going to appear before Cæsar." "All hope that they should be saved was taken away" from the whole crew. There was a settled despair in all hearts but those of the christians. Their hope had hold upon Christ their Lord; and, in the confidence of his presence, they were calm and happy. Paul told his vision in the presence of them all; and seeing the firm faith and peaceful spirit with which the little christian company conducted themselves, hope dawned upon the despairing shipmen, and induced them to renew their efforts to save the lives of all on board.

1. We ought to compassionate those "who do business in great waters." Theirs is a life of danger; and familiarity with danger generally produces hardihood and presumption. Few, indeed, of them have their hearts exercised as they ought to be towards God. Those who witness most of danger and death-who often see their companions snatched away in a moment, are the last to think of eternity, and the salvation of their souls. We should pity and pray for such. We owe much to our British seamen; but, let us never forget, it is not their characteristic intrepidity, magnanimity, and generosity, that will save their souls.

2. It is an unspeakable happiness, in times of peril, to possess a refuge and a source, when all human power fails, and all hope of mortal succour is gone. To cast our entire confidence on Him whose we are, and whom we serve, will inspire true heroism, and animate us with a hope which cannot be shaken by storms, nor drowned in the depths of the sea. Have we built our expectations upon the divine rock? Have we this anchor of a christian's hope, and does it enter into that within the veil ? Let us search and try, for there may come circumstances and scenes of trial which will drive away, like chaff before the wind, all our false hopes and worldly confidence.

3. How precious are the promises of God in all storms, whether of the ocean or of the mind! At such a time, they administer strength to the weak, and life to the fainting heart. To hear Paul say— "There shall be no loss of any man's life," at a time when all expected that the next swelling wave would overwhelm them, was like the voice of the Saviour amidst the agitated elements," Peace be still!" It calmed their spirits, and made them hope for deliverance. And so when worse waves than these arise around our souls, when an ocean of wrath seems ready to receive us, and the enemy comes in upon our souls like a flood, it is enough to hear God say-" Fear not, I am with thee;-be not dismayed; I am thy God."

4. Let us adore that gracious providence which sustained and guided this eminent apostle through so many scenes of peril and times of trial-which kept his heart stedfast in the faith of Christ, and fervent in the love of souls-undismayed alike by the fury of the ocean, and the ragings of the people. From the tumults, and plots,

the deep,

and anger of the Jews at Jerusalem, he embarked upon to be tossed to and fro there-and onward he went from one scene to another-from one kind of storm to another. He was no cowardhe did not greet the storm at sea as the means of deliverance from his persecutors. He did not wish to escape out of life to avoid suffering -but was willing to bear all the will of God, and carry the testimony of Jesus before Cæsar, and wait all the days of his appointed time, till he should reach the crown of glory.

5. We see what sacrifices men will make to save their natural lives. They cast into the sea the goods and tackling-but yet sinners will not give up their sins nor renounce the world. All that a man has will be given for his life; and yet they will not give up sin to save their souls. The presence of temporal danger has a far greater influence over them than the wrath of an angry God. It proves the brutishness of sinners, that they fear a storm more than they fear hell, and will sacrifice all to save life; but nothing to save them from the curse due to sin.

6. The whole narrative announces to us the consolation which the gospel of Christ brings to all true believers. He is the christian's pilot; he guides us through every storm, and can protect amidst all dangers and distresses. He will bring all that trust in him to the port of peace. Even the poor agitated, tempest-tossed and endangered ship of the church, as it appears to us, he is guiding through its perils, steering it safely among all the rocks-repairing its injuries-setting its sails to the breeze-constantly renewing both its crew and passengers; --and will ultimately guide it into the haven of eternal rest.

THE YOUNG SAILOR AND HIS TESTAMENT.

