DISCOURSE I.

PRAISING GOD THE DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF SEAMEN.

ISAIAH XLII. 10.

SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG, AND HIS PRAISE FROM THE END OF THE EARTH, YE THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN; THE ISLES, AND THE INHABITANTS THereof.

The religion of Jesus is obviously fitted to become universal; for, while its grand doctrines, duties, and institutions are adapted to the instruction, direction, and salvation, of mankind in general, the sacred volume, in which they are exhibited, conveys also a vast variety of special admonitions, intended for each particular class of society, that men of every rank and description may feel a greater interest in this blessed book. The high and the low, the young and the old, men of every condition and every occupation, may all find portions here, expressly appropriated to themselves.

Of this we have a pleasing illustration in the passage before us. The prophet, who speaks much. of gospel times and gospel blessings, is foretelling the coming of Christ, and the erection and extension of

his kingdom; and, while he describes the blessings to be diffused through the world under the reign of Immanuel, he invites men of every place, and every employment, to welcome his coming, and rejoice in his salvation.

Among the different classes of men, called to such delightful exercises, we find the inhabitants of the isles, especially those who go down to the sea. In verse 4th, it is predicted, that "the isles shall wait for Christ's law;" in the 12th verse, men are exhorted to "declare his praise in the islands ;" and in the words of our text, the people of the isles, particularly seamen, are invited to sing new songs of praise, to the honour of a redeeming God; "Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."

In reading such passages in the writings of the ancient prophets, we can scarcely fail to be impressed with the idea, that the Spirit of God, in dictating these words, had an eye to the period when the British isles would take a prominent part in enlarging the kingdom of Christ, and British seamen would be distinguished by their love to his name. At any rate, such parts of the holy scriptures must be peculiarly interesting to us the inhabitants of the isles; and most of all, to our sailors, who go down to the sea in ships, and are often visiting the ends of the earth.

Unto you, then, my sea-faring friends, the language of the text is especially addressed. You have

a double interest in it; for you are not only inhabitants of the isles, the highly favoured British isles, but you are employed on the great waters, and visit far distant islands, and coasts, even the remotest ends of the earth. Listen, therefore, to these words, as spoken by God unto you in particular. Doubtless the Spirit

of the Lord intended them for your profit; and O that the same Spirit may apply them to the heart of every seaman now present, that you may all joyfully comply with this exhortation, and have cause to bless God that ever it was penned! "Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."

In addressing you further from these words, let me FIRST, take notice of some things implied, or presupposed, in this exhortation; SECONDLY, direct your thoughts to the exhortation itself; and THIRDLY, propose some directions or admonitions, that may serve, by the divine blessing, to assist and excite you in obeying it. I. I shall take notice of some things implied, or presupposed, in this exhortation to seamen, the seamen of the isles.-It evidently presupposes some things of high importance, to which it is proper to advert, before we take a nearer view of the exhortation itself. It implies that,

1. Seamen are peculiarly welcome to receive the gospel. They are here invited to praise God for gospel blessings; and this clearly intimates, that they are admitted to receive them; nay, our text may be viewed

as a gracious offer of that salvation, in which they are exhorted to rejoice. Who can be more welcome to come unto Christ, than seamen and fishermen? Among such our Saviour often lived and preached, from such he chose his apostles and first ministers ; and, by putting such an honour on the sea-faring life, he has kindly encouraged those who pursue it, to seek his salvation, and love his name. In like manner, a number of passages in the sacred volume are evidently designed to lead the minds of seamen unto the Lord, as the God of their salvation, who is the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea and many of these passages are in the book of Psalms, to indicate that seamen are particularly invited to sing the songs of Zion. Often too are spiritual blessings described in metaphors borrowed from objects with which seamen are familiar, to teach them, that such blessings are intended for them.

Be assured, then, my dear seamen, that the God of peace is offering his salvation to you in particular. "To you is the word of this salvation sent:" to you are presented the blessings of pardon, peace, grace, glory; with all the rest of those invaluable benefits which Jesus bought with his blood. O that you would listen to his voice, and accept his generous offers !But the exhortation implies that,

2. Many seamen will receive the gospel with their hearts. When God invites them to praise him in new songs, he does not mean that they are to yield him only the services of their lips; for what are these,

if the heart be withheld? He calls on seamen to praise bim with their whole souls; admiring, adoring, and loving him.

The text, therefore, may be regarded as a prophecy, that many seamen in gospel times will truly seek the Lord, and have their hearts tuned for the celebration of his praises. Predictions to the same effect occur in other passages of this book; particularly at the beginning of the 60th chapter, where it is said to the church; "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And the gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the gentiles shall come unto thee.-Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee." In these words it is foretold, that under the new dispensation, Zion shall be enriched with the abundance of the sea, that the isles shall wait for God, and that the ships of Tarshish shall be the first to bring sons and daughters to the church not only intimating, that seamen shall be of essential service in the conversion of the gentiles, as they now are by conveying ministers, bibles, and other means of salvation, to distant lands; but that numbers of themselves shall receive the offers of the gospel, and form an important addition to the church. And, blessed be God! many