STORY OF THE LATE GALE.

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Truly there has been "sorrow on the sea," and the reflection of this fills many minds with solemn thoughts, and leads them to exclaim in the plaintive language of the Psalmist, “What aileth thee, O thou sea ”? (Psa. cxiv. 5). Surely at such a time as this, every Christian should not only offer their petitions at the Throne of Grace, but should ask the Lord "what wouldest Thou have me to do," not only in relieving the needy, feeding the hungry, comforting the widows and fatherless in their distress; remembering that Christ says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matt. xxv. 40). How much the community at large is indebted to our noble sailors for the comforts and luxuries of this life, which they bring for our enjoyment across the seas, at the peril of their lives, nor only this, but contributing to the wealth of the nation by their hazardous occupation. What an obligation is the Church of Christ under to these men of the sea; the Church has its Missionary Organisations for the spread of the Gospel, but how could all her plans of benevolent and christian operations be carried into effect without our brave seamen that navigate the ships, which carry the missonaries to the remotest parts of the world. Has not the Church of Christ then a great and important duty to perform to those who do business in great waters, which she has not as yet completely discharged. Thankful as many are for that which has been done in the past, is there not still much more to be accomplished? Are there not many sailors saying "Come over and help us," and numbers of Ports asking assistance in efforts to carry out the sailors' evangelization. Is not the voice of God to be heard in the calamities that have so recently taken place among our seamen. Is not the present time of disaster, loss, death, and sorrow, a period in the history of every individual Christian, that should lead him to ask what have I done in the past to make the Saviour known amongst seamen, thereby fitting them for sudden death, eternal glory, and preventing their everlasting destruction. Let such enter into a solemn covenant with God, to work, pray, and assist the exchequer of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, the oldest of any of its kind, and the parent of a great number of the present existing Sailors Societies in the world; thoroughly evangelical in its tone of religious teachings, and truly catholic in its basis of operations, thereby giving room for all that have the sailors salvation at heart to work harmoniously and unitedly for their redemption and everlasting happiness.

"Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse evermore;
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore;
Let the lower lights be burning,
Send a gleam across the wave.'

Let all Christians keep their lamps well trimmed, with oil in their vessels, that they may "Shine as lights in the world" (Philip ii. 15); so that—

"Some poor fainting, struggling seamen,

You may rescue, you may save."

The Captain's call is to action, for "The night cometh, when no man can work" (John ix. 4).

"Work for the night is coming,

When man's work is done."

Christian duty demands it; holy desire should prompt it; and the cries of many of those perishing around for lack of knowledge-their cry being "heard in the ships”—speaks aloud to all, to render such assistance in every way which the importance of the subject expects and commands of them. Are any willing hearts

K

and hands asking what can I do? Where shall I find a niche to fill, that I may do some work for God, and precious souls? Allow us in all sincerity of heart to say to you in the following lines :—

"If you cannot on the ocean,

Sail among the swiftest fleet,
Rocking on the highest billows,
Laughing at the storms you meet ;
You can stand among the sailors,
Anchored yet within the bay,
You can lend a hand to help them,
As they launch their boats away."

THE BANK OF FAITH.

The Author died at the age of 77, on Easter Sunday, 1882, after having lived for half a century in the Christian ministry at Enfield, Middlesex.

(By REV. JOHN STRIBLING. Written at the time so many banks failed.)

THE LOSINGS' BANK AND THE SAVINGS' BANK.

The leper had a little note,

"Lord, if You will You can ;

The Banker paid this little note,

And heal'd the dying man.

Behold, and see the dying thief

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Hung by the Banker's side;
He cried, "dear Lord remember me,"
He got his cash and died.

His blessed Banker took him home

To everlasting glory,

There to proclaim his Banker's praise
And tell his wond'rous story.

THE LOSINGS' BANK AND THE SAVINGS' BANK.

By MISS WESTON.

It is well known that wherever there is a reality we find a counterfeit. If there are good sovereigns in circulation, depend upon it there are bad ones; if there are genuine bank notes, there are forged ones; if there are savings' banks, there are losings' banks. There are plenty of houses in every seaport town that may well be called losings' banks, where men are pouring brown ruin, which they call beer, down their throats, and are quietly dropping their money into the publicans' tills to clothe and keep his family and not their own. All sin is a loss. The man who sins loses all that any man would care to keep--health, money, situation, character, self-respect, and often his immortal soul. Yes, Satan keeps a Losings' Bank, and he has branches everywhere. He tries to get all the world to put in, and to continue depositors; he tries to persuade people that they are well off, and that his bank is best, and they believe him. More than eighteen hundred years ago he whispered into the ear of a rich man that his service was good, his pay good, and that all a man had to do was to enjoy himself; but, in a voice of thunder, God said, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." In every drunken spree, every oath, every theft, every impure and wicked action or thought, men put into the devil's bank and heap up treasures;-but of what sort? Such as will eat their souls as with the canker at the last day.

