12 History of John Robins the Sailor. et, and pulling out the Bible he shewed it to me, I looked at it, and on the first page I perceived the following words which I had written about twenty years ago, and as I read I could not help feeling emotions of lively interest and exquisite pleasure." I.Tpresents this book to John Robins, hoping that he will read it with attention and prayer, when he is far away from his native land, and that he will treasure up its truths in his heart, and live in obedience to its directions. Psalm cxix. 9. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." 2 Tim. iiì. 15, "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." "I have now some transient recollection of the circumstance," said I, "were not you in my Sunday School for several years ?" "Yes, Sir, between five and six years;-my parents were people who cared not for God, who took his name in vain, who broke his holy Sabbaths, and were continually sinning against him with a high hand and an outstretched arm. What I learned at school was very often opposed at home, by the example of my parents, and those who surrounded me; so that good impressions soon wore off, and bad habits were quickly formed. When I was about fifteen, years old, and became rather more my own master, I began to dislike the strict rules of the school, and by keeping bad company with idle lads in the street, I soon became as bad as they were. You often admonished me of my faults, and sometimes my conscience smote me and told me that I was doing wrong; but I was weak and irresolute, so that I was easily led astray by temptation, and became gradually worse and worse. At this time some of my companions were talking of going to sea, and they invited me to accompany them, a proposal to which I readily agreed, and to which my parents did not object. I was ashamed to tell you of my intention, but one of my school-fellows mentioned it, and you paid me the farewell visit, the recollection of which still dwells on my memory with unabated force. "When I was on board the ship, I found myself surrounded with temptations and evil company, without a way of escape ;no Sunday School, no pious teacher, no faithful minister, to counteract the depraved inclinations of my heart, so that I became more hardened in iniquity and increasingly bold in my enmity to God and his ways. The delights which my youthful mind had fondly imagined as attending a seafaring life, all vanished in the reality; and I found hard work, severe discipline, and unpleasant provisions, instead of the constant happiness and unmingled pleasure which I had hoped for. Notwithstanding the progress which I was making in wickedness, and the hardening nature of sin, sometimes I felt myself most truly wretched. Conscience upbraided me in the moments of reflection, with the severest reproaches, I had enjoyed superior privileges to most of my companions, I had received pious instructions in a Sunday Shool,I was able to read the Bible, and had a Bible to read, therefore History of John Robins the Sailor. 13 my depravity was most inexcusable. Sometimes a verse from the Scriptures, or a hymn which you had taught me, would occur to my memory with such force, as to make me for the time completely miserable. Sometimes, the recollection of my teacher, and his instructions, would affect my mind, especially on the Sabbath, and then all my boasted pleasures appeared but madness and misery. How just is that passage of the Bible, into the meaning of which a sailor may, perhaps, be able to enter most fully: The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.' These serious thoughts and rebukes of conscience, however, soon wore off when I returned to my shipmates, and was persuaded to join in their sports, their profane swearing, and habits of intemperance: 'He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed.' Such was I, driven along by the storms of temptation, and tossed on the raging billows of sin. I continued in his majesty's service, in various situations, for seven years, before I returned home: all this time was spent in the service of sin, and I was hastening on, with sails outspread, as fast as I could go, in the course of wickedness and departure from God. I had been, during this time, exposed to innumerable perils, and bad many hair breadth escapes from death; yet the unseen hand of the Almighty kept me safe, and preserved the life of one so undeserving of any mercy. About this time I returned to old England, and was allowed to go home for a few weeks to visit my friends. I found that my father had died about six months before, in a drunken fit, and that my mother was very ill, and in very reduced circumstances. I rejoiced that it was in my power to supply her wants, with the pay I received. At this time I felt a longing desire to go and see my old Sunday School; but the thought of my disgraceful conduct, and the dread of seeing your face, and receiving your reproofs, deterred me from making the attempt. However, William Adams, one of my old school-fellows, who was then become an active pious teacher, happened to meet me in the street a few days before I returned to the ship, and he mentioned the circumstance to you. The next day you called upon me: the sight of my old teacher was like a dagger to my heart. You endeavoured to enter upon serious subjects with me; but I recollect that I purposely steered away from these topics, and tried to put you off by giving an account of some of my adventures, and the battles in which I had been concerned. You engaged in prayer with me; but I recollect that I stopped my ears at the time, that I might not be disturbed in my guilty pleasures, and rendered uncomfortable. You then gave me some Tracts and books, and as you took leave, I could not help observing in your eyes the tears of regret at the hardness of heart which I had displayed. Perhaps your Honour recollects this visit?" "Yes, John, and I remember the next Sunday talking to the Sunday School children of the deceitfulness of sin-the danger of neglecting the instructions they then received-and the evils of bad company: these subjects 14 Letter of the late Richard Reynolds: I enforced by referring to you, and saying that I had once thought you a promising lad; but that you were now become a bold and presumptuous sinner. When I closed these remarks, I said, Let us all pray for poor John Robins, the wicked sailor; O may God keep all the children here present from imitating his bad example." We joined in our prayers at the throne of Grace, and I now begin to indulge some hope that our petitions were not in vain.” (To be continued.) Letter of the late Mr. R. Reynolds, of Bristol. THE following letter was written by him about 12 years ago: "Dear Bridgw. 