fears, and hopes which attended such new and untried modes of doing good.

The more extended prose writings of bishop Heber, such as his various journals of travels and his sermons, we have not designed particularly to notice on this occasion. We would remark, however, that the former have excited a strong interest in the public mind, and been extensively perused, and that his sermons-those preached in England at Lincoln's Inn,* are polished, elegant, and learned productions. The train of reasoning in them is generally connected and clear-many single representations are, we think, striking. But though rich in thought, and sometimes instructive and impressive, they were designed for a particular class of hearers, possessing a fastidious character, and on this account, as well as from the nature of the topics, they cannot promise extensive or general utility. As a preacher he seems to have been highly popular and acceptable. With a portion of his theology, as our readers see we have little agreement; we regret his errors, and believe that but for them, he would have effected a much greater amount of good. Should it be thought that his false opinions must have been of a very harmless nature, connected as they confessedly were with so much worth of character, and so much activity in the cause of religion, as bishop Heber manifested, it is to be observed that these results may have taken place in spite of his doctrinal incorrectness

that they may have proceeded only from the truth which he held in common with other christians—and might have been still greater, purer, and more heavenly, had there existed no debasing intermixture of error. Bishop Heber doubtless presented an instance of a man, whose natural amiableness and sweetness of temper, covered, in a great measure, the offensive points of belief which he held; and as he did not embrace much that was offensive, little could be wanting towards procuring for him, if not decided universal esteem, yet what may be appropriately called, an almost unbounded popularity.

No comparison could be made, for example, as to natural disposition, between Heber and Scott. That religion softened the rough temper of the latter, only shows its power over our moral constitution under the most unfavorable circumstances. Connected with the natural loveliness of Heber's disposition, it might, in its highest and purest exercises, have made him another apostle John, or archbishop Leighton.

* His Sermons in India and a volume of Parochial Sermons have since appeared.

ART. V.-SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY.

Seamen's Devotional Assistant, and Mariner's Hymns. By Joshua LzaVITT. General Agent of the American Seamen's Friend Society. New York, published by the Society. 1830. price 37 1-2 cents.

THIS is the most valuable collection of hymns, which has ever fallen under our notice. The excellent editor has very properly felt, that the religious exercises of seamen ought not to be conducted in a language peculiar to themselves; and has therefore given us in this work, a selection of devotional exercises in verse, which is admirably adapted to the use of all classes of christians. The hymns (six hundred and twenty in number) are all short, and are selected with much taste and judgment. Many of them are derived from sources, which are new to the generality of christians in this country, particularly the German Lutheran collection, and a recent work of Mr. Montgomery. While we rejoice to see such a work put into the hands of our seamen, we should regret to see its advantages confined to that class alone. We would, therefore suggest the expediency of printing an edition of the work, for general use, with a title somewhat altered in accordance with such a design. At the price of 37 1-2 cents, it would be considerably cheaper than any similar collection now before the public; and would be excellently adapted to the use of private religious meetings at the present day.

To the bymn-book are appended prayers for divine worship on the sabbath, and devotional exercises for every day in the week. Though every christian must conduct his secret devotions chiefly in the language of his own heart, still we think these forms are peculiarly appropriate in a work designed for seamen. As a class they especially need assistance of this kind, particularly in conducting social worship to which few of them have been accustomed. The prayers are chiefly compiled from those excellent forms which are furnished by the book of Common Prayer.

We turn now from this work designed for the benefit of seamen, to consider the efforts which have been made for the benefit of this interesting class of men.

It is one of the striking circumstances foretold concerning the church in her final prosperity, that she shall be called "sought

And the present generation has witnessed the establishment of a wonderful variety of exhibitions, designed for this purpose, to search out and remedy the condition of various portions of the human family. In this way the state of our fellow-men becomes known, and christian sympathy is awakened towards those who are without God. We thus learn the varied forms in which the god

of this world enslaves his willing servants, and the varied misery to which that ignoble servitude leads. Prayer is thus excited, and christians are aroused to efforts for the removal of evils so multiplied and dreadful. And what is more, by such investigations they learn to modify their efforts according to the actual circumstances of the several classes and conditions of men. The gospel is indeed the only effectual remedy for all these forms of evil. No other application can reach the root of the mischief. All ap plications for human improvement, for the reform of evils, or for the permanent removal of sin and woe, are of course ineffectual, unless the preaching of the gospel, in "demonstration of the Spirit and with power," forms the leading feature in the plan.

Among the various classes of sufferers whose state has been thus "sought out," there is, perhaps, no one which possesses more points of interest than the seamen of a great commercial country. We include in this class, the whole body of men employed in navigation, both on the ocean and inland. Their romantic courage, their unmeasured generosity, their perpetual vicissitudes and fearful dangers, are among the things which impart a peculiar charm to every thing that relates to sailors. And no small measure of this feeling is awakened in the mind, at the contemplation of measures designed for bringing these hardy sons of the ocean under subjection to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very idea of a converted sailor, bringing all his fearlessness and his frankness to the feet of Jesus, is one which can hardly be contemplated without deep emotion. It is with no ordinary feelings, therefore, that we have seen, within a few years, an institution for the general benefit of seamen springing into existence, and taking its place at once among our national societies of benevolence. Judging others in this respect by ourselves, we have presumed that it would not be uninteresting to our readers to receive a brief account of the movements which have been made for the benefit of seamen, with their happy results.

