The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-10-30


81 ours can DO Justice he preserved throughit IL
a correct 4 appropriate manner the phraseolory
peculiar 10 Mariners and 10 which We think M.
incest critic of them all, would be puzzled To find
exceptions. lie commenced NV stating the mu-
gross which las been made within the fast thirfv
years IN the work W christian bencyoIcnce from
the attempt 10 abolish the slave trade 10 the late
establishment Of societies I'd promote he reR-
gious Improvement Of Mariners, class of men
who tad hitherto been neglected review wv
which he sail must crafty any one who had
in him tIe least particle Of the spirit Of Christ
lie then spoke Of the voyage IT life upon which
we are all embarked, traced our course over thr
dangerous ocean and exhibited The different -
limitations which followed the different manage
ment Of the ship be showed The dangers N
which the crew are exposed, described the rocks
and quick sands which lie or every side pointed
ont the haven Of eternal vest. and showed rq
pilot who would infalhbly conduct w there.
# would take him on board add place
ourselves under his guidance. He asked ir
when we saw a beautiful ship, bad anv other
idea than that she was built by the hand Df man
if we supposed she was as bubble from the sea
No more could VIC think that this great ship TIE.
world was the offspring Of chance, or that is
builder & maker, was other than God. The bible
he said, was the compass, quadrant and chart.'>
lF.
ly aud had no variation, quadrant with which
by day Or night we might take an observation
and determine where we were, and chart or
which was laid down the whole course Of the
voyage, all the sunken rocks and currents. the
gulf Of perdition TO which VIC must finally be
swept, unless we kept good look out and obSery-
cd the directions laid down, and the harbour Of
safety which was ready to receive ia after th,.
terhpests Of this world were over
need not tell you, shipnaates, he observed.
" that the trst question asked when vessels meet
each other at sea, is =" where are you bound III
That question, now that we meet here, on the
voyage Of life, may be asked with peculiar pro
pretty lilo there, creature of God, possessor
OF an immortal soul, embarked in most 1rail
bottom, where are you bound p m not de-
celved was the answer don't know ?'--Whatt
not know where you are bound What should
you think, if such an answer were given YOU
by ship, on an ordinary VOYAGE You Ger
talnly would suppose the crew deranged or in
toXlc1ted, and would not be surprised ID hear
soon of her loss yet such, It is to be feared, is
the only answer many Of you could give, and
that you, unless you consult your chart and quad
rant the bible, and ascertain your position and
course, must inevitably be swallowed ~ IN the
gulf Of pcrdition- lie told them Of the rock OF
,ntemperDace, whitened with the bones Of sailors
and the nttrtpoOt of bad company, which too Of
ten dashed them on 70 it. lie finally pointed
out the strait Of repentance, through which all
must pass to reach the pacific ocean, the sea OF
sat1dtton, upon the opposite shore of which lay
the port ofeternal safety-in which the sun him
self, 50 glorious was the place, would be but
pale lamp After passing the straits Of repen-
lance, the bay of faith opened, on one side Of
which rose mount CdfrGry, where stood the
cross-a light house by night, aud a cloud which
reached up TO heaven BY day, and might be seen
through the whole voyage BY careful observer
at the foot Of which was the pilot who has
offered his services, and never fails to guide those
TO safety, who take him on board
The preacher very impressive at the close
Of his sermon he called upon shipmates 10 go
to the house of God, when in port, IL possible.
and when at sea 70 make every snip Bethel,
and when pursuing their course far off on the
ocean, IN the watch of the night, to look up to
Tod, who was cnthroned in the Heavens. whose
diadem was studded with ten thousand stars. ana
oler 70 him their grateful acknowledgements.
and ask for his divine favour and protection.
This beautiful ship, in which we are now pnIsu-
ing our course, saidhe, will, BY and by. be dash
cd on the shores Of eternity, when the sun and
all the twinkhng oEbs viii be quencned in end
less night Then will be heard the shrek OF
tesplirand the shrli cry of horror frcm the crew,
out SIC oluhS DeiOW TIT uIiOBS! no part oil the
wreck will be visible--norning, to which the
drowning wretch may cling for safety--but see,
what rises AT distance It's the barque Of sal
life-boat Of Heaven. &c!
We have not been able 10 present any thing
like connected view Of this Discourse, bat only
5nch sketches a we could preserve in memory
The occasion and services were 50 interesting
that We could not but notice them, and in no
ticng the sermon our feelings have perhaps LED
rs to say too much.
The attention Of the sailors, during al the SER
vices, was unexceptionabe and higly praise
worthy.
God grant the Society NAV flourish, and It's
noble purposes be fully accomplished.
TO the, frequent enquiries why has Gen. Her
nick, the excellent Sheriff of PenObscot, been
removed we have heard the general answer,
: there IS something against him." and the spc-
cial- but far most plausible one, that lie vas OPP
posed TO the election to.a seat iD congress- the
gentleman who is, at present, at tic head Of the
government Of the State. What would induce
Us 10 rest, with more assurance upon the latter
reason, than Is consistent with orr sense Of pride
in our rulers, or a desirable confidence in their
wisdom. honesty aud impartiality, Is. that Gen.
Hernck was reappointod to his Office by Gov
King, in consequence, we believe, of bis great
popularity IN MS section Of the State, arising
from his faithful discharge Of the duties Of bis
office, and from his intelligence and the inter1I-