תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

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, whether prepared for or not, may soon overtake some, and 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 incommode 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! -But the drum!!!.

*The author appears to have been interrupted by the com mencement 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.

tions which befel us in the world, were highly neces sary for preparing us for the everlasting kingdom.

9. That whatever affliction takes from us, or whatever bitter draught it puts into our hand, still there is enough in God to make up the loss of the one, and overcome the bitterness of the other.

10. That it is better to get afflictions with a blessing, than mercies with a curse; as Israel had their flesh in the wilderness with a vengeance, and their request granted, but leanness sent into their soul.

11. That it is not safe to contend with God, nor quarrel with the divine conduct, which cannot err.

12. That submission and resignation in all things, and at all times, to the divine disposal, is our indispensible duty.

13. That God, out of what at present seems the greatest evil, can bring the greatest good, and often turns our sorrow into singing.

14. That besides the good which accrues to us here from afflictions, they work for us, by the divine blessing,a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, being convinced they are passing, but at the things which are not seen, being confident they are permanent and eternal.

MEDITATION CII.

SAINTS HAVE NO CAUSE TO COMPLAIN.

Dec. 24, 1760.

"THOU art ever with me, and all that I have is thine," is a privilege which may compose the believcr's breast in the most gloomy days, and amidst the

most distressing vicissitudes of lot; for in this promise, which is sweeter than honey, and the honey-comb, the ear of faith may hear God speaking thus, "Believer, canst thou for shame look sad, or grudge the temporal happiness of any, who hast the treasures of eternity reserved for thee! Neither should it vex thee too much, that thy situation is not such as thou wouldst in a transient world, seeing thou art ever to be with me, where all my perfections shine, and all my glory beams forth." O how happy, then, are the saints of God, who may put on a cheerful countenance even in the general conflagration; and if so, how much more under a few disappointments which are sent for wise ends, and redound to their spiritual good in the issue. Invested with this celestial charter, well may we smile, though all nature frown, and triumph, though an angry world rage. By this we dwell in the sunbeam, and walk in endless light; nor need be greatly troubled at the loss of all things. But what do I say? For how can the heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, loose any thing at all? The thief only removes his stolen goods from one place to another; how, then, can he that fills heaven and earth be stolen? Ah! cruel unbelief only attempts the horrid sacrilege to steal Christ from the heart, but such a promise as this bids defiance to the monster; and while we expect its full accomplishment (nor let the time seem long) the day dawns, which ends the dark night of our sinning and suffering, and translates us to the realms of bliss, where-but eternity only can declare what it is to be with him, whose presence makes a heaven, and whose love is better than life; and what it is to enjoy all the fulness of the Godhead, as far as glorified creatures can.

MEDITATION CIII.

APPROACHING FRUITION.

Hamoaze, Dec. 28, 1760.

STILL, my soul, in spite of all thy fears, remember that the day-spring of eternity knows its place, and will appear at the appointed time. Sin's gloomy night is far spent, and the morning drawing near, when all the thick shades will dissolve in endless light. A few revolutions will bring the longed-for day, when he shall appear without sin unto salvation. A general shout shall welcome his second coming, and united hallelu jah's attend the triumphant Judge (when sin and sinners are no more) to the highest heaven, where the bliss of saints and angels is complete, without the least shadow of change. O how sweet the warblings of ce. lestial song, how fair the beauties of eternal noon, and how divine the glories of the throne!

What must the promised land be in the eternal possession, when the account of the two faithful spies, faith and hope, backed by the divine record, is so ravishing Creation can scarcely furnish fine enough materials for comparison, much less for our bliss itself. There gold is but the dust of our feet, pearls the gates of our city, and gems the foundations of our walls. The sun is an extinguished taper in the diviner blaze of glory. The stream and tree of life, at which we feed, continue us immortal. But all this is only the index of our happiness,for God reveals himself to every glorified saint in ways not known before, and then what transport fills the soul, what floods of pleasure rise, and deluge every power of mine! O how shall Ilie dissolved in ecstacy through love's eternal day!

« הקודםהמשך »