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"You work very hard for your master," said one man to another who was swearing very violently; "what wages does he give?" I don't know that he gives me any," answered the swearer. Yes, he does," replied his friend, "but you work uncommon cheap. God's book says, that 'the wages of sin is death,' doesn't it?" The man stopped his swearing, and answered, "Well, I never thought of it like that." Now, perhaps some of you have never thought of it like this. You have been faithful servants of the devil for years-in drink, sin, and selfishness, putting all your capital into his bank, giving him all you have to give. Just look forward to the end, and see the squaring up of the Losings' Bank. The great white throne is set, God is there, the books are opened, every deposit you made is down there, and is read out for men and angels to hear, all those evil deeds that no one knew but God and yourself; but that is not the worst-the worst is paying the interest in full, as the Judge, with a voice of thunder, says, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." You will have to go with your banker, and share in his fate.

If we have money in any bank, and a tumour comes to us that it is a shaky concern, what do we do? Why, withdraw every penny to be sure, close our account at once, and get out of it. Exactly so; now, dear friend, I want you to close your account with the devil at once. The concern is more than shaky. He says, who cannot lie, "the soul that simeth, it shall die ;" and "the wicked shall be turned into hell." Get out of it! Withdraw your deposit, and give it to Christ. It is a precious deposit, and it is in your power to give or withhold from

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THE LOSINGS' BANK AND THE SAVINGS' BANK.

Him who died to win it. Do you ask, what is it? Your will, your power of deciding for yourself-yourself. When God created man, He gave him this glorious gift, this God-like power, and although by sin he has fallen, and has cut himself adrift from God, still God says to him, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve ; "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life." The Spirit of God is saying now to you, as Rebekah's relatives said to her, "Wilt thou go with this man?" You can say, No; you have the fatal power of destroying yourself; but never, oh, never say that God destroyed you. "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself," says the Holy Ghost. Every soul has the power at some time or other of choosing Christ or rejecting Him. Which have you done? which will you do? God grant that you may never be a soul-suicide. Diaw out from the devil's bank that will, that heart of yours, and face about, and give it to Him who is longing to receive it, but will take it from no one but yourself; put it into Christ's Savings' Bank, and never, never withdraw it.

The Lord Jesus Christ owns the Savings Bank, as surely as the devil does the Losings' Bank. It is a glorious bank, one that never can break; it is a bank with millions of capital-the capital is love, fathomless love; for "God is love.” If you put into this bank of love, you will only have to make one deposit—yourself. What, a bank take a defaced, battered, clipped sovereign? No, they won't, but God will; just as you are He will take you, and put you into His mint; He will "refine you as silver is refined; " He "will turn His hand on you, and purely purge away your dross, and take away all your tin." What, can God make a man holy, pure in heart, in this life? Can He so turn out all self-will and rebellion as to make his heart all love? Glory to His name, He can! Has he promised, and shall He not perform?

Go again and again to the savings' bank, brother. What piles of sparkling gold-glorious promises; what a capital! Rothschild is nothing to it. Do you want the money ?-the bank is always open; present your cheque,—a glorious promise,--the Holy Ghost will give you power; see that it is crossed with the Cross, and payable in His name, and you have the cash handed out at once. You need not say, "If the Lord will." Away with "ifs." The Lord's will is in His promises. In temptation, in sickness, in health, in poverty, in every time of sorrow and joy, we have a special promise-a cheque to be cashed. The blind man came with a little cheque-"Lord, that I might receive my sight." The Banker cashed his cheque at once-"Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." If we look round in the world, we can see that the whole principle of business is "" Get, get." The principle of the Savings' Bank-Christ's Bank--is "Give, give." He gave Himself. He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive;" and, as the Apostle says, "If God spared not his own son, shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?" Yes, "all things that pertain to life and godliness; a heaven here by His presence in our hearts, and

a glorious heaven by-and-bye.

"How far from here to heaven?

Not very far, my friend;

A single, hearty step

Will all thy journey end."

Do you take Chart and Compass?

Do you interest others in it?

Do you help the Editor? Do you pray for it, and sailors?

Do you collect for the British and Foreign Sailors' Society? "Hold fast there, let's attend to these; before you ask any more questions!"

IVERPOOL we are glad to see is now earnestly taking up the question of Homes for Aged Mariners. Neither the nation nor individuals have yet done justice to our old worn out sailors. New York through the gift of one individual has the largest retreat in the world for worn out merchant sailors. We do most heartily thank our God for this movement at Liverpool. Mr. William Cliff, the donor of the above building, was, we believe, connected with the sea in his youth. On behalf of our sailors we bless both him and his wife. At the stone laying he said: "I should like to have the happiness and privilege of giving that surplus in my lifetime, instead of leaving it to my executors to administer after I am gone.-(Hear, hear!) It may not be known to all present that I am erecting this building to the memory of a very affectionate and beloved daughter, Rose Webster, a young wife and mother, who was cut off in the bloom of her life. She was known to some of my friends present, and they can vouch for what I say, that she was one of those whose amiable and loving disposition endear them to all hearts, and who can be very ill spared among us. I hope her memory will be blessed in this