The greater part of sailors die at sea; and when they find
their end approaching, if it does not, as is often the case, come
without warning, they cannot, as on shore, send for a clergyman, or
some religious friend, to speak to them of that hope in a Saviour,
which they have neglected, if not despised, through life; but if the
little hull does not contain such an one within its compass, they must
be left without human aid in their great extremity. When such
commanders and such ships, as I have just described, shall become more
numerous, the hope of the friends of seamen will be greatly
strengthened; and it is encouraging to remember that the efforts among
common sailors will soon raise up such a class; for those of them
who are brought under these under these influences will inevitably
be the ones to succeed to the places of trust and authority. If
there is on earth an instance where a little leaven may leaven the
whole lump, it is that of the religious shipmaster.
It is to the progress of this work among seamen that we must look
with the greatest confidence for the remedying of those numerous minor
evils and abuses that we so often hear of.
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