so fast that it should not be moved, and
has given the sea its bounds that it should not overflow them at any
time? How much better off are you seamen than such a man as that!

And you are better off too, even, than most field labourers and farmers.
They are not shut up in towns, it is true; they have God's beautiful
earth to till and keep: but they are _too safe on shore_! Yes; it may
seem a strange thing to say; but you ought to thank God that your trade
is a dangerous one--you have more to put you in mind of God than the
labouring man!

And why? In the first place, as I said, fishermen and sailors see more
of the wonderful works of God than any other set of men. Man may cut and
change the earth--mining and quarrying and building--till it hardly looks
like God's earth, but he cannot change the sea! There it is, just as God
made it at first. Millions of rivers have run into it, yet it is not
over full; cliffs have been wearing away and falling into it for six
thousand years, yet is it not filled up. Millions of vessels have been
sailing over it, yet they have left no mark upon it; it seems
unchangeable, like God who made it. What is the use of my praising the
sea to you? Do you not all know it, and fear it, and love it too? and
does it not put you in mind of God who made it? who made that mighty
water for the use of men, and filled it with thousands of different kinds
of fishes, and weeds, and wonderful things for your use and comfort; and
who has made it so strong that it shall keep you always in awe and fear
and watchfulness, looking to God to save you--and yet so gentle and calm
that you can sail upon its bosom, and there find food for your families.
Which of you, who has any godly heart in him, can help feeling, sometimes
at least when at sea, that he is seeing the wonderful works of God!

I said that you ought to thank God that your trade was a dangerous one,
and I said that the sea should always keep you in fear and watchfulness,
and looking to God to preserve you. Now, do you not see how these two
sayings go together, and make each other plain. You seamen and fishermen
are in continual danger; your lives are in your hands every moment--the
belaying of a sheet, the strength of a bit of canvas, the toughness of a
deal board, may settle your fate in a moment, and make all the difference
between life and death. If they are sound, you may go back to a happy
home, and see wife and children coming to meet