CHAPTER 18

 

Tempests Executioners of GOD's Threatenings.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 THE waves of the sea are- sometimes raised by GOD'S commission, to be executioners of his threatenings upon sinners. When JONAH fled from the presence of the LORD to Tarshish, the text says, " The LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest, so that the ship was like to be broken." (Jonah 1: 4.) These were GOD's bailiffs, to arrest the run-away Prophet. And (Psalm cxlviii. 8) the stormy winds are said to " fulfil his word;" not only his " command," in,rising when GOD bids them, but his word of " threatening" also. And hence it is called " a destroying wind," (Jer. li. 1,) and " a stormy wind in GOD's fury." (Ezek. 13: 13.)

 

APPLICATION.

 

 If these be the executioners of the LORD'S threatenings, how sad then is their condition that put to sea under the guilt of their sins! If GOD should commission the Winds to go after and arrest thee for all you owest him, where art you then How dare you put forth under a divine

 

threat, before all be cleared between GOD and thee Sins in Scripture are called debts. (Matt. 6: 12.) They are debts to GOD; not that we owe them to him, or ought to sin, but because they render the sinner obnoxious to GOD's judgments. All sinners must undergo the curse, either in their own person, according to the letter of the law, (Gen. 2: 17; Gal. 3: 1O,) or their Surety, according to the tacit intent of the law manifested to be the mind of the Lawgiver. (Gen. 3: 15; Gal. 3: 13, 14.)

 

 Now, he that by faith has interest in his Surety, has his discharge sealed in the blood of CHRIST: But if you be an impenitent sinner, thy debt remains upon thine own score: " And be sure thy sin will find thee out," wherever you goest; (Numb. xxxii. 9,3;) that is, Gon's revenging hand for sin will be upon thee: You may lose the sight of thy sins, but they lose not the sight of thee; they follow after, as the hound does the fleeting game upon the scent, till they have fetched thee up: And then consider, "how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living GOD." How soon may a storm arrest, and bring thee before the bar of GOD!

 

REFLECTION.

 

 O MY soul, what a case art you in, if this be so!' Are not all thy sins yet upon thine own score Have you not made light of CHRIST, and that precious blood of his, and hitherto persisted in thy rebellion against him And what can the issue of this be, but ruin There is abundant mercy indeed for returning sinners;. but the Gospel speaks of none for impenitent sinners. And though many who are going on in their sins are overtaken by grace, yet there is no grace promised to such as go on in sin. If GOD, should arrest me by the next storm, and call me to of account for all that I owe him, I must then he in the prison of hell to all eternity; for I can never, pay the debt Nay, all the angels in heaven cannot satisfy for it: Being CHRISTless, I am under all the curses in the book of GOD. LORD, pity and spare me a little' longer! O discover thy CHRIST unto

 

me, and give me faith in his blood, and then you art fully satisfied, and I discharged, at once. O require not the debt at my hand, for then you wilt never be satisfied, nor I acquitted. What profit, LORD, is there in my blood! O my soul, make haste to CHRIST, thy city of refuge; you knows not how soon the avenger of blood may overtake thee.

 

CHAPTER 19.

 

Merchandise to be thrown overboard in a Storm.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 IN storms the richest commodities are cast overboard; they stand not upon it, when life and all is in hazard. Jonah 1: 5, the mariners cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it. How highly soever men prize such commodities, yet reason tells them, it were better those should perish, than life. SATAN himself could say, " Skin for skin, and all that a man has will he give for his life."

 

APPLICATION.

 

 AND surely, it is every way as highly reasonable, that men should cast out and cut off their dearest lusts, rather than their immortal souls sink and perish in the storm of GOD's wrath. Life indeed is a precious treasure, and highly valued by men: " A living dog is better than a dead lion." And we find men willing to part with their estates, limbs, or any outward comfort, for the preservation of it. The woman in the Gospel spent all she had on the Physicians for her health, a degree below life.

 

 Some indeed much over-value their lives, and part with CHRIST and peace of conscience for it; but he that thus saves it shall lose it. Now, if life be so much worth, what then is the soul worth Life is more worth than all the world, but my soul is more worth than ten thousand lives. Nature teacheth you to value the first so high, and grace should teach you to value the second much higher.. Now here is the case Either you must part with your sins, or with your souls; if these be not cast out, both must sink together. GOD says to you in this case, as to AHAB, when he spared BENHADAD, " Because you has let go a man, which GOD has appointed to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life." (1 Kings 20: 42.) Guilt will raise a storm of wrath, as JONAH did, if not cast out.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 AND must sin or the soul perish Must my life, yea my eternal life go for it, if I spare it O then let me not be cruel to mine own soul, in sparing my. sin, O my soul, this foolish indulgence will be thy ruin: If I spare it GOD has said, " he will not spare me." (Dent. 26: 2O.)

 

It is true, the pains of mortification are sharp, but yet easier than the pains of hell: To cut off a right hand, or pluck out a right eye, is hard; but to have my soul cut off eternally from GOD, is harder. Is it as easy, O my soul, to burn for them in hell, as to mortify them on earth Surely.it is " profitable for me, that one member perish, rather than that all be cast into hell."

 

 I see the merchant willing to part with rich wares, if embarked with them in a storm: And those that have gangrened legs or arms, willingly stretch them out to be cut off, to preserve life: And shall I be willing to endure no difficulties for my soul CHRIST reckoned souls worth his blood; and is it not worth my self denial LORD, let me not warm a snake in. my bosom, that will at last sting me to the heart.