11th of 6th Mo. 1814. "The sentiment to which thy brother alludes, though I know not that I expressed it to him, was in consequence of a reference to some post-mortuary charities, if thou wilt allow of the expression, when, adverting to the saying of the Apostle, that we were to receive hereafter according to the things done in the body, I contended that these were not deeds done in the body; and I do not think the assertion need be qualified by the alteration thou suggests, of being best done while we are in the body; for in the case under consideration, we keep what we have as long as we are in the body, and would keep it longer if we could. All that we do is to prevent our heirs from doing as we have done, by obliging them to do that which we should have done; and the deed is not done, either by them or by us, while we are in the body. If we should admit there is any merit in the deed, it certainly cannot belong to us who do it not; and that which we do, by enjoining what others shall do, is lessening as much as we can, every thing like merit in them, by depriving them of free agency; especially if they are not the persons to whom the money would have gone if we had died intestate: these, if any, have a right to take credit on account of the act. Perhaps those, if any such there be, who prevent others from having that which the law would give them, would do well to consider, whether the account is properly adjusted by their obliging those to whom they do give it, to apply it to charitable purposes which can do them no credit-the testator certainly can claim none as for a deed done in the body, which, as I said before, neither was then done, nor would have been done had he continued in the body. I am pleased to find the reflection warmed thy heart. I hope it will move thy hands also upon an occasion of which the same post, that brought me thy letter, brought me an account, styled, a Case of Distress, relating that of was drowned near, leaving a wife and nine children, without any provision for their support-that contributions would be received at the Banks there till the 5th inst. after which time, the inhabitants would be applied to personally. I suppose thou art not a stranger to the case-most likely not to the individuals; and as a neighbour-still more as a Parent of a numerous offspring I conclude thy assistance will be proportionahly liberal, nor the less for its being a deed done in the body. I Revivals of Religion. 15 know not who sent me the case, which I did not receive till the time was expired for public contributions-nevertheless, if thou wilt inform me what thou and others have done, and you have left room for more, though a stranger to the persons, and remote from the place, my mite shall not be withdrawn by 66 Thy affectionate Friend, RICHARD REynolds." To the memory of Richard Reynolds, (the Philanthropist,) of Bristal, who died at Cheltenham, 10th September, aged 80 years. BY WILLIAM ROSCOE. On! let no plaint be heard, no murmurs rise, 1040 REVIVALS OF RELIGION. From the American Baptist Magazine. In the Churches of the Madison Association in the State of New York. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Peck. of Cazenovia, dated November 22d, 1816, to the Editor. Dear Brother, IN September the Madison Association met, and enjoyed a very pleasant season. The intelligence from the churches was truly animating. Eight churches were added to the Association at the present meeting; and it appeared by regular returns, that 632 had been added by baptism in the course of the past year! At the close of the business a Missionary Discourse was delivered, and a collection taken for Foreign Missions, amounting to ninety-five dollars and fifty cents, besides two gold rings. Deacon Jonathan Olmstead of Hamilton, at the same time made a donation of cotton cloth to the amount of $100, estimated at the Factory prices. It was truly delightful to see the sacred flame bursting forth with such brilliancy. While writing the above, (continues Mr. Peck,) the youth of this place, together with the young converts from Pompey, to the amount of one hundred, came to make us a visit. I laid aside my pen to attend to them. Some were mourning and crying, What shall we do to be saved? while others were rejoicing and giving 16 Revivals of Religion. praise to God. They spent the afternoon and evening with me. Three of the number found comfort to their souls before they went away. One young man who was in the deepest horror of mind when he left my house, found peace to his soul, before he reached home. A more visible display of the power of God, I never saw. The blessed work still continues. Hoping your precious life and usefulness may be continued in Zion for a long time to come, I subscribe, your brother in the bonds of a precious Saviour, JOHN PECK. Mr. Cyrus Andrews, one of our Missionaries, writes as follows: "I was preparing to fulfil a short appointment from the Hamilton Society, when the gracious Lord, by his Holy Spirit, began his work in the hearts of the dear people in this place. My attention since that time has been taken up, and very happily too, near at home. Ten thousand thanks to the great Author of our being, who hath remembered his holy covenant, and hath had mercy on his people whom he had chosen. Thus the Lord hath favoured us with the most remarkable influences of his Spirit, that I ever witnessed. Since the forepart of July last, the attention has been general; and the consequences which have followed, the most happy. The drunkard has forsaken his cups, and the profane man his swearing. The wicked has forsaken his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. The foolish have become wise. The people have met in crowds during the past season, and whole nights have been spent in religious conference. I have baptized 31 of the young converts, who have joined our church; brother Carr of Hamburg, baptized some in my absence. Our number has risen from 14 to 56, in the course of this season. The work has taken all classes and distinctions of people; many of the precions youth are now the followers of Christ. Although the people are divided among several denominations, yet it should not abate our joy, that souls are converted, and God is honoured. More than 100 in this, and the adjacent settlements, have, as we hope, become subjects of this work. I am now from home, at Leroy. A glorious work is begun here-The Lord is doing wonders in this part of the country. The solitary places are made glad, and the wilderness blossoms like the rose." The Juvenile Cent Society of Columbia Academy, in Bergen, (N. J.) have recently paid twenty-five dollars to the Treasurer of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, for the purpose of aiding the education of indigent Students of Divinity at the Theological Seminary of that denomination. |