PREACHING ON BOARD A CONVICT SHIP.

In the spring of the year 1851, a convict ship was lying at her moorings in the beautiful harbour of Kingstown. She had received her full complement of male convicts, and was now only waiting for a fair wind to sail for Hobart Town.

Meanwhile, the day of sacred rest came round, and there being no Protestant chaplain on board, it became the duty of the writer of this article to conduct the public worship of God in the floating prison. Thankful for the opportunity of preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the poor outcasts, I proceeded to the harbour, where I found a government boat manned by four sailors, and with the "union jack" flying from her stern, waiting to convey me on board. We were soon within a few yards of the London," for such was her name, and there the men rested on their oars while the challenge of the sentinel was uttered from the gangway according to the usual custom. I was then reported to the captain, who, coming on deck, gave orders for the boat to come alongside.

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I was courteously received by the captain and other officers, and conducted to the cabin while preparations were being made for public service. What these preparations were I knew not until summoned on deck by the mate of the ship. The scene was a deeply interesting one. A union jack had been thrown over the capstan, which was to serve as desk and pulpit, and taking my stand behind it, with my back to the rail of the quarter-deck, I for a few moments contemplated my assembled congregation with feelings of deep emotion. On my right and left stood the ship's officers, according to rank, dressed in their uniform. Ranged in ranks of three deep on the starboard side of the vessel stood the convicts; those who were Protestants occupying the first rank, each man with his Prayer Book and Bible in his hand. Those who were Roman Catholics, and whose attendance was not compulsory, occupied the rear. Opposite to these, on the larboard side of the ship, were ranged the guard of marines, together with a number of soldiers who were about to join their regiment in New South Wales. Directly facing me stood the ship's crew, in their best habiliments; their white canvas trousers and blue jackets forming a pleasing contrast to the uniform of the marines and soldiers on the one hand, and the dark grey convict-dress of the poor prisoners on the other. In the

centre of the square so formed were assembled the wives and children of the soldiers who were proceeding to join their regiment. The signal for commencing public worship. was now given by the firing of a gun. The British ensign was hauled down, and the " church signal" hoisted in its place.

I commenced reading the service of the Church of England, and on reaching that part of the Litany where we implore the Divine Being to "show pity upon all prisoners and captives," met with a loud and deep response, in which many of the poor convicts joined with great apparent earnestness. I chose for my text the fifth and sixth verses of the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Knowing that it was probable that many of the poor fellows thus assembled together on the ship's deck had never before heard the simple truth as it is in Jesusmany of them, both of the convicts and guards, being Roman Catholics, I felt it my duty and great privilege to preach the glad-tidings of salvation as simply, and yet fully, as God would enable me to do.. Earnestly imploring the teaching and assistance of the Holy Spirit, promised so graciously to those who ask in humble faith by Him who. giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, I enlarged, first, on the exceeding sinfulness of sin; on the natural corruption of the heart of man; on his liability, nay, cer-. tainty, to fall into grievous sin, unless restrained by the preventing grace of God; on the consequent impossibility of salvation for any man when trusting to his own unaided efforts, from the undisputed and incontrovertible fact that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." I endeavoured, trusting that God would bless the word, to touch the hearts and consciences of those present, and to bring before each one, whether free or captive, the enormity of his guilt. A tear which dropped from the eye of one of the convicts who stood near to me, together with a deep sense of my own unworthiness, well nigh overcame me for the moment; but strength was granted; the love of Christ presented itself forcibly to my mind, admonishing me to change my theme, and I spoke of Jesus as the compas

sionate, tender-hearted Saviour; of a heavenly Father, who, while his justice demanded the punishment of guilt, was yet inclined, prompted by perfect love, to provide an innocent and sinless substitute; how the only substitute that could be found was the only begotten Son of God; how such love unutterable dwelt in the breast of Jesus, that with joy he undertook the work of mercy, saying, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O my God;" how, when the expiation was accomplished, the sacrifice offered, he bowed the head, gave up the ghost, exclaiming, "It is finished;" how he rose again the third day for our justifition, and ascended into heaven, there ever living to make intercession for us; how, whosoever believeth in him "shall not perish, but have everlasting life;" how he has said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out;" how, in order to a saving belief in him, true repentance, deep and heartfelt sorrow for sin, are necessary; how the sincerity of our repentance, and love, and thankfulness must be proved by our words and actions, as the good tree is known by its good fruit; how the prodigal son was received back into his father's bosom; how Mary Magdalene, the "sinner," was accepted, and showed her love; how the thief on the cross prayed, "Lord, remember me," and how the answer from the lips of the incarnate God was, "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise;" how there will be a day when the Lord the Judge shall separate his sheep from the goats, saying unto the former, "Come, ye blessed," but unto the latter including all who have not only been actually criminal but who have forgotten God, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