 

CHAPTER 20:

 

The Sea not to be appeased.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 WHEN the sea works and is tempestuous, it is not in the' power of any creature to appease it. When the Egyptians would express an impossibility, they did it by the picture of a man treading upon the waves. It is storied of CANUTE, an ancient Danish King, that when a mighty storm of flattery arose upon him, he appeased it by showing that he could not appease the sea: One of his courtiers told him, as be rode near the seaside,’ that he was Lord of the’sea, as well as land.'‘ Well,' said the' King,’ we shall see that by and by:' And so went to the water-side, and with a loud voice cried,’ O ye sea and waves, come no farther, touch not my feet.' But the sea came up, notwithstanding that charge, and confuted the flattery. But JESUS CHRIST has the command of them indeed: It is said of him, " that he rebuked them:" (Matt. viii. 26:) And he quiets them with. a word, " Peace, be still," (Mark 4: 38,) as one would hush a child, and it. obeyed him.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 CONSCIENCE, when awakened by the terrors of the LORD, is like a raging tempestuous sea; so it works, so it roars; and it is not in the power of all the creatures to quiet it. Spiritual terrors, as well as spiritual consolations, are not

 

known till felt. When the arrows of the Almighty are shot into the spirit, and the terrors of GOD set themselves in array against the soul; when the venom of those arrows drinks up the spirits, and those armies of terrors charge violently upon it, (as Job 6: 4,) what creature then is able to stand before them! Even Gon's own children have felt such terrors as have " distracted" them. (Psalm lxxxi. 51.) Conscience is the seat of guilt. It is like a burning-glass, it contracts the beams of the threatenings, twists them together, and reflects them on the soul, until it smoke, scorch, and flame. If the wrath of a King be like the roaring of a lion, then what is the Almighty's wrath! which is ' burning wrath," (Job xix. 11,) " tearing wrath," (Psalm 1: 22,) and "abiding wrath." (Job 3: 16.)

 

 In this case no creature can relieve,’1 all are physicians of no value;" some under these terrors have thought hell more tolerable, and by a violent hand have thrust themselves out of the world into it, to avoid these gnawings Yet JESUS CHRIST can quickly calm these waves also, and hush them with a word; yea, he is the Physician, and no other. It is the sprinkling of his blood which allays those heats within: That blood of sprinkling speaks peace, when all other have practiced upon the soul to no purpose; and the reason is, because he is a person in whom GOD and man, justice and mercy meet, and kiss each other. And hence faith fetches in peace to the soul.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 CAN none appease a troubled conscience but CHRIST Then learn, O my soul, daily more and more to savour that glorious name, even JESUS, that delivers not only from, the wrath to come, but that which is felt here also. If the foretaste of hell be so intolerable, if a few drops let fall on the conscience in this life, be so scalding and insufferable, what is it to have all the vials poured out to eternity, when there shall be nothing to divert or allay it.

 

 Here men have somewhat to abate those terrors, some -hopes of mercy, at least a possibility; but there is none. O my soul! how art you loaded with guilt! And what wouldest you be, should GOD rouse that sleepy lion in thy bosom! My condition is not at all the better, because my conscience is quiet: The day is coming, when it must awake, and will lighten and thunder terribly within me, if I get not CHRIST first. O LORD, who knows the power of thy wrath O let me not carry this guilt out of the world with me, to maintain those everlasting flames! Let me

 

give no sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eye-lids, till I feel the comfort of that blood of sprinkling, which

 

CHAPTER 21:

 

On the Plenty of Fish in the Sea.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 THE Providence of GOD in furnishing us with_ such plenty of fish, is not slightly to be passed over. We have not only several sorts of fish in our own seas, which are caught in their seasons; but from several parts, especially the western parts of England, many sail of ships are sent yearly to the American parts of the world: Whence every year is brought home, not only enough to supply our own nation, but many thousand pounds worth also yearly returned from Spain, and other countries; by which trade many thousand families subsist.

 

APPLICATION

 

 BUT what return do we make to Heaven for these mercies What notice is taken of the good hand of Providence, which thus supplies and feeds us with the blessings of the sea; I fear there are but few that own it, and are careful to make return accordingly. Men do not consider, that "their works are in the hand of GOD.", (Eccles. 9: 1.) And even those that have the most immediate dependence upon Providence, as merchants and seamen, yet are very prone to undertake designs in the confidence of their own wisdom and industry; not looking higher for the blessing. They often " sacrifice to their own -net, and burn incense to their drag, because by them their portion is fat, and their meat Plenteous;" (Hab. i 16;) viz. They attribute what is due to GOD, unto the creature. Now this is a sin highly provoking to the LORD: For look, in what degree the heart

 

alone speaketh peace cleaves to any other, in the same degree it departs from the living God.

 

 And how do you think the blessed GOD will take it, to see himself thus debased, and the creature exalted into his place; to see you carry yourselves to the creature as to a GOD, and to the blessed GOD as to a creature Surely, it is a great and common evil, and such as will blast all, if not timely discovered and lamented. If we make flesh our arm, it is just with God to wither and dry up the arm. Do we not, my brethren, look upon second causes, as if they had the main stroke in our business And pass by GOD, as if he came in by the bye But certainly, all endeavors will be unsanctified, if not successless, in which GOD is not eyed.

 

 It is in vain for you to rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrows; for so he giveth his beloved sleep;" (Psalm cxxvii. 2;) that is, It is to no purpose for men to beat their brains, tire their spirits, and rack their consciences for an estate. The true way of acquiring and enjoying the creature, is by submitting quietly to the will of GOD, in a prudent and diligent, yet moderate use of lawful means; nothing can thrive with us till then.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 WHY then should I disquiet myself in vain, and rob myself of my peace, by these unbelieving cares and distractions This has been my sin! I have acted as if my condition had been at my own disposal: I have eyed creatures and means too much, and GOD too little. How have my hands hanged down with discouragement, when second causes have disappeared, or wrought cross to my designs, ready to transfer the fault on this thing or that! And again, how apt am I to be vainly lifted up, when I see myself furnished with outward provision! Oh, what a GODprovoking wickedness is this! How oft has Providence checked my presumption, and dashed many hopeful projects Yet have I not owned it, as I ought, and submitted to it. It is a wonder this has not closed the hand of Providence against me, and pulled down a curse upon all: Ah, LORD, let me now learn to " acquaint myself with Thee; then shall I decree a thing, and it shall be established." (Job 22: 28.)

 

CHAPTER 22:

 

The Mariners' Skill in Fishing.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 THERE is skill in fishing: They that go to sea on a fishing voyage, use to go provided with their craft, (as they fitly call it,) without which they can do nothing. They have their lines, hooks of several sizes, and their bait: They carefully observe their seasons; when the fish falls in, then they ply their business day and night.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 BUT how much more skilful and industrious is SATAN to ensnare and destroy Souls! The Devil makes a voyage as well as you; he has his baits for you, as you for the fish; he has his devices and wiles to catch souls; he is a serpent, an old serpent; too crafty for man in his perfection, much more in his degenerate state, his understanding being hurt by the fall, and all his faculties poisoned and perverted.

