The Whalemen's Adventures in the Southern Ocean; As Gathered by the Rev. Henry T. Cheever, on the Homeward Cruise of the "Commodore Preble."

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862. Excerpt: ... PLEA FOR WHALEMEN'S SABBATH. 237 CHAPTER XVI. A PLEA IN BEHALF OF THE SABBATH FOE WHALEMEN. " What says the prophet? Let that day be bless'd With holiness and consecrated rest. Pastime and business both it should exclude, And bar the door the moment they intrude; Nobly distinguished above all the six, By deeds in which the world must never mix. Hear him again I He calls it a delight, A day of luxury, observed aright; When the glad soul, made heaven's own willing guest, Sits banqueting, and God provides the feast." Cowper. Plea for Whalemen's Sabbath--Religion and Sabbath Whaling--Responsibilities on Sabbath Whaling--New England Sabbath--Scoresby's experience--Sabbath-keeping Whaler--Providential testimonies--Rational conclusions--Hopes of good times for seamen. THE all-inclusive cause, which perpetuates and lies at the bottom of Sabbath whaling, is that which upholds and furnishes the stimulus to almost all other forms of Sabbath breaking, the odious slave-trade, &c,--I mean the lust of lucre, that deified greedy devil of gain that in the end troubleth his own, house. "Whaling captains and owners are seldom willing, for the honour of God or regard to his law, to forego the profits which they think accrue from Sabbath whaling; and, therefore, once at sea on whaling ground, they are unwilling to stop and take breath for a long Lord's day. Oil got on the Sabbath burns as well, sells as well, and, they think, spends as well as oil got lawfully on week days. Not to use the Sabbath in their gainful business, they think would be losing one-seventh part of their time, neglecting one-seventh of their chances, keeping them one-seventh longer out, consuming one-seventh more provisions, exhausting oneseventh more of patience and spirits, and perhaps, in the end, leav...