Then happy they that know the joyful sound, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. By what experience shall they support their plea, who are for free will, and a kind of self-agency, in the work of conversion, when we see thousands and ten thousands perish, although it is natural for all men to wish to be happy! The Armenian will say, because they will not, therefore they are not happy; but says the scripture, "No man can come to me except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him." Now, whether I am to believe the Armenian or God, let all the world judge.

MEDITATION LX.

DOCKING SHIPS.

Νου. 4, 1758.

IT is requisite at certain times to bring ships in to the dock, that they may be cleaned, caulked, and fitted out for sea again. This is indeed attended with trouble, as guns, carriages, shot, stores, provisions, and ballast, must be taken out, that the ship may easily be got into dock, and a proper inspection made into those places that need repair; and that stores, provisions, and every thing needful, may be completed for a cruise or a voyage.

Then how much more necessity have Christians, who steer on a more tempestuous sea than the watery element, to inspect and try themselves! For such serious and solemn work, they should set a day apart for prayer and examination; when, that they may know their situation, they should look into their heart and inclination, their life and conversation, their thoughts,

the ends and motives of all their actions. Assisted by the light of revelation, they should see, and comparing themselves with the rule of the word, they should understand what is wrong, what is wanting, what is decayed, and what is defective. They ought to search into the state of their soul, and the condition of their graces; and also see what sins have been most predominant in them. Surely those who are cast into wicked company, and are daily hearing and seeing sin, havemuch to mourn over; for such an exercise is highly requisite in all the candidates for glory. They are also, from the royal magazine ofgrace, which, for the saints, is treasured up in the Son of God, to take in provisions of every kind, and all sorts of warlike stores, such as the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the anchor of hope, and the compass of truth; as they must steer over roaring oceans, struggle through storms and tempests, and fight their pas-sage all along through foes, and thus, spiritually refitted, proceed in their voyage to Immanuel's land..

MEDITATION LXI.

ON GOING INTO HARBOUR.

Νου. 5, 1758.

ONE should think that when the tempests and the dangers of the sea are over, all were safe; and that in sight of land we should laugh at shipwreck; yet the loss of nations, and the experience of thousands, attest, that on coasts more ships are lost than at sea; and so the Government has prudently appointed pilots to bring in his Majesty's ships, that they may be in no. danger in coming into harbour.

Now, what may this remind us of, but that the saints, and such as look for an happy anchoring in the port of bliss, should be very careful how they steer the last part of their long and momentous voyage; how they enter the harbour of death, where their ship is to be laid up, not for a winter, but for ever. They are to beware that they do not stick on the sands of carnal security; or run into the shallow waters of lukewarm indifferency; or be blown on the rocks of false confidence, by the high winds of spiritual delusion. A mistake here may occasion damage, but, though it cost expences, may be mended; but among men, a mistake at death is fatal, and of the last consequence, because it can never be mended afterwards. Again,the tide is a mighty assistant in our getting into harbour here; but to dying mortals, the Jordan of death is a terrible river, which overflows all its banks; and it is the fear of dissolution that keeps some all their lifetime subject to bondage; yea, and by this current, thousands and ten thousands are hurried into the horrid pit of perdition. But in a surprising manner the saints go over dry shod; for the High Priest, who bears the ark of the everlasting covenant, and all the rich grace and precious promises that it contains, having that river to wade through which runneth in the way of all living, once did so, with the soles of his feet, when he was found in fashion as a man, and humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, so that it remains still cut in two to the saints, even while it overflows all its banks to the wicked.

The more we advance into the harbour, we are the more out of danger from the storms and tempests that sweep along the ruffled ocean. But it is otherwise with the dying saint; Satan does all he can to cloud his evidences, to deaden his faith, to blacken his infirm

ities, to make him doubt his own condition, to nickname his graces, to slay his confidence, to draw him from Christ, and drive him into despair, anxious to make a wreck of him even in sight of Immanuel's shore : : yet all the powers of hell shall never pluck the least of Christ's little ones out of his hand. But how watchful should we be, and how careful to prepare for these critical moments! for we are like a ship that has traded for a long time in the East-Indies, and comes home with all her treasures; so our all, our everlasting all, is lost if we founder at our last. However, our safety lies in this alone, that he whose presence calms the raging sea, and rending winds, shall be our pilot to the harbour of the better country, to the port of glory.

MEDITATION LXII.

ON TAKING IN LARGE PROVISIONS.

Portland Roads, Dec. 15, 1758.

SURELY the children of this world are wiser ins their generation than the children of light; for at land every man provides what he can against winter; and at sea we take in large stores of all things, when we are to make a long voyage. Now, my soul, what hast thou laid up for eternity? This awful, this interesting voyage, thou must make; it is already begun, and thou shalt never tread on the earth again, never more return to time after death; and if thou carriest not something with thee, thou must suffer irreparable loss for ever, as there is no oil to be bought (this the foolish virgins shall find) in the other world; no grace to be found, nor pardon to be expected (this all impenitent sinners

shall experience) on the other side of the grave. Death cuts down the tree as it stands, which falls as it grows, and as it falls must lie for ever. Why then, O blinded Papists! prayers and masses for the dead? To as good purpose apply medicines to dead bodies to bring them to life again, as use prayers for departed souls to bring them to salvation. It is now that we must improve for eternity, where our vast and highest concerns lie.

If this ship should go out to cruise for three months in the main ocean without bread or beer, wood or water, or any other provisions, would not all concerned in her be chargeable with consummate folly, as the whole crew must inevitably perish with hunger? but of greater madness am I possessed, if my soul go out into the boundless ocean of eternity without an interest in Christ, who is the tree of life that feeds the higher house, and river of life that waters all the paradise of God.

According to the length of our voyage must be the quantity of provisions taken aboard; and indeed nothing less than a whole God, in all his fulness and perfections, an all-sufficient Saviour, in all his offices and relations, and the Holy Ghost, in all his divine influences and consolations, can be a proper provision for my soul through a whole eternity.