 

Divines observe four steps or degrees of SATAN's tempting power. 1. He can find out the constitution-evils of men; he knows to what sin their natures are more especially inclinable. 2. He can propound suitable objects to those lusts; he can exactly hit every man's humor: As AGRIITINA mixed her poison in that meat her husband loved best. 3. He can cast motions into the mind, to close with those tempting objects; as it is said of JUDAS, " The Devil put it into his heart." (John 13: 2.) 4. He can solicit, irritate, and provoke the heart, and, by those restless solicitations, weary it; and hereby he often draws men to commit such things as startled them in the first motion.

 

 All this he can do, if he find the work stick and meet with difficulties; yet does he not act to the utmost of his skill and power, at all times and with all persons; neither indeed need he so to do, the very propounding of an object is enough to some without any further solicitation.

 

And beside all this, his policy much appears in the,choice of place, time, and instruments to tempt by: And thus are poor souls caught, as " fishes in an evil net." (Eccles. 9: l2.) The carnal man is led by sense, as the beast, and SATAN handles and fits him accordingly. He uses all sorts of motives, not only internal, but external and sensitive also; as the sparkling of the wine, when it gives its colors in the glass: The harlot's beauty, whose eye-lids are snares, hiding always the hook, and concealing the issue from them. He promises them gain and profit, pleasure and delight, and all that is tempting, with assurance of secrecy. By these he fastens the fatal hook in their jaws, and thus they are led captive at his will.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 AND is SATAN SO subtle and industrious to entice souls to sin Does he thus cast out his golden baits, and allure souls with pleasure to their ruin Then how does it behoove thee, O my soul, to be jealous and wary! How strict a guard should I set upon every sense! Ah, let me not so much regard how sin comes towards me in the temptation, as how it goes off at the last. The day in which SonoM was destroyed, began with a pleasant sun-shine, but ended with fire and brimstone.

 

 I may promise myself much content in the satisfaction of my lusts: But O, how certainly will it end in my ruin! AHAB, doubtless, promised himself much content in the vineyard of NABOTH, but his blood paid for it in the portion of JEZRREL. The harlot's bed was perfumed to entice the simple young man: (Prov. 7: 17:) But those chambers of delight proved the chambers of death, and her house the way to hell. With what aniling face doth sin come on towards me in the temptations! How does it tickle the fancy and please the deceived heart But what a dreadful upshot has it The delight is quickly gone, but the guilt thereof remains to amaze and terrify the soul with ghastly forms, and dreadful representations of the wrath of GOD.

 

 As sin has its delights attending it to enter and fasten it, so it has its horrors and stings to torment and wound And as certainly as 1:see those go before it to make way, so certainly shall I find these follow after, and tread upon its heels. No sooner is the conscience awakened, but all those delights vanish as a night-vision, or as a dream when one awakes; and then I shall cry,’ Here is the hook, but where is the bait Here is the guilt and horror, but where the delight that was promised And I, whither shall I now go Ah, my deceitful lusts! You have enticed and left me in the midst of all miseries.

 

CHAPTER 23: On the Dearth of Trade to foreign Countries.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 THERE are many sad complaints abroad that trade fails, nothing turns to account. And though all countries be open and free-for traffic, yet there seems to be a dearth, a secret curse upon trading. You run from country to country, and come losers home. Men can hardly render a reason of it; few hit the right cause of this judgment.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 THAT success in trade is from the blessing of GOD, I suppose few are so atheistical, as to deny or question. The Devil himself acknowledges it: " You has blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land." (Job 1: 1O.) It is not in the power of man to get riches, " You shall remember the Lord thy Gon, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." (Deut. viii. 18.) It is his blessing that makes good men rich, and his permission that makes wicked men rich. The maxim came from hell:’ Every man is the contriver of his own condition.' Certainly, "The good of man is not in his own hand." (Job 21: 16.) " Promotion cometh not from the east or west. (Psalm lxxvi. 6. 7.)

 

This being acknowledged, it is evident, that in all disappointment, and want -of success in our callings, we ought not to stick in second causes, but to look higher, even to the hand of Gon: For, whose it is to give blessing, his also it is to withhold it. And this is as clear in Scriptnre as the other. It is the LORD that taketh away the fishes of the sea. (Hos. 4: 3; Zeph. 1: 3.) It is he that " curseth our blessings." (Mal. 2: O.)

 

This GOD does as a punishment for sin, and the abuse of mercies: And therefore in such cases, we ought not to rest in general complaints of one another, but search what those sins are that provoke the LORD to inflict such judgments.

 

 And here I must request your patience to bear a plain and close word of conviction. My brethren, I am persuaded these are the sins, among many other,' that provoke the LORD to blast all your employments;

 

 1. Our undertaking designs without prayer. Alas, how few of us begin with Gon! Interest him in our dealings, and ask counsel and direction at his mouth. Prayer is that which sanctifies all employments. The very Heathen could say, A Jove principium,-They must begin with GOD. O that we had more prayers and fewer oaths!

 

 2. Injustice and fraud in our dealings. A sin to which merchants are prone. This is that which will blast all our enjoyments.

 

 3. An over earnest endeavor after the world: Men make this their business; they will be rich: And hence it is, they are not only unmerciful to themselves, in wearing and wasting their own spirits, with carking cares, but to such as they employ; neither regarding the souls nor bodies of men Scarce affording them the liberty of the Lord's day; (as has been too common in our Newfoundland employments;) or if they have it, yet they are so worn out with incessant labors, that that precious time is spent either in sleep or - idleness.’ It is no wonder GOD gives you more rest than you would have, since that day of rest has been no better improved. This over-doing has not been the least cause of our undoing.

