shadow of death, yet will I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort

me."

MEDITATION IX.

THE SACRED INSURANCE.

Horndean, