and died away in echoes through the surrounding woods, that often startled me. In this dreary condition I arrived unexpectedly at a small thatched hovel, that seemed to promise but a poor retreat from the pitiless storm now raging in its violence. Curiosity as well as the rain urged me to ask for its hospitality. Little ceremony seemed either to be expected or wished at such a time; and in a few moments I was snugly seated beside a good fire, kindled with small sticks, which lay in bundles round the hearth, and which bore marks of having been gathered by a female. The only inhabitants of this little mansion seemed to be a neat, modest young woman, and her son, a little white headed boy, who kept near her, as if afraid of strangers. The cottage contained but one room, which was furnished with a bed, a VOL. IX.

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table, a few crazy chairs, and a small book-shelf, that contained a very few books, among which I noticed a small Bible. The rain was pouring into this dwelling from almost every quarter, as it was too ill covered to keep out the storm. The only light we had, came in through the crevices of the roof and sides, for there was no window in the building. I looked around with surprise to see a woman so cheerful, and composed, while deprived of so many of the necessaries of life. I inquired if she was contented to live in such a situation, and if she was not very much dejected with her condition; turning my eyes at the same time to a stream of water pouring in from the roof. "I might be discontented, Sir," she replied, as she placed a large pan to catch the water," I might be discontented with this life, were I not fully convinced that my lot is far better than I deserve, and will one day be exchanged for a better-I mean in heaven!" There was a resignation in her countenance that surprised me. She wiped her eye with a corner of her clean apron, and at my request gave me a brief history of her life. She had married while young, with bright prospects of happiness and worldly felicity. But she was disappointed in the companion of her life. Her husband soon threw off his assumed mask, and showed himself almost destitute of humanity. He drank to excess, and lost his little property at the gambling table among companions as worthless as himself. Often would he return home late at night, drunk and cross, to abuse his poor wife, whose only comfort was to sit for his return, and weep over her little boy as he lay slumbering, unconscious of her grief. Afflictions always make men either better or worse. Upon her, they had a happy effect; they drove her to ber Bible, and taught her, that amid all her trials, there was a fountain of hope which would never fail-a friend to the wretched who never forsakes. She thus learned how truly this life is a pilgrimage, how few were our earthly joys, and she placed her heart, her hopes, and anticipations in heaven, and was comforted. With cheerfulness and serenity, she now endured all the hard treatment of her husband, and no longer repined at her lot. She even informed me, that when alone with her little boy, while the raging winds threatened to crush her little cottage, she had enjoyed seasons of communion with the Father of her spirit, which more than compensated for all her loneliness. On being asked if she could earnestly pray for the salvation of her husband, she replied, "while there is life I can pray and hope; and often with tears and an anguished heart do I kneel for my poor husband, while he is ruining himself at places,-which a wife cannot mention." After a long conversation with this interesting woman, as the rain subsided, I left her, exhorting her to patience and faithfulness, not knowing as I should ever again be permitted to see her on the shores of mortality; and wondering not a little on the various, though necessary means which God employs to train his children up for immortality.

During the several years succeeding this visit at the cottage, among the numerous avocations which constantly surrounded me, I had al

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wost forgotten the contented, though leaky little hovel which protected me from the storm; and perhaps I should never again have recalled all the circumstances of the visit, had I never again passed the same road. But in the middle of the last summer my business called me to travel past the same cot. It was on a still moonlight eve in July, that I ascended the small hillock that again presented the little cottage to view. It stands at the foot of a wild, but charming mountain. I stopt my horse, and in a very few moments memory had placed before me every detail of my first visit. There were many interesting associations of ideas, which my situation naturally suggested. And the scenery too was more than delightful. On the right, the rugged mountain reared its everlasting butments of stone, and defied all the blasts and gnawings of time. On the left, just through a narrow copse of woods, the spreading lawns sloped as far as the bright moon would enable the eye to range; while the wild bounding stream, as it dashed along the side of the mountain, seemed to break the stillness, that would otherwise seem complete. Indeed, so still and silent was all around, and so quietly slept every leaf of the forest, that one was almost startled at the trampling of his own horse. It was now after ten o'clock, as I drew near the cottage. As I approached it, I observed it was in the same wretched condition as formerly; and I thence naturally concluded the husband was the same wicked man. The rough board fence before it was much decayed, and every thing exhibited the appearance of neglect. A light glimmered through the crevices of the boards, which gave evidence that the occupants were not retired to rest, and I determined to call. On drawing still nearer, I was not a little surprised to hear a noise within; and at first I feared it was the unfeeling husband, who, just returned from the neighbouring village, was closing another day of sin, by abusing his wife. Nor could I for sometime believe I heard aright, when on stopping my horse, I heard a voice within, praying very distinctly and fervently. While waiting, lest my entrance should disturb the worshippers, I noticed a large dog came round the house from a shed on the back side, and seated himself on the doorstone, without making any noise, as if to protect his master while engaged in devotion; but as soon as the voice of prayer was hushed, he immediately returned to his lodgings. At any other time, and in other circumstances, I might not have noticed this; but now it led me to think of that care, which God takes of all that put their trust in him. I knocked gently at the door, which was opened by the same hand which gave me admittance on a former occasion. The modest woman had forgotten my countenance, and seemed somewhat surprised at seeing a stranger at that time of night. I even thought she looked at me rather suspiciously as I took a seat as if to tarry some time. The subject of religion was soon introduced, and she conversed with the same correctness, though I thought with more animation and apparent delight than when I before saw her. On being asked if she was still contented with her condition, she recognized the stranger who had formerly sheltered him

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