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vity, which is the spring of all. Again, it is too contracted, in that I confine my grief to the wretches that are daily in my view; for though the crew here were all saints, yet how, through the whole fleet, have officers and men all corrupted their way! or though the whole fleet were innocent, yet how, through Britain, by her armies and men of all ranks, is the divine law broken with impunity! But though Britain were as righteous as Israel in their purest times, yet what wickedness against the majesty of Heaven is committed through the world abroad!

O contracted sorrow! to grieve for nothing but what I see; as if the glory of God were not alike dear to him in all places; or as if he were not offended at sin on every shore, in every land, and in every heart! Though what I see and hear deserves my first tears, yet I should continue the flood, because iniquity overflows the universe, because the whole world lies in iniquity, and the earth groaneth under the inhabitants thereof. Though the enemies of God may not be always in my sight, as now some of them are, yet they are always in the sight of Heaven, sinning against him who is every where present; my sorrow therefore should continually be before me, and the shame of my face ever cover me; and my unremitting request should be, and shall be, that the knowledge of the Lord may fill the carth, as the waters cover the sea.

MEDITATION LIV.

PRISONERS.

St Helen's, July 29. 1758.

THIS is a common affliction in war, that, who ever conquer at last, in the mean time many onboth sides lose their life, or suffer by imprisonment; as these poor men, who carry the effects of their long confinement and short allowance in their countenance. Their meagre looks tell they have not been upon the bounty of their own sovereign, under whose colours they fought. But now, when again possessed of liberty, they betake not themselves to a slothful,. indolent, and easy life, but with redoubled ardour fly again to arms, eager to be revenged on their enemies, and take them prisoners whose prisoners they were. Even so the soldier, that in the Christian warfare (and all his life is one campaign) is taken captive by Satan, is cast down by some temptation, and overcome by some lust; who is imprisoned in carnality, whose iron gate is deadness, and its brazen bolt despair, and the chains and fetters which bind the prisoners are insensibility and impenitence of heart; while Satan, to keep all secure, stands sentry himself; even so, when such an one is recovered from his deadness, is restored to liberty, by him who takes the prey from the terrible, and delivers the lawful captive, how does his holy indignation rise against sin, and that sin especially which had overcome him! As he had gone backward, now he runs in the way of righteousness, and studies that his path may be like the shining light, that shineth more

and more unto the perfect day. None has a greater hatred of sin than he, a greater zeal for the glory of God, a greater jealousy over himself, and greater compassion for those that groan under the assaults of Satan, and swellings of sin. His jail-disease (a death on the whole soul) is removed, and being fed and feasted with the bread of life, he grows strong as David, for the war, as an angel of God. Not a wound of all those he received when taken captive, but is healed by the balm of Gilead, which is poured in by the Physician of souls. And he is filled with joy by the sweet assurance, that none of all the armies of God shall die in prison, but with full triumph and loud hosannah, shall at last enter the realms of everlasting day.

MEDITATION LV.

A SHIP FALLING FOUL OF ANOTHER.

Under sail from Cherbourg.

How sweet is life, for which a man will quit with. his all! When these two ships, which mine an

xious

eyes beheld, fell foul of one another, from the lesser vessel, which seemed in greatest danger,, how did every one fly, and never look behind One comes out half naked, but finds no cold; another, in getting into the other ship, catches a bruise or a wound, but feels no pain till afterwards.

I see, then, that man needs no admonition to preserve his temporal life, or avoid bodily danger; but how do they sleep on in sin till awaked in everlasting agonies!

"Fly from the wrath to come," is the divine admonition to all; but a raging sea, and a roar. ing tempest, a sinking vessel, and a swelling wave, are more prevalent with men to attempt their escape, than all the terrors of the Lord, the prospect of future wrath and eternal torment. But some may be discouraged to essay reformation, or begin to amend, because they have so long followed the ways of sin; yet this, instead of deterring them from, should determine them to make their last efforts to escape. Tell the affrighted crew, that because they are in danger, they must dwell in danger sedately, and let themselves drown with out disturbance, since it seems to be their fate. Such an advice would seem the language of a madman, an advice they never will accept of. They will make the more haste the greater their danger, and the greater speed to deliver themselves the nearer they seem to destruction; yea, they will at tempt to make their escape, though they should perish in the attempt. They will rather be in motion, than sit still and perish. O that men, the worst of men, would follow their example! for if they abide in their sins they perish, and though they misgive in their attempts to escape, (but when does this happen?), they can but perish.

Again, a man fast asleep could not have been concerned in all the confusion these men were in, but should have sunk like a stone in the mighty waters. But all that are awake see their danger, and endeavour to accomplish their escape. So those that are in a natural state are spiritually asleep, and see no danger till they plunge into the flames of hell but the soul that is awake to eternity, sees his danger, and flies from the wrath to come; and there is as great difference between a man in a re

newed and unrenewed state, as between a man fast asleep and broad awake.

Moreover, we see that these men minded nothing but life, left all behind them, even their most precious things, and made their escape. So, when a soul seeks to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, he counts all things but loss and dung, even the things he had counted gain before, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. He sets his eye on the unseen world, and secures his interest there. Looking on the present world as a shattered vessel that cannot long carry him safe, but must sink him at last, he sees that it is his highest wisdom to get out of the leaky vessel, into the safe ark of the covenant, that still keeps above the swelling floods. And, finally, he sets his affections on heavenly things, and anticipates a little of that joy and serenity which shall take place in the world to come, when storms and tempests cease.

MEDITATION LVI.

WAR.

Under sail, August 18. 1758.

How often have we cause to cry out of the cruelty of men! Mankind, allied to one another by blood and human reason, yet have more cunning to destroy each other than all the beasts of the forest. No sooner were these poor innocents as to personal prejudice (who never met before, and only meet now that they may meet no more) within the reach of mutual destruction, but they fall to work,

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