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One comes out half

one fly, and never look behind! 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 admo. nition to all; but a raging sea, and a roaring 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 without 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 attempt 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

afford eternal day! that I shall walk in the light of his countenance, and in his light see light clearly! Then, and not till then, "shall mine age be clearer than the noon-day, and I shall shine forth, and be as the morning."

MEDITATION XLVI.

ON ONE CURSING AND SWEARING AT AN AFFRONT.

Spithead, July 10, 1758.

THIS discloses to me the dreadful confusion and deplorable passion which the wicked shall be put into at the tremendous bar! Hear that poor wretch, for a matter of no moment compared to his eternal felicity, roars, rages, foams, and blasphemes. What surprising, chilling, and unheard-of oaths, even where oaths are too much heard every day, pursue one another in his fiendlike fury! Scarce can he tell what troubles him for belching out hideous, horrid, and uncommon oaths, protestations, and imprecations, not to be allowed to return ever into the memory again but in a way of deploration.

Now, if such be the language of sinners on earth, what shall be their dialect in hell, when they shall turn their blasphemies against the blessed, but tremendous Avenger himself! when their kindling eyes shall swell with fury! Here they curse others, or invoke damnation on themselves; but then and there, they shall blaspheme God for his burning indignation, and, in perpetual rage and fury, rise up against incensed Omnipotence itself; and this shall increase their torment, that they madly oppose their feeble power, and unsubdued enmity, against the infinite afflictor, where.

by they, as it were, approve of their old rebellion against their rightful Lord, and make it evident that he is just when he condemns and punishes his foes. But what a countenance will they put on, what passion, what revenge, what anguish, what rage, what horror, what burning envy in their soul, what rolling e yes, and trembling joints, what tormenting confusion of thought, what terrible disquiet, and consummate despair, will tear and prey on them for ever! Against whom will they stamp, frown, storm, and foam, like this desperado? Whom will they threaten? God, their eternal foe, is far above their reach, holds them down in chains of everlasting wrath, and roars against them with the thunders of his right hand for ever.

Now, as I heard expressions terribly strange, and oaths to me entirely new (which I pray may be so for ever, and never grate my ear again) from hence I infer, that the blasphemies of the damned, now past all hope, and filled with unrelenting enmity, are so extremely and inconceivably dreadful, so excessively horrid, that the most abandoned swearer, the master of the newest and blackest blasphemies on earth, comes not near them; just as the sharpest pains we feel in time, bear no proportion to the excruciating torments of the damned. This desperado's passion assuages by little and little, and he becomes himself by degrees; but there their passion and tumult ever grows, even against God. Their soul abhors him, and his soul also loathes them. O then to be wise, and learn wisdom from every thing I see

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 renewed 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 rigeteousness, 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 lòng 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, and deprive each other of their life, and hands unknown send souls into the world unseen. Cannon roar like the destructive thunders, and all the instruments of war are set a sounding terror and dismay. Pity, that character of Heaven, knows no egress from the human breast, till the enemy are cut off, or yield prisoners to the victor. How many souls, by the unsheathed and naked sword, are sent naked into the world of spirits! Unprepared for their last moments, they have not a quiet moment at last to prepare for death, but are hurried into their last, unalterable state at once, with a few melting groans. What a piteous sight is the field of battle! The very ground is plowed with the irresistible cannon-balls; or if the battle borders on a wood, the trees are barked with continual firing, and the neighbouring hills echo with the noise, the confused noise of war, while the shriekings and groanings of the deadly wounded add to the horrors of the day. Such are the contests of courts, such the ambition of kings, who purchase elbow-room to their sceptres, at the expence of their subjects lives.

But if the war of mortals be so terrible to one another, what must that day be when God shall rise up to the prey, to rid him of his enemies, and ease him of his adversaries? when his angry countenance shall kindle the heavens above, and set the earth on fire beneath? when the thunders of his right hand shall fill hell with universal trembling; and his flaming throne that is rolled on wheels of fire, and whence a fiery stream issues, shall affrighten the human race, being

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