and death by either wind the one shall arrive at heaven and glory, the other at perdition and woe.

Hence may I, like the wise mariner, make the best of a contrary wind, of cross dispensations, and adverse providences, and, in spite of opposition, reach my happy port at last, having my soul brought into a submissive frame to every turn of life and crook of lot that providence may lay in my way.

MEDITATION XCVIII.

ON BEING DRIVEN BACK TO HARBOUR.

Lying off France, June 17, 1758.

THERE is an unseen rotation of circumstances accidental to all conditions of life, which we cannot provide against. Had we known yesterday that we should have been driven back to-day, we had not left our station, nor undergone toil, danger, and damage. Even so, how many fruitless efforts have the sons of men made in pursuit of temporal things, where the people weary themselves for very vanity! So is his fate who sets out for happiness below; for after a thousand tackings and turnings to the empty creature for satisfaction, still the wind of vanity and vexation of spirit, which spreads over the whole universe, and blows in the face of every son of man, brings him back, with boisterous squalls, to where he first set out, to see his folly, and confess his mistake. So must the Christian lay his account to meet with crosses in his course, for it is through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom. Often in the day of darkness and tempest, the believer is apt to doubt his progress heavenward, and to think himself still in the port of a natural

state; but as the seaman, that would reach his desired haven, however often he be blown back, must still put to sea again, so the Christain, whatever storms and tempests roar around him, must still endeavour to believe on his all-sufficient Saviour, who with equal ease can save the sinner from hell as the saint from falling away.

Again, as it is safer for a ship in a storm to stand to sea, than make the shore, lest she be wrecked upon the rocks that lie along; so every disciple of Jesus is to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, is to hold fast the form of sound words, is to avoid luke-warmness, hypocrisy and defection, lest thereby he be undone for ever. Finally whatever the seaman does, the Christian must still hold on his course through storms and tempests till he arrive at the heavenly shore.

MEDITATION LXCIX.

THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.

Lying off Normandy, June, 1758.

MANY are the articles of the heavenly bliss, many

are the joys of the higher house, and the sweet society and company is no small part of the happiness of the general assembly and church of the first-born. Where sobriety is fashionable, we too little esteem the saints, these excellent ones of the earth; but when we are among the blackest sons of vice, we learn to compute otherwise, and clearly see the worth of the saints. Accordingly, it is one branch of the blessedness of believers,that they shall be brought "to the spirits of just men." But, as even the godly here-away are apt to be

involved in contention, debates, and strife, and to have corruption breaking out now and then in them, which has often happened among dear brethren, and in the church of Christ, to the grief of many a heart, therefore it is added, " to the spirits of just men made perfect."

Now, if the company of sinners, such as I live among, be so disagreeable, how pleasant will the fellowship of these sanctified ones be, in the presence of the great Master of the heavenly family! Here sinners are, alas! every where most numerous; but then and there, not one sinner shall stand in the great congregation, not one wicked person in the assembly of the just. And as man, being a social creature, delights in company and converse with one another (so says the proverb, "As iron sharpeneth iron, so the face of a man his friend,") will not the saints kindle in their love to God, from the love of one another, by a sacred emulation who shall love him most, who has loved them with an everlasting and unchanging love? Hence am I instructed in this world whom to choose as members of my family, even as my servants; and what value to put on those who are religious, since, amidst all his failings, still "the righteous is more excellent than his neighbor."

MEDITATION C.

GOING TO ENGAGE.

NOW every thing is preparing to engage the enemy, all hands are busy ; but all souls are culpably idle, though what the event may be, none can tell. Care. less of our eternal interests at other times, no wonder

we are careless at our last! We know not how soon we shall be in the terrors of death, as we are soon to be in the horrors of battle. How shocking to see men unusually merry, when rushing into danger more than common! To live without faith, and die without fear, is not the character of the Christian, who rejoices with trembling, and knows the terrors of the Lord. How stupid never to prepare for death, which, wheand ther prepared for or not, may soon overtake some, in a little will overtake all of us. Probably in a few hours, some of us will be arrived at our long home; some disembodied souls stand before the awful bar! I shudder at the thought!

Our sympathising friends know nothing of our dangerous situation in the contending moments, while oceans ruffled with storm and tempest rage around us, high winds and hurricanes roar above us, and the angry foes pour in death on us, with a noise terrible as the thunder, and awful as the lightning. How would our tender parents weep and wring their hands, to see us in such danger, or in the cold embrace of death!

Every thing is tossed down into the holds, that could încommode us in the engagement; so at death we would quit with all the joys of life to live a little longer, and must quit with all to die. Woe to the disputes of nations, woe to the pride of kings, that kindles this bloody uproar, and calls us all to our arms!

the drum!!!!

*

-But

* The author appears to have been interrupted by the commencement of the action.

MEDITATION CI.

ARGUMENTS TO RESIGNATION.*

June 17, 1759.

TO encourage to submission and resignation, let me consider and believe these truths, and then see if I have any cause to complain, be cast down or fear.

1. That the just Lord, who rules in the midst of his people, will do no iniquity.

2. That he loves his saints with a love more indulgent, and every way more excellent, than they can have for themselves.

3. That when he removes a comfort, or causes some of our blessings wither, like Jonah's gourd, our souls would receive greater damage by their being continued with us, than by their being cut off from us.

4. That when any affliction is sent, we would be greater loosers by going without it, than by groaning under it.

5. That whatever befals us, if we belong to God, both his glory and our good shall thereby sooner or later be advanced.

6. That no changes in the world can alter his love towards us, in which he rests.

7. That it is not safe to have what God thinks fit to take away, or to escape what he is pleased to impose; therefore silence becomes us, whether Providence remove our relations, or other joys, or heap troubles

on us.

8. That as God now sees, so we ourselves shall, one time or other, see and confess, that all these afflic

• While the author was in the utmost parts of Europe, his nearest friend died eight days before writing the above, which he was informed of some months after in England.