THE extracts which follow are from the journal of Captain McKelvie, or the ship "Thomas Campbell," when on her voyage home from Calcutta. Mr McK. is a member of a. Presbyterian church in London.
"Tuesday, May 21st, 1861. -During the day the two young converts and two other seamen held a prayer meeting in the boat, and in the afternoon one of the seamen came down to my room under conviction of sin. After reading a portion of scripture· we engaged in prayer. While thus engaged, I heard the steward in the pantry crying for mercy. At half past six o'clock, we met in the cabin for prayer. All were invited. The third chapter of John was read; the carpenter then engaged in prayer and Mr Heans next. While the latter was praying, his voice was drowned with cries for mercy. Jesus was in the midst of us -the spirit of penitence and prayer was poured out upon us. Some were crying for mercy, others weeping for their sins against a loving Saviour. And it was truly an affecting scene to see the boys, Archie and Jack, kneeling over the strong men, now broken down before God, and endeavouring to point them to the Lamb that was slain. One of the men ran away apparently afraid. One meeting did not break up till about eleven o'clock; several were rejoicing in the Saviour's love; all of them engaged in prayer, and all seemed to have the spirit of prayer, especially. the boys. Hearing their earnest and eloquent prayers, we remembered the words of our Saviour, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' It was a glorious night, rich in blessings to all our souls, except poor B - - , who was in despair; he said there was no mercy for him. ln the evening I expostulated with those who would not attend our meeting, warning and entreating them; but they did not come. While we were engaged in the cabin, Mr Heans was enabled so far to prevail with the impenitent on deck, that at last they all kneeled with him on deck in prayer.
Wednesday, 22nd. - Morning apart for special prayer. I went forward and expostulated with those who would not attend our meetings, warning them of the danger of resisting God's Spirit, and entreating them to come and join us in our worship. We met again at two in the afternoon. About four o'clock, while one of the boys was engaged in prayer, the Spirit came down upon us in much power. Some of those who did not attend the previous evening were now crying for mercy, and professed to have found the Saviour before we dismissed. Poor B - - also found relief. Thus were three more added to our number that day, which constrained us to say, "Praise the Lord O our souls, for His wonderful mercy and grace to us poor sinners!"
Thursday, 23rd. -I went on deck about half-past five this morning and found the long boat full of men praying and praising and the very man that ran away yesterday was now engaged in prayer, having found the Saviour! In the afternoon we had a meeting in the cabin; all were present except two Swedes; and two others, shortly after the commencement of the service, ran away terrified, and nothing would induce them to come back. I can never forget the solemnity of that afternoon it seemed as if we were in the immediate presence of the great God. Yes, God was near us to bless us, for satan seemed to rage, seeing his strongholds pulled down; but God was for us, and who could be against us? Our meeting went on, well might we be lost in 'wonder, love, and praise.'
Oh, the wonders of redeeming grace! To hear the bold blasphemer confess his heinous sins and plead with earnest cries for mercy and what a happy sight to see so many faces beaming with joy, happy in the Saviour's love; to see the boys, hold of each other's hands, weeping, and saying, 'We shall never fight again, we shall always love each other now.' 'Glory to God in the highest.' Three today profess to have found the Saviour.
Friday, 24th. -Another blessed day. In the morning some met in the cabin and others in the longboat. We in the cabin had a rich blessing poured out upon us. In the afternoon we all met in the cabin, when another, who previously refused to attend our meetings, came and knelt with us; he is a Swede and prayed in his own language. After six o'clock a few met in the cabin, when the carpenter and chief officer, and the rest of the converts went into the forecastle to plead for a hardened sinner who had been constrained to kneel with them. When the meeting in the cabin was over we went forward and joined them. God magnified his own name; we heard the penitent's cry for mercy, and before we dismissed, the man professed to have found the Saviour. All the converts seem growing in grace. Many offer delightful prayers and all have penitential prayers.
Saturday, 25th. - A day of rich blessing. We met in the cabin in the morning and enjoyed much of God's love; all the converts joined in prayer; many of them are growing fast; the afternoon was set apart by all to plead for the only hardened sinner left. All now profess to have found the Saviour but two. One of them seems determined to continue in the service of satan, but I trust our prayers in his behalf will yet be answered. Our ship has become a house of prayer, the songs of Zion are now ascending night and day from some part of her.
Sunday, 26th. -Another happy day. We had service in the forenoon, and also afternoon. In the evening, while a few were met in the cabin for prayer, an aged man, who had hitherto resisted every entreaty, now came and knelt with us, and ere long of him it might be said, 'behold, he prayeth.'
After this our meetings were continued day by day and the result is, that on arriving in London, on June 23rd, we are enabled to record the mercy of God in giving us reason to believe that all our ship's company have been converted to the Saviour.
Blessed Jesus! still march on triumphantly in this thy day of grace, until all hearts shall be subdued to thee as ours have been, and the whole universe be filled with the sweet savour of thy name! 'Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!
From, "The Baptist Reporter," March 1862, pages 90-92.