While I was a teacher in Silver-street Sunday-school, perhaps about the year 1818 or 1820, a fine young man, in sailor's clothes, called on me to inquire my welfare; and, perceiving that he appeared a stranger, he informed me that he had been a scholar in one of the upper classes, of which I was the secretary; but as I still could not recognise his face, he took out of his pocket a testament, and asked if I did not recollect giving it to him. As the circumstance had quite escaped my memory, he seemed greatly to wonder that what in his view was so important an event, should be quite forgotten by me; and immediately showed me my own hand writing, inscribing his name, and expressing a wish for his benefit by the gift. I then found that he had been brought to me as the secretary for honourable dismissal from the school, on going to sea, and so had obtained the testament. In the course of a long conversation, I drew from him the history of his own course, and the effect of this little volume on several hearts. First, he had gone among the Italiaus, and, to beguile time, he had

often read his testament; while so doing, some of the sailors had gathered round him, and desired it to be read aloud; they all seemed ignorant of the sacred book, but it had so wrought on their minds, that several times they had offered three or four dollars for it, but he refused to part with his testimony of good conduct from the school. Several, however, determined to buy one, at any cost, wherever they might find them in the ports: but, till he left the ship, not a testament was to be procured anywhere.

From this employ, he went into a fishing vessel of Scotland, commanded by the owner's son; and, although he had six or seven men under his care, neither he nor they could read. They were often out on this kind of service for weeks together; and on the sabbaths, the lad, from the force of habit, would take out his testament to read. As sometimes the men had little to do, besides baiting the hooks, they requested to hear his book; and some became so interested as to ask the master to hear it also, to which he consented, and frequently ordered it of his own accord to be read aloud. They were all very profane in their conversation; but it was soon found, that they must give up oaths or shut the book, and the master was the first to lay down his swearing under its influence. Some of the men began to pray; and they all found so much more comfort in attending the reading of God's word, and in the order it produced among them, that it was agreed to keep sabbath. They then procured some tracts at their first port;-the boy was dubbed chaplain,-regular service was set up,-prayers read from their tracts and now and then a sermon was found among them, which, added to the scripture and other portions, enabled them to do very tolerably. Matters now went on better than ever: all agreed they were never so happy. But it was found that other sins must fall before God's word—and they did fall: there was quite a reformation in the whole; the mate and two of the men got spelling-books to learn to read for themselves: the master declared he would do so too; and at that period, they had obtained two volumes of sermons for the next trip.

This was the last I heard of the affair: whether the vessel was lost, or the young man died, I know not, but suppose one or the other; as he promised to let me know what further transpired, if able. It was enough, however, to encourage me in teaching boys, and sending testaments to sea. What a striking illustration of the truth of the sentiment" Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days!"

G.

INFIDELITY.

The state of infidelity among us at this moment, may be compared to that of a rebel faction, beaten often in the open field, but insinuating itself through the country, not appearing in open hostility, but insidiously corrupting and infecting with its treason different portions of the mass of the inhabitants.

NAUTICAL INFORMATION.

DREADFUL SHIPWRECKS!!

[The following deeply affecting account appeared in the Bombay Times.]

June 6th.--One of the most melancholy and heart-rending shipwrecks occurred yesterday, which have ever fallen under our notice. The Lord William Bentick, Captain Ord, with one hundred and fifty troops and passengers on board, had been beating off the mouth of the harbour for the last two or three days, but was prevented entering by the violence of the weather. Yesterday afternoon she was seen standing across the opening of Back-bay, in gallant style; and every hope was entertained, if she could stand on five minutes longer, of her weathering the s. w. prong of the lighthouse. Unhappily, an immense sea forged over and pooped her, and she struck heavily on the rocks at ten minutes past four, P. M. Previously, Captain Hayman had fired two guns from the lighthouse to warn her of her danger, and before a third could be discharged she was on the rocks. Heavy squalls of wind and rain soon drove her masts over her side, and a quarter of an hour after the commencement of the occurrence she was a complete unnanageable wreck. The crew and passengers were seen to crowd forward to the forecastle. She kept firing guns and showing the signals of distress; but, alas! little aid could be afforded. The surf was too violent for a boat to live in, and the most dismal apprehensions were entertained. She first hoisted out her gig, which rode gallantly for a while, but was soon engulphed. Her launch was then got alongside, and some men were seen to enter her; but, in a moment, she shared the fate of the other boats. Having nothing to hoist her out by, the long-boat appeared pushed over the side by main force. She also sunk never to rise. The cries of the unfortunate were distinctly audible in the lulls of the wind, and filled every spectator on shore with horror and distress. No hand could be held out to save.