The first systematic effort to promote the moral welfare of seamen, so far as we have any knowledge, was by "The Bible Society," "which was formed in London in 1780, chiefly through the exertions of that eminent philanthropist, John Thornton, Esq. This was for many years the only society whose sole object was the dissemination of bibles. In 1804, in consequence of the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, this one took the name of the "Naval and Military Bible Society." It has always been, and still is an efficient institution. Thus was the seamen's cause at the foundation of all our modern plans for the diffusion of the word of God.

Although much good was doubtless achieved by the bibles given,

yet the great instrument of usefulness to sinful men is a living ministry. Towards this there was no regular movement till the year 1814. Before this time, God had been preparing the way by bringing to the saving knowledge of the truth a considerable number of scattered individuals, both in the British and the American marine. Among these it is proper to mention particularly the names of Richard Marks and George C. Smith of the British navy, Richard Dale of Philadelphia, and Christopher Prince of New-York.

Mr. Marks was a lieutenant, and was in the battle of Trafalgar, on board the Conqueror. It having pleased God to awaken him by his grace, to the subject of religion, he began in 1809 to hold prayer meetings with a few seamen in the wings of the ship. An interesting account of various incidents growing out of this movement, may be found in that valuable little work by Mr. M. called the Retrospect. Not long after this, he quitted the navy and became a clergyman of the church of England. He has for many years been rector of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. He has retained his concern for the spiritual welfare of seamen, and has exerted a very important influence in promoting various movements for their benefit.

Mr. Smith was an under officer in the British navy. After he became a christian, he entered the ministry among the Baptists, and was settled in Penzance, Cornwall, where he remained until the prospect of doing good to his seafaring brethen drew him to London, where he is now minister of the mariner's church in Wellclose square, and Secretary of the British and Foreign Seamen's Friend Society, and is likewise engaged in promoting many other schemes for overthrowing the kingdom of darkness.

Cominodore Dale was a much respected officer in the American navy during the revolutionary war. He took an early interest in every attempt for the benefit of seamen, and was one of the trustees of the Philadelphia Mariner's Church, till his death in -1826. His meekness and integrity, joined to a sound judgment and pure benevolence, rendered him a great blessing to this cause.

Capt. Prince commanded a ship in the merchant service for many years. Possessing a warm heart and devoted piety, he entered into measures for promoting the gospel among seamen, at once and with all his soul. No one who has seen him at a Bethel meeting, will ever forget his prayers. He still lives at an advanced age, to rejoice in the advancing prosperity of that cause, to which, in its weakest state, his labors were so effectually directed. The present exertions for the salvation of seamen owe their origin to a prayer meeting on the river Thames, which was held on

board the Friendship, Capt. Simpson, a collier brig from Shields This was the 22d day of June, 1814. Zebulon Rogers, a Wesleyan Methodist, has the honor of being the pioneer in the cause of Christ among seamen. The following account given by him of the circumstances, is marked with such peculiar simplicity, that we have thought proper to copy it in the note below.*

The meetings were chiefly confined to the Friendship, and consequently were held only at such times as she was in the Thames, till 1816, when the idea was conceived of making meetings for prayer general, on board of all ships that could be obtained. Soon after, Mr. Jennings, a local preacher, established a sailor's classmeeting. The subsequent winter a lantern was hoisted at the masthead, as a signal to denote the ship where prayer meetings were to be held. As the days lengthened in 1817, and the lantern became useless, Mr. R. was led to devise the Bethel flag, which was first hoisted on the 23d of March, 1817, on board the collier brig Zephyr, Capt. Hindulph. In June of that year, Mr. Smith came to London, and was invited by a friend to go on board and witness one of these meetings. Having been a sailor, and having also employed many private efforts to promote religion among seamen, he was much affected by what he saw and heard. He preached to them the next night, and soon after thought of the plan of having a ship fitted up, as a floating chapel, devoted to meetings for sailors. This was carried into effect the next year, and Mr. Smith preached on board during the summers of 1818 and 1819, with great success. It is estimated that at least fifteen thousand seamen became pious in the coal trade alone. Mr. Smith commenced a sailor's magazine in January 1820, and soon had the pleasure of seeing numerous undertakings for the benefit of seamen in almost every considerable port in the kingdom.

Having had to labor much under strong convictions for sin during some months,and but little atttention being paid me by professing christians, from that day to the present, I have endeavored to assist any persons I saw under similar religious impressions. In 1814, I beheld a person weeping under a sermon in the Wesleyan Methodist chapel, at Silver-street Rotherhithe. When the service was concluded I went to the chapel door, and spoke to him with much tenderness and sympathy, taking him by the hand. I found his name was Capt. Simpson, of the Friendship brig. We soon became well acquainted together; and I took him to our class meeting. He came on shore and invited me on board his vessel, the next voyage. I asked him if he thought his people would come into the cabin and let me pray with him. The captain said go and ask them.' I went to the half deck and told them they were all wanted in the cabin. Cabin, sir,' they said with surprise. Yes all of you.' They all came, I read and prayed with them, and got the captain to pray also. We had one more meeting that voyage; and the next voyage, when he came up, we had another. The Hammond brig lay at the Friendship's quarter, and the captain invited me on board of her to hold a meeting. From that time I went on until

now." Z R.