 

Lastly, Our abuse of prosperity, when GOD gave it; making Gon's mercies the food and fuel of our lusts. When we had an affluence of outward blessings, this made us kick against GOD: Yea,- grow proud of our strength and, riches. How-.few of us, in the days of our prosperity, behave ourselves as good JEHOSHAPHAT did " He had silver and gold in abundance, and his heart was lifted in the way of GOD's commandments; (2 Chron. 17: 5, 6;) not in pride and insolence.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 ARE these the sins that blast our blessings, and wither our mercies O then let me cease to wonder it is no better, and rather admire' that it is no worse with me; that my neglect in prayer, injustice in dealings, earthly-mindedness, and abuse of former mercies, have not provoked GOD to.strip me naked of all my enjoyments. Let me humbly accept from the LORD the punishment of my iniquities, and lay my hand upon my mouth. And O that these disappointments might convince me of the creature's vanity, and cause me to drive on another trade for heaven; then shall I adore thy wisdom in rending from me those idolized enjoyments. Ah LORD, when I had them, my heart was a perpetual drudge to them. How did I then forget GOD, neglect duty, and not mind my eternal concern! If these had not perished, in all probability I had perished. My GOD, let my soul prosper, and then a small portion of these things. shell afford me more comfort than ever I had in their greatest abundance. " A little that a righteous man has, is better than the riches of many wicked."

 

CHAPTER 24:

 

On the Fishes of Prey. OBSERVA17ON.

 

 THERE are fishes of prey in the sea, as well as birds and beasts of prey on the land. Our seamen tell us, how the devouring whales, sharks, and other fishes, follow smaller fish, and devour multitudes of them. It is frequent with us, in our own seas, to find several smaller fishes in the bellies of the greater ones; yea, I have often beard seamen say, that the poor little fry, when pursued, are so sensible of the danger, that they have sometimes seen multitudes of "them cast themselves upon the shore, and perish there, to avoid the danger of being devoured.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 THUS cruel, merciless, and oppressive are wicked men, whose "tender mercies are cruelty." (Prov. 22: 1O.) We see the like cruelty in our extortioners, and over-reaching sharks ashore, who grind the faces of the poor, and regard not the cries of thefatherless and widows, but fill their houses with the gain of oppression. These are, by the HOLY GHOST, compared to the fishes of the sea. (Hab. 1: 13, 14.) This is a crying sin, yea, it sends up a loud cry to heaven for vengeance: " If you afflict the widow and the fatherless,

 

and they cry unto me, I will surely hear their cry." (Exodl 22: 23.) Nay, GOD will not only hear their cry, but avenge

 

their quarrel. That is a remarkable text, " That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the LORD is the avenger’ of all such." (1 Thess 4: 6.) This word, *, Avenger, is but once more used in the New Testament,.Rom. 13: 4. And there it is applied to the civil Magistrate, who is to see execution done upon offenders. But this is a sin that sometimes may be out of the reach of man's justice, and therefore GOD himself will be their avenger. You may overpower the poor in this world, and it may be they cannot contend with you at man's bar; therefore GOD will bring it before his bar.

 

 It is a sin so provoking to GOD, that he will not let it escape without severe, punishment sooner or later. The Prophet HABAKKUK, (Chap. 1: ver. 13,) wondered how the holy GOD could forbear such till the general day of reckoning, and that he did not take exemplary vengeance on them in this life. " You art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can not look upon iniquity: Wherefore then lookest you upon them that deal treacherously, and boldest thy tongue when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he" And, " Enter not into the fields of the fatherless, (Prov. 23: 1O, 11)) that is, of the poor and helpless. But why is it more dangerous violently to invade their right, than another's The reason is added, " For their Redeemer is mighty, and he shall plead their cause with thee." It may be they are not able to retain a counsel to plead their cause here; therefore GOD will plead their cause for them.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 TURN in upon thyself (O my soul) and consider, have you not been guilty of this crying sin Have I not (when a servant) over-reached and defrauded others, and filled my master's house with violence and deceit And so brought myself under that dreadful threatening, Zeph. 1: 9. Or since I came to trade and deal upon mine own account, have not the balances of deceit been in my hand I have (it may be) kept many,in my service and employment; have not I used their labors without reward, and so am under that woe (Jer. 22: 13.) Or not given them wages proportionable to their work (Isa. lviii. 3.) Or by bad payment, and unjust deductions defrauded them of a part of their due (Mal. 3: 5.) Or at least delayed payment, out of a covetous disposition to gain by it; whilst their necessities in the mean time cried aloud for it; and so sinned against GOD's express commands (Deuteron. 24: 14, 15; Levit. xix. 3O.) O my soul, examine thyself upon these particulars: Rest not quiet, until this guilt be removed by the application of the blood of sprinkling. has not the LORD said, " that they shall have judgment without mercy, that have showed no mercy" (James 2: 13.) And is it not a "fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD,", who has said, He will take vengeance for these things

 

CHAPTER 25

 

On Sailing in a Storm.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 IN storms at sea, the wise navigator will not spread much sail; that is the way to lose masts and all; they use then to furl up the sails, and he a hull, when not able to bear a knot of sail; or else to he a try, or scud before the wind and seas.. It is no time then to hoist up the top-gallant, and show their bravery.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 WHEN the judgments of GOD are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth. It is a provoking evil: And commonly GOD severely punishes it. Of all persons, such speed worst in the common calamity: " Woe to them that are at ease in Sion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of JOSEPH!" (Amos 6: 1; as verse 4.) It may be (as one observes upon the text) they did not laugh at him, but they did not condole, with him. And what shall be their punishment " Therefore now shall they go captive, with the first that go captive:" (See verse 7.) GOD will begin with them first. That is a terrible text, (Isa. 22: 12,) which should make the heart of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: - In that day did the LORD of hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen, killing sheep, drinking wine." Well, what is the issue of this " Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till you die." O dreadful word! Surely (my brethren) sympathy is a debt we owe to CIpRIST mystical. Whatever-our constitution, or condition be, yet when GOD calls for mourning, we must hear and obey that call. DAVID was a King, an expert musician, a man of a cheerful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times,’ than he Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. MELANCTHON was so affected with the miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his child, whom he entirely loved.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 BLUSH then, O my soul! for thy levity and insensibility under GOD's angry dispensations. How many of the precious sons and daughters of Sion, he in tears abroad, while I have been " nourishing my heart, as in a day of slaughter! The voice of GOD has cried to the city, and men of upderstanding have heard its voice." (Micah 6: 9.) But I,have been deaf to that cry. How loath (my GOD) have I been to urge my sensual heart to acts of sorrow and mourn. ing: You have bid me weep with them that weep, but my vain heart cannot comply with such commands. Ah LORD! If I mourn not with Sion, neither shall I rejoice with her.