After much delay, boats were brought from the dock-yard by coolies, and we observed great exertions made to bring them up and launch them. As boats were brought down (of course, after great delay, from the distance from the fort,) every means were tried to float them and steer them to the wreck. Captains Saunders and Hayman, of the Indian navy, were especially conspicuous in their exertions, leaving no means untried; while Captains M'Gregor, Baxter, and many others, attempted in vain to steer to the ill-fated craft. She tried to fix a rope from a gun after Captain Manby's principle, but failed. In the meantime the superintendent of the Indian navy had ordered the Victoria steamer to proceed as near as she could to the spot, but it was evening before she got her steam sufficiently up to move, and even then she could not approach the wreck with the smallest chance of success. Thousands of

anxious spectators were assembled, and intense interest was excited in the society of Bombay. The moon rose about nine o'clock, and hopes were entertained that she might hold together until morning, but the gale still continued violent. By twelve o'clock at night, a raft with ten men had by great exertion reached the shore, but at half-past three the vessel finally went to pieces. Another raft had been prepared, on which the ladies, seven children, and the passengers were placed. Hopes, however faint, were breathed that she might bring her precious cargo safe to land; but, alas! a lofty wave struck her, and when she rose from the shock, neither the ladies, children, nor sixteen of their comrades could be descried by the survivors. Those who remained, reached the land naked, cold, and shivering.

The captain and his son were reported drowned, but as yet no accurate information on these points can be collected. Another raft with 17 men on it was carried into Back Bay, and getting entangled among the rocks, remained until morning; and 15 of them, two having died during the night, were saved by the exertions of Captain Saunders. But, as if misfortunes were never to come single, the Castlereagh, Capt. Tonks, from Kanack, with 150 troops on board, about 12 o'clock at night, having, it is said, seen the lights in the wreck, and mistaking her for a vessel at anchor, bore up, and also went on shore within a few yards distance of the other wreck. This morning before daylight, as active means as could be taken (considering the paucity of boats and men) were set on foot to bring off crew and passengers, and the same parties still exerted themselves, and by 10 A. M. about 150 sepoys of the 24th native infantry were got on shore; four were unfortunately drowned in the surf getting out of the boats, and Captain Saunders, with one European seaman belonging to the Clive, who tried to swim from a part of the wreck of the Lord William Bentick, but was lost in the attempt. The Castlereagh had commenced cutting away her masts, and this afternoon it is hoped every soul on board will be safely landed. The Castlereagh, as was reported by a "Seacunnie," who came on shore, had lost her rudder and was full of water, but as yet did not pump much, but we fear she will be a total wreck. At the time we left the spot, exertions were still being made to reach her. We believe, from fifty to seventy persons have been saved from the Lord William Bentick out of between 200 and 300 souls. We have every confidence under Providence, that those on board the Castlereagh will be saved.-Gazette Extra, JUNE 13th.

In addition to what we reported in our yesterday's extra, we are deeply grieved to have to announce, that the catalogue of human suffering and woe had not reached its climax. Yesterday at 3 P. M., about ebb tide, the Castlereagh went to pieces, and the crew and passengers were seen drifting on shore on pieces of the wreck. In attempting to save them, Mr. Atkinson, second master attendant, nearly lost his life, his boat being upset. The commander, Capt. Tonks, was picked up clinging to a plank, and in a sinking state. Out of nearly 200 souls, it is feared that not more than seventy are saved!