THE SAILORS' PRAYER BOOK; A Manual of Devotion FOR SAILORS AT SEA, AND THEIR THECA LONDON: JOHN SNOW, 35, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1852. 138. d. 68. CONTENTS. ADDRESS to Owners, Agents, and Captains of Merchant Vessels, on the duty and happiness of maintaining Religious Services on board their ships Page TUESDAY MORNING TUESDAY EVENING. WEDNESDAY MORNING-WEDNESDAY EVENING FIFTH WEEK. MONDAY MORNING-MONDAY EVENING SABBATH MORNING Sermon-The Temptations of Sailors ADDRESS TO OWNERS, AGENTS, AND CAPTAINS OF MERCHANT VESSELS, ON THE DUTY AND HAPPINESS OF MAINTAINING RELIGIOUS SERVICES ON BOARD THEIR SHIPS. It is an interesting feature of the present age that it is occupied with schemes for improving the condition and character of sailors. From a combination of circumstances the lot of seafaring men in former times was little known or understood; and it was left rather to custom, or to commerce, than to enlightened philanthropy, to regulate the sailor's interests, or to secure his well-being. But the spirit of modern improvement has spread even among this neglected class; and every friend of those who go down to the sea in ships must rejoice in the rapid multiplication of means recently used for their social and spiritual improvement. It will scarcely, however, be denied that much still remains to be done, especially to bring the benefits of religion near to the daily calling of the sailor, and to bless his precarious and hazardous life with the seasonable dispensation of the gospel, as well at sea as on shore. The accomplishment of this important object ought to be desired by every friend of his race; but God has more immediately devolved the duty on those who employ sailors, and have the charge of them, and who are therefore responsible for securing to all who are on board their ships the benefit of religious ordinances. We hold it to be as imperative-as it is undoubtedly more important-to encourage spiritual advantages to the crews of our vessels, as it is to provide their food. Is there any reason why our ships should not be |