"It has been represented to them that the harbour of Apia, in the island of Upolu, South Seas, has been one of the principal resorts of the whaling vessels of this country and the United States, more especially since the occupation of Tahiti by the French. Services for English seamen had been held there for more than two years; at first, in the place of worship used by the natives, and afterwards, through the courtesy of J. C. Williams, Esq., at the American Consulate. But the first expedient interfered with the native services, and the last depended on the kindness of a temporary Consul; therefore, it was much desired at Apia, and more especially by the Rev. William Mills, a resident missionary, that there should be a distinct edifice appropriated to the worship of God by English and American seamen; and at his request, and with the assistance of the congregation and natives of Upolu, the Directors have raised a special fund for the object, and have forwarded an iron chapel, with a readingroom attached, by the missionary ship, John Williams. The great importance of the assistance thus rendered will be better understood when it is stated that upwards of 700 vessels annually visit this group of the South Sea Islands, manned with not less than 25,000 seamen, and that it appears likely for this average to be greatly increased in a few years. The Directors, therefore, offer their humble thanks to the Throne of Grace for this establishment of a New Sailors' Church in the other, and darker hemisphere. It is by such means that the light of the Gospel will be equally distributed to every creature,' in all the world,' and the wisdom of God, in Christ, be heard, even in the uttermost parts of the earth.'" "PURITAN." TO THE READERS OF THE BETHEL FLAG MAGAZINE. You, no doubt, remember that the title of this article is the motto for the correspondent of the "North and South Shields Auxiliary Sailors' Society." He wished to write to you before this time, but being engaged with those at home, he could not find leisure to attend to those at a distance. The Dove, a fine boat, of which you heard before, was lately stolen, but when found was entirely unfit for any further work. During the period of her history, 3209 copies of the Scriptures were sold, 67,906 tracts distributed, 12,447 vessels boarded, 12,633 visits paid to families, 10 libraries, consisting of 88 volumes, circulated, and 451 meetings held. Since the Puritan was obtained, Mr. Spry has laboured 554 hours, held 63 cottage meetings, visited 303 families, boarded 982 vessels to visit the sailors, distributed 5,258 tracts, and sold 323 copies of the Scriptures. A sailor said to the agent, "How does your work take among seamen?" This was an important question, and you would like to hear the answer that was given. The answer was this::"Our work takes better among foreign seamen than English, and the reason is this: Englishmen have long enjoyed the light of God's truth, and they do not know how to value it; they have forgotten the blessings that have flowed to our island through the Word of God; foreigners, who could not get the Word of God so readily, were glad to get it, just as they are glad to leave دو With a their own country and come to ours." deep sigh he said, "Ah! England." It will please you to know that Frenchmen, Germans, Italians, Dutch, Welch, Fins, Norwegians, Danes, Portuguese, and Swedes, have gladly received the Word of God. But do not forget to pray for the English, Scotch, and Irish sailors. And do not forget yourselves to walk in the light of the sun of righteousness. Heathen children will not suffer so much in hell as British children who neglect the great salvation of Jesus Christ. It is a fearful thing to forget God. Just hear what Mr. Spry says about a woman that did so. "On my visiting a person in whose house I had formerly held a prayer-meeting, I inquired after who used to disturb us while at prayer. a person I was told she had been taken very ill, had been sent to the Newcastle Infirmary, but had been sent out incurable, with advice to get a minister to pray with her, and prepare for death. The person who told me thought it was the Lord's judgment on her." One evening, an Italian drove out the agent with a rope, and ordered him never to come on deck again. The next time he called, this poor man was sick, but his shipmates gladly received tracts from him, and read them. Take care, lest, when you wish to go to heaven, you find the door shut. It is a fearful thing to despise one word that Jesus speaks. It is a sad state to be sick, without the love of Jesus. And it is ruinous to die without faith in Him who came to save. Human life is very uncertain. Life is even a vapour. Job said," My days are passed away as the swift ships." The truth of these sayings is proved almost every day. Beside the uncer tainty of life, sailors are exposed to many dangers on sea; and in the harbour, one day, as Mr. Spry went on board an English vessel, the colours being half-mast, he inquired the cause, when the mate told him that one of the crew had been crushed to death. How great should be your desire to save those from the second death, who are so much exposed to temporal death. In the last place, the voice from the Tyne wishes to say a word to you about the understanding of the Bible. Your Magazine has many good articles in it about the best of all books. Your kind Editor is wise in the course which he takes with you. But what about the way of understanding the Bible? Mr. Spry says, "Our knowledge of the Bible is like a man viewing a beautiful landscape by night, who, while he saw it in darkness, thought there was no beauty in it, but when the sun arose, he saw his mistake. So when we read the Bible with no other light than our own dark minds, we see nothing to admire in it; but when we read it in the light of God's Spirit, then we see its beauty and glory." The "That person to whom this was spoken, said, must be it." Here, then, are five things for you to think about, in connexion with Shields-what has been done, and what is still doing, for sailors here-the interest that foreign seamen take in purchasing the Scriptures, and the circulation of tracts-how fearful a thing it is to sin against God-the shortneɛs and uncertainty of life-and the best way of understanding the Bible. A little girl last Monday, at Whitehill Point, one of the agent's stations, was afraid of the thunder and lightning. She ran into the midst of a group of females that was on the sands, thinking that then she would be safe. Immediately a stream of lightning darted down upon her, and she fell to rise no more, until the great trump shall sound. Reader, had you been the little girl, would you have now been safe in heaven? Think of your answer to this question, until you hear from your faithful and affectionate friend, South Shields, June 7th, 1848. D. M. JONAH'S MISSION TO NINEVEH. FOR MY LITTLE NEPHEWS AND NIECES. THE word of God to Jonah came, Thus to its sinful people say : "Their misdeeds are before me come; The presence of the LORD to flee; A vessel was for Tarshish bound, And thither he would now resort. |