 

 O! were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into tears, and to he weeping at the feet of CHRIST. LORD, what stupidity is this! Shall I laugh when you art angry, and thy children weeping and trembling Then I must justly fear, lest’C when they shall sing for, joy of heart, I shall howl for vexation of spirit." (Isa. lxv. 13, 14.) Surely, O my soul! such laughter will be turned into mourning, either here or hereafter.

 

CHAPTER 26

 

On a Leak in a Vessel.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 THE smallest leak, if not timely discovered and stopped, is enough to sink a ship of the greatest burden: Therefore seamen are wont frequently to try what water is in the hold; and if they find it fresh, and increasing upon them, they ply the pump, and presently set the carpenters to search for it and stop it; and till it be found, they cannot be quiet.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 WHAT such a leak is to a ship, that is the smallest sin neglected to the soul; it is enough to ruin it eternally. For as the greatest sin, discovered, lamented and forsaken by a believer, cannot ruin him; so the least sin indulged, covered and connived at, will certainly prove the destruction of the sinner. No sin, though never so small, is tolerated by the pure and perfect law of GOD, the " command is exceeding broad;" (Psalm cxix. 99;) not as if it gave men a latitude to walk as they please, but broad, that is, extending itself to all our words, thoughts, actions, and affections. Laying a law upon them all; conniving at no evil in any man.

 

 And as the word gives no allowance for the least sin, so it is the very nature of sincerity and uprightness, to set the heart against every way of wickedness; and especially against that sin, which was its darling in the days of his vanity. True _ hatred (as the philosopher observes) is of the whole kind: He that hates sin, as sin, (and so does every upright soul,) hates all sins as well as some.

 

Again, the soul that has had a saving sight of JESUS CHRIST, a true discovery of the evil of sin, in the glass both of the Law and Gospel, can account no sin small. He knows the demerit of the smallest sin is GOD's eternal wrath, and that not the least sin can be remitted, without the application of the blood of CHRIST, which blood is of infinite value.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 AND is the smallest sin not only damning in its own nature, but the ruin of that soul that covers it Then let my spirit, accomplish a diligent search. Look to it, O my soul! that no sin be indulged by thee. Set these considerations as so many flaming swords in the way of thy carnal delights: Let me never say of any sin, as LOT did of ZOAR, a It is a little one, spare it." And shall I spare that which cost the blood of JESUS CHRIST The LORD would not spare him, "when he made his soul an offering for sin." Neither will he spare me, if I defend and hide it: If my heart were right, that lust, whatever it be, that is so favored by me, would especially be abhorred and hated. Whatever my convictions and reformations have been, yet if there be but one sin retained and delighted in, this keeps the Devil's interest still in my soul: And though, for a time, he seem to depart, yet at last he will return with seven worse spirits, and this sin will open to him, and deliver up my soul. LORD, let me make a thorough work of it Let me cut it off, and pluck it out, though it be as a right hand or eye. Shall I come so near the kingdom of GOD, and make such a fair offer for CHRIST, and yet stick at a small matter, and lose all for want of one thing LORD, let me shed the blood of the dearest sin, for His sake that shed his dearest blood for me.

 

CHAPTER 27

 

On the Variation of the Wind. OBSERVATION.

 

 THOUGH in most parts of the world the winds are variable, and sometimes blow from every point of the compass, by reason whereof sailing is slow and dangerous; yet upon the equinoctial, seamen meet with a trade-wind, blowing for the most part one way; and there they sail jocund before it, and scarce need to lower a top-sail, for some hundreds of leagues.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 ALTHOUGH the people of GOD meet with many-seeming rubs in their way to heaven, which are like contrary winds to a ship; yet are they, from the day of their conversion to the day of their complete salvation, never out of a tradewind's way to heaven: " We know that all things work together for good, to them that love GOD." (Rom. viii. 21.) This is a most precious scripture, pregnant with consolation to all believers in all conditions. Let us look a little nearer to it.

 

 " We know." Mark the certainty and evidence of the proposition, which is not built upon a guess, but upon knowledge. " We know it," and that partly by divine revelation, GOD has told us so; and partly by our own experience, we find it so. " That all things." Not only things that he in a natural and direct tendency to our good, as ordinances, promises, blessings;’but even such things as have no natural fitness to such an end, as afflictions, temptations. All these help onward: They " Work together." Not all of them directly, and of their own nature, but by being over-ruled to such an issue by the gracious hand of GOD: Nor yet do they work out such good to us, singly and apart, but as adjuvant causes or helps working in subordination to the supreme cause of our happiness.

 

Afflictions seem to work against us; but being once put into the rank andorder of causes, they work together with such blessed instruments, as the word and prayer, to an happy issue. And though the face of these things, that thus agree and work together, look contrary ways; yet there be, as it were, secret chains and connections of Providence between them, to unite them in their issue. There may be many Instruments employed about one work, and yet not communicate counsels, or hold intelligence with each other. JOSEPH'S brethren, the Midianites, POTIPHAR, knew not one another's mind, nor aimed at one end, much less the end that GOD brought about by them: One acts out of revenge, another for gain, a third out of policy; yet all meet together at last,' in that issue GOD had designed to bring about by them, even JOSEPH'S advancement. Even so it is here, Christian, there be more instruments at work for thine eternal good, than you art aware of.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 CHEER up then, O my soul, and lean upon this pillow of comfort in all distresses. Here is a promise for me, that, like the philosopher's stone, turns all into gold it toucheth. This promise is my security, however things go in the world, " My GOD will do me no hurt." (Jer.,~xxv. 6.) Nay, he will do me good by every dispensation. " O that I had but an heart to make all things work for his glory, that thus causes every thing for my good." My GOD, dost you turn every thing to my advantage O let me return all to thy praise; and if by every thing you workout my eternal good, then let me in every thing give thanks.

 

 But ah! how foolish and ignorant have I been! Even as a beast before thee. How has my heart beenn disquieted at thy dispensations, when they have crossed my will! Not considering that my GOD faithfully pursues my good, even in those things that cross, as well as in' that which pleases me.

 

 What a blessed condition are all thy people in! All things friendly and beneficial to them, friends helpful, enemies helpful, every thing conspiring and conducing to their happiness. With others it is not so; nothing works for their good, nay, every thing works against it: Their very mercies are snares, and their prosperity destroys them. (Prow. 1: 32.) Even the blessed Gospel itself is a savour of death to them: When evil befals them, it is " an only, evil;" (Ezek. 7: 5;) that is, not turned into good to them; and as their evils are not turned into good, so all their good is turned into evil. As this promise has an influence upon all the enjoyments of the wicked, O my soul,, bless the LORD, who has cast thy lot into such a pleasant place, and given thee such a glorious heritage.

 

CHAPTER 28: Onfair Weather.

 

OBSERVATION.

 

 IN fair weather, when there is sea-room enough, every common person can guide the ship, the pilot may then he down and take his rest; but in great storms and stress of weather, or when near the dangerous shore, then the most skilful pilot is put to it: Then he shows the utmost of his art, and yet sometimes all is too little. They are at their wit's end, know not what to do more, but are forced to commit all to the mercy of GOD and the seas.

 

APPLICATION

 

 In the storms of affliction there are the most evident and full discoveries of the wisdom and power of our GOD; which are indeed continually active for his people in all conditions. " He that keepeth Israel, neither slumbereth nor sleepeth." (Psalm cxxi. 4.) His people's dangers are without intermission, therefore his preservations are so too. But, when they come into the straits of deadly dangers, which threaten like rocks on every side; the wisdom of their GOD rides triumphantly and visibly upon the waves of that stO - my sea. -And this infinite wisdom is then especially discovered in these particulars.

 

 1. In leaving them still somewhat, in the room of those comforts that they are deprived of; so that they see God does exchange their comforts, and that for the better; and this supports them. So (John 14: 1, 2, 3) CHRIST'S bodily presence is removed, but the SPIRIT was sent in the room of it, which was better.

 

 2. In doubling their strength, as he doubles their burdens. 1t is observed, that believers have many times very strong and sweet consolations, a little -before their greatest trials: And this is so ordinary, that when they have had extraordinary consolations from GOD, they have then looked for some eminent trial. The LORD appeared to ABRAHAM, and sealed the covenant to him, and then put him upon that great trial of his faith. So PAUL had first his revelations, then his buffetings.

 

 3. In coming so opportunely in the time of their distress, with relief and comfort. " Then the SPIRIT of glory and of GOD resteth on them." (1 Pet. 4: 14.) As that martyr cried out to his friend AUSTIN, at the very stake,’ He is come, He is come!'

 

 4. In appointing and ordering the several kinds of afflictions, and allotting to every one, that very affliction, and no other, which is most suitable to his condition: Which afflictions, like so many potions of physic, are prepared for that very malignant humor that predominates in them. PETER'S sin was self-confidence, GOD permits him to fall by denying CHRIST: Which doubtless was sanctified to his good, in that particular. HEZEKIA's sin was vainglory; therefore spoilers are-sent to take away his treasures.

 

 5. In the duration of their troubles'; they shall not he always upon them. Our GOD is a God of judgment. (Isa. 30: 18.) He knows the due time of removing it, and is therein punctual to a (lay. (Rev. 2: 1O.)

 

REFLECTION.

 

 IF the wisdom of GOD do thus triumph in the distresses of his people, then why should I fear in the day of evil Why does my heart faint at the foresight of approaching trouble Fear none of those things that you shall suffer, O my soul! If thy GOD will thus be with thee in the fire and water, you can not perish. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, yet let me fear no evil, whilst my God is with me. Creatures cannot do what they please, his wisdom limits and over-rules them all, to gracious ends. If my God cast me into the furnace, to melt and try me, yet I shall not be consumed there; for he will sit by the furnace himself all the while, observing when it has done its work, and then will presently withdraw the fire. O my soul, bless and adore this GOD of wisdom! Who himself will see the ordering of all thine afflictions, and not trust it in the hands of men or angels.

 

CHAPTER 29 On the Depth of the Ocean. OBSERVATION.

 

 THE ocean is so deep that no, eye can discover what lies in the bottom thereof. W e use to say proverbially of a thing that is irrecoverably lost,’ It is as good it were cast into the sea.' What lies there, lies obscure from all eyes, but the eye of GOD.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 THUS are the judgments of GOD, and the ways of his Providence, profound and unsearchable: " Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, and thy judgments are a great deep;" (Psalm xxxvi. 16;) that is, his providences are secret, obscure, and unfathomable; but even then and in those providences his righteousness stands up like the great mountains, visible and apparent to every eye. These wheels of Providence are dreadful for their height. (Ezek. 1: 18.) There be deep mysteries of Providence, as well as of faith. It may be said of some of them, as of ST. PAUL'S Epistles, that they " are hard to be understood." Darkness and clouds are round, about the throne of Gon: No man can say what will be the particular event of some of his dispensations. LUTHER seemed to hear GOD say to him, when he was importunate to know his mind in some particular providence,’ I am a GOD not to be traced.' Some providences, like Hebrew letters, must be read backward. (Psalm xcii. 7.) Some providences pose men of the greatest parts and graces. " His way is in the sea, his paths in the great waters, and his foot-steps are not known." (Psalm lxxvii. 19.) Who can trace foot-steps in the bottom of the sea There be some of GOD's works that are such secrets as that they may not be inquired into; they are to be believed and adored, but not pried into. (Rom. 11: 33.)’ Others that may be inquired after, but. yet are so profound that few can understand them. When we come to heaven, then all those mysteries, as well in the works, as in the word of GOD, will he open to our view.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 THEN why is my heart disquieted, because it cannot sometimes discern the way of the LORD, and the connection of his providential dispensations’ Why art you so perplexed, O my soul, at the confusions and disorders that are in the world I know that goodness and wisdom sit at the stern: And though the vessel of the Church be tossed and distressed in storms of trouble, yet it shall not perish. Is -it not enough for me, that GOD has condescended so far for my satisfaction, as to show me plainly the general issue of all these mysterious, providences, unless I be able to take the height of every particular Shall I presume to call the God of heaven to account Must He render a reason of his ways, and give an account of his matters to such a worm as I am Be silent, O my soul, before the LORD; subscribe to his wisdom, and submit to his will, whatsoever he does. However it be, yet GOD is good to ISRAEL; the event will manifest it to be all over a design of love. I know not how to reconcile them to each other, or many of them to the promise; yet are they all harmonious between themselves, and the certain means of accomplishing the promises. O what a favor is this, that in the midst of the greatest confusions in the world, GOD, has given such abundant security to his people, that it shall be well with them!

 

CHAPTER 30

 

On the Multitudes of Men devoured by the Sea. OBSERVATION.

 

 WHAT multitudes of men has the sea devoured! Thousands have made their graves in it. What numbers of men have been ingulfed together in sea-fights, or storms, or inundations, whereby whole towns have been swallowed up! Certainly the dead which are there are innumerable.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 BUT though the sea has received so many thousand bodies of men into its devouring throat, yet is it not the absolute lord or proprietor of them, but rather a steward entrusted with them, till* the LORD require an account of them; and then it must deliver up all it has received.,, And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before GOD And the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which

 

were in it:' (Rev. 20: 11, 12.)

 

 The doctrine of the resurrection of the body, is a doctrine full of consolation to believers, and most clearly asserted in Scripture. And it is well for us this point is so plainly revealed; because, as it is a most comfortable truth to the people of GOD, so there is scarce any truth that lies under more prejudice as to sense or reason, and is more difficult to receive than this is. And indeed, if men set up

 

reason as the only judge of supernatural things, it, is incredible to think that a body should be restored that has been burnt to ashes, and those ashes scattered in the wind, as history tells us was frequently done in DIOCLETIAN'S reign! Or when drowned in the sea, and there devoured by several fishes, and those again devoured by others. But this is not to be objected to the Almighty power of GOD, that gave them their first being. Difficulties and impossibilities are for men, but not for Him.- Why should it be thought a thing incredible' with you, that GOD should raise the dead

 

REFLECTION.

 

 AND must I rise again, wherever my body fall at death Then, LORD, how am I concerned to know CHRIST while I live! By virtue thereof only, my resurrection can be made comfortable to me. Let my. body he where it will, in earth or sea: Let my bones be scattered, and flesh devoured by worms or fish, I know you can and wilt reunite my scattered parts; and in this body I must stand before thine awful tribunal, to receive according to what I have done therein. You that commandedst me to stand forth amongst the noblest rank of creatures, when I had no being, and sawest my substance, being yet imperfect, can as easily reduce me to that being again.

 

 What though reason vote this impossible, and sense incredible Though all these difficulties grow upon my faith, yet I know my body is not lost for ever. The sound of thy trumpet shall awaken me; and thy mighty power, to which all things are possible, shall bring me before thy

 

bar. O LORD, I know that I- shall stand in that great assembly, when multitudes, even all the sons and daughters of ADAM, shall appear together. O! If I die CHRISTLESS, it were good for me that there were no resurrection: For then those eyes that have been windows of lusts, must behold CHRIST the Judge, not as a Redeemer, but as a Revenger. That tongue that has vented so much of the filthiness of my heart, will then be struck speechless before Him; and this flesh, which I so pampered, condemned to everlasting flames. O my Gon, let me make sure work for such a day. If I now am really united with thy RoN, I shall awake with singing out of the dust: And then, as you saidst to JACOB, say to me, when I go down into the sea or grave, " Fear not to go down into the deep; for I will surely bring thee up again." (Gen. xlvi. 3, 4.)

 

CHAPTER 31. The Danger of Splitting upon the Rocks. OBSERVA'ITON.

 

 THOUGH seamen meet with violent storms, yet if they have sea-room enough, they are not much dismayed; but if they find themselves near the shore, they look upon their condition as very dangerous. The sight of the shore is to them: (as SOLOMON speaks of the morning in another case) like the shadow of death, if not able to weather it. For one ship swallowed up in the ocean, many perish upon the coast.

 

APPLICATION.

 

" THE greatest difficulties that many meet with in all their lives, is when they have almost finished their course. Heaven indeed is a glorious place, the spacious mansion of the great King; but it has a strait and narrow entrance. O the difficulty of arriving there! What earnest contention and striving, even to an agony, as that word imports, Luke 13: l4. Multitudes put forth, and by profession are bound for this fair haven; but of the multitudes that put out, how few' arrive there! A man may set out by a glorious profession, with much resolution, and continue long therein; he may offer very fair for it, and not be far from the kingdom of Gon, and yet not be able to enter at the last.

 

 Yea, and many of those who are sincere in their profession, and do arrive at last, yet come to heaven (as I may say) by the gates of hell;' and put in, as a poor weather-beaten vessel comes into the harbor, more like a wreck than a ship, nor mast nor sail left. The righteous

 

themselves are scarcely saved, that is, they are saved with much difficulty They have not all " an abundant entrance," as the Apostle speaks. ( Pet. 1: 11.)

 

 Some "persons (as one notes) are afar off:" (Eph. 2: 23.) That is, touched with no care of religion. Some come near, but never enter; as semi-converts. Others enter, but with great difficulty; they are saved as by fire; make an hard shift. But then there be some that go with full sail before the wind, and have "an abundant entrance;" they go triumphing out of the world. When we come into the narrow channel, at the, very point of entrance into life, the soul is then in the most serious frame; all things look with a new face. Conscience scans our evidence most critically; then also SATAN falls upon us, and makes his sorest assaults. It is the last encounter; if they escape him now, they are gone out of his reach for ever: And if he cannot hinder their_ salvation,, yet if he can but cloud their evening, he reaches another end by it, even to confirm and prejudice the wicked, and weaken the hands of others that are looking towards religion.

 

REFLECTION.

 

 IF this be so,. how inevitable is my perdition, may the careless soul say If they strive so much, and go so far, yet perish at last; and if the righteous themselves are scarcely saved, then where shall such a creature as I appear O LORD, if they that have made religion their business, and have been many years pursuing a work of mortification, have gone mourning after the LORD JESUS; yea, if some of them have such hard work at last, what will become of such a sensual, careless wretch as I have been

 

 Again, do true Christians find it so strait an entrance Then, though I have well-grounded hopes of safe arrival at last; yet let me look to it, that I do not increase the difficulty. They are the things that are now done or omitted, that put conscience into such an agony then; for then it comes to review the life with the most serious eye. O, let me not stick my death-bed full of thorns, against I come to he down upon it! O that-I may turn to the wall in that hour, as HEZEHIAH did, and say, " Remember now, O LORD, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart!" (2 Kings 20: 2, 3.)

 

CHAPTER 32.

 

The Joey of Mariners on descrying Land. OBSERVATION.

 

 WHAT joy is there among seamen, when at last, after a tedious and dangerous voyage, they descry land, and see the desired haven! Then they turn out of their cabins and come upon open deck with much joy. Now they can reflect with comfort upon the many dangers they have past Olim hec meminisse juvalrit, It is sweet to recount them.

 

APPLICATION.

 

 BUT O, what transcendant joy will over-run the hearts of saints, when after so many conflicts, temptations, and afflictions, they arrive in glory, and are harbored in heaven, where they shall rest for ever The Scripture says, " They shall sing the song of MOSES, and of the Lamb." (Rev. 15: 3.) The song of MOSES was a triumphant song, composed for the celebration of that glorious deliverance at the Red Sea. We are now fluctuating upon a troublesome and tempestuous sea; our hearts sometimes ready to sink and die within us, at the apprehension of so many and great dangers and difficulties. Many a hard storm we ride out, and many straits and troubles we here encounter with; but at last we arrive at the desired and long-expected haven, and then heaven resounds with joyful acclamations. And how can it be otherwise, when as soon as ever we set foot upon that glorious shore, CHRIST himself meets and receives us, wit}, a " Come, ye blessed of my Father" (Matt. xxv, 34.) O joyful voice! O much desired word! What tribulation would not a man undergo for this word's sake!

 

 O what a day will this be!' If (says a worthy Divine) DIAGORAS died away with an excess of joy, whilst he embraced his three sons that were crowned as victors in the Olympic games in one day: And good old S IMEON, when he saw CHRIST but in a body subject to the infirmities of our natures, cried out, " Now let thy servant depart in peace:" What unspeakable joy will it be to the saints, to behold CHRIST in his glory, and see their relations also, _ (to whose conversion, perhaps, they have been instrumental,) all crowned in one day with everlasting diadems! And if the stars did (as IGNATIUS says) make a choir, as it were, about that star that appeared at CHRIST'S incarnation, and there be such joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner: No wonder then, " the morning stars sing together, and the sons of GOD shout for joy, when the general assembly meet in heaven." O how will the arches of heaven ring and echo, when the high praises of GOD shall be in the mouth of such a congregation! Then shall the saints be joyful in glory, and sing aloud upon their beds of everlasting rest.'

 

REFLECTION.

 

 AND is there such a day approaching for the sons of GOD indeed And have I authority to call myself one of the number O then let me not droop at present difficulties, nor hang down my hands when I meet with hardships in the way. O my soul, what a joyful day will this be! At present we are tossed upon an ocean of troubles, fears, and temptations; but these will make heaven the sweeter.

 

 Cheer up then, O my soul, "thy salvation is now nearer than when you first believedst." (Rom. 13: 11.) And it will not now belong ere I receive " the end of my faith;" and then it will be sweet to reflect even upon these hardships in the way. Yet a few days more, and then comes that blessed day you have so long waited and panted for. Oppose the glory of that day, O my soul, to thy present sufferings; anti you shall see how it will shrink them all up to nothing. Oppose the inheritance you shall receive in that day, to thy losses for CHRIST now; and see how joyfully it will make thee bear them. Oppose the honor that will be put upon thee in that day, to thy present reproaches; and see how easy it will make thee. What condition can I be in, wherein the believing thoughts of this blessed day cannot relieve me

 

 Am I poor Here is that which answers poverty " Hearken, my beloved brethren, has not GOD chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom" (.Tames 3: 5.) Am I tempted Here is relief against that: Now is come salvation and strength; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down." (Rev. 12: 1O.) Am I deserted Here is a remedy for that too: 11 And there shall be no night there," (Rev. 22: 5.)

 

Come then, my soul, let us enter upon our inheritance by degrees, and begin the life of heaven upon earth.

 

CONCLUSION.

 

 I HAVE now done, and am looking to heaven for a blessing upon these weak labors: What use you will make of them,.I know not; but this I know, that the day is coming, when GOD will reckon with you for this, and all other helps and means afforded to you: And if it be not improved by you, be sure it will be produced as a witness against you. Sirs, I beg you in the name of CHRIST, before whom both you and I must shortly appear, that you receive not these things in vain. Did I know what other lawful means to use, that might reach your hearts, they should not be in vain to you; but I cannot do GOD's part of the work, nor yours. Only I request you all, both masters, common men, and all others, into whose hands this shall come, that you will lay to heart what you read; pray unto Him " that has the keys of the house of DAVID, that opens and no man shutteth," to open your hearts to give entertainment to these truths. Alas! if you apply it not to yourselves, I have labored to no purpose, the pen of the Scribe is in vain: But GOD may make such an application of them, in one stream or other, as may make your hearts to tremble. O Sirs, when death and eternity look you in the face, conscience may reflect upon these things to your horror and amazement, and make you cry out, " How have I hated knowledge, and my heart despised reproof! And have not obeyed the voice of my teacher, nor inclined my ears to them that instructed me!" (Prov. 5: 12, 13.) And O what a dreadful shriek will such souls give, when the LORD opens their eyes, to see that misery that they are here warned of! But if the LORD shall bless these things to your conversion, then we may say to you, as MOSES said to ZEBULUN, the mariner's tribe, " Rejoice, ZEBULUN, in thy going out." (Dent. xxxiii. 1t.) The LORDD will be with you which way soever you turn yourselves; and you are safe in the midst of all dangers. O you that art the Father of spirits, that formedst, and can easily reform the heart, open you the blind eye, unstop the deaf ear, let the word take hold upon the heart: If you wilt but say the word, these weak labors shall prosper, to bring home many lost souls unto thee. Amen.