Never had I been blessed with a more deeply attentive congregation; and when, on concluding, I besought the blessing of Almighty God on the word spoken in weakness, and prayed that the grace of true repentance might be imparted to the souls assembled before me, a deep and hearty "Amen" was heard, and a pause ensued of several moments, every head uncovered, and, I trust, many hearts offering up the simple petition of hope and faith to him who looks down from his heavenly dwelling-place on his people in love and mercy. The service concluded, I presented the captain with one of the Religious Tract Society's Sailor's Libraries, and leaving with the surgeon-superintendent a large parcel of selected tracts, which he promised

to distribute, I took my departure, with firm confidence that the word of God would accomplish that for which it had been sent, and that some at least of the seed sown would find a resting-place in good soil, and in due time, having taken deep root downward, spring upward, bringing forth the fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God.

DAILY DEVOTIONS OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. INSTEAD of consuming their leisure hours in vacant idle¡ness, or deriving their chief amusement from boisterous merriment, the recital of tales of superstition, or the chanting of the profane songs of the heathen, they passed their hours of repose in rational and enlivening pursuits, found pleasure in enlarging their religious knowledge, and entertainment in songs that were dedicated to the praise of God. These formed their pastime in private, and their favourite recreations at their family and friendly meetings. With their minds full of the inspiring influence of these, they returned with fresh ardour to their scenes of toil; and to gratify their taste by a renewal of these, they longed for a release from labour, far more than to appease their appetite with the provisions of the table. So far were these sacred occupations from being regarded as mere matters of routine by the primitive Christians,—so much were the sentiments and the melody of the sacred songs engraven on their memories and dear to their hearts, that after they had left the family group and repaired to their respective employments, they were wont to cheer themselves in private, amid the various processes of labour, with repeating the songs of Zion. Young women sitting at their distaff, and matrons going about the duties of their household, were constantly humming some spiritual airs. Jerome relates of the place where he lived, that one could not go into the field without hearing the ploughman at his hallelujahs, the mower at his hymns, and the vine-dresser singing the psalms of David.

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But it was not merely at noon, and in time of their meals, that the primitive Christians read the word of God, and sang praises to his name. At an early hour in the morning the family was assembled, when a portion of Scripture was read from the Old Testament, which was followed by a hymn and a prayer, in which thanks were offered up to

the Almighty for preserving them through the silent watches of the night, and for his goodness in permitting them to meet in health of body and soundness of mind; and, at the same time, his grace was implored to defend them amid the dangers and temptations of the day; to make them faithful to every duty, and enable them, in all respects, to walk worthy of their Christian vocation. During the day, they had, like the Jews, stated seasonsat the third, sixth, and ninth hours, corresponding respectively to nine, twelve, and three o'clock according to our computation-when those who had command of their time were wont to retire for a little to engage in the exercises of devotion. In the evening, before retiring to rest, the family again assembled, when the same form of worship was observed as in the morning, with this difference, that the service was considerably protracted beyond the period which could be conveniently allotted to it in the commencement of the day. Besides all these frequent observances, they were in the habit of rising at midnight to engage in prayer and the singing of psalms-a practice of venerable antiquity, and which, as Dr. Cave justly supposes, "took its origin from the first times of persecution, when not daring to meet together in the day, they were forced to keep their religious assemblies in the night."

While the Christians, in their family capacity, observed these periodical seasons of devotion, they laid hold of many opportunities, both stated and occasional, of praying in private. In addition to the secret supplications which every morning and evening they addressed to the throne of grace, they were accustomed, on every proper and convenient occasion, to begin and terminate all their actions with prayer, either audible or silent, according to circumstances. On receiving any personal or domestic token of the Divine goodness, when engaged in any important undertaking— such as sowing their seed, or reaping their harvest; laying the foundation of a house, or taking possession of it; placing a web in the loom, or putting on a new suit of clothes; entering on a journey or going into a bath; form. ing a new relation or parting with a friend; mingling with company; at the beginning or closing of a letter, they indulged in the aspirations of prayer and so much did they familiarize themselves with its spirit and its sentiments, that they seem to have cultivated the habit of constant mental intercourse with their heavenly Father. Prayer,