TO THE

FISHERMEN AND SAILORS OF BRIXHAM,

FOR WHOSE USE IT WAS COMPILED,

This Manual

IS DEDICATED WITH MANY PRAYERS FOR THEIR

WELL-BEING HERE AND HEREAFTER.

PREFACE.

No one stands in greater need than the mariner of the helps and consolations of religion, exposed, as he is, to hardship and danger while at sea, and to coarse and violent temptations on shore. At the same time, no one stands at a greater disadvantage in spiritual things. Entering upon his calling, for the most part, at an early age, he is too often subject in it to the contagion of bad example, while he is necessarily shut off, for the greater part of his time, from the direct influence of the Church, from her sacraments, her services, and pastoral care.

Still, however great these disadvantages may be, they form, of course, no excuse for neglecting God, as they are no real bar to receiving His blessing. He Who, during His sojourn in the world, hallowed a sea-faring life by sharing its dangers on the sea of Galilee; He Who chose fishermen to be of the number of His Apostles, and made their perils and labours the occasions of some of the mightiest of His miracles, is still at hand, ready to enter into the difficulties of such a calling, and to sympathize with those who feel them. Great as the loss must always be, to be deprived of the ordinances of His Church, He can make up for this, and will do so to all who seek Him earnestly, and make the best use of whatever blessings and opportunities they have.

Prayer at least is a means of grace within the reach of every sea-faring man, and for his use or neglect of it he will therefore have to account to God at the Judgment Day. The present little book, which is intended to afford help in performing this duty, has been compiled in the belief that there are many who feel their need of some guide to teach them how to pray, and who would thankfully use a 'form of sound words,' if it were provided for them.

It will be observed that short services have been provided for the use of the whole ship's company, be it large or small, as members of one family. Masters of vessels are urged to give these at least a fair trial, remembering the responsibility which rests upon them, and the influence which their example must have for good or evil, upon those whom God, in His Providence, has placed under their charge.

A copy of the book should be provided for each of the crew, to enable him to join in the responses at the public services, as well as to use the private devotions. A few hymns have been added, which might be sung in company, or, where this is impossible, might be learned by heart, and then either added to the private prayers, or repeated at other times, e. g. during a night watch.

May God bless this manual to the use of those into whose hands it may fall, and teach them not to rest contented with words of prayer, but to strive continually

"To live more nearly as they pray."

E. F.

PRIVATE PRAYERS.

Morning.

"I laid me down and slept, and rose up again, for the Lord sustained me." Psalm iii. 5.

WHEN you kneel down, remember that you are in the presence of Almighty God, of Him "to Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid ;" that God the Father is ready to listen to you, God the Son at His Right Hand ready to plead for you and offer up your prayers, God the Holy Spirit ready to help you, and teach you how, to pray.

Remember that this may be your last day in the world, and try to pray as you would you knew it to be the last for certain.

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Remember that you will have to give account to God hereafter for the manner in which you spend this day; that, in the course of it, you will be beset by temptations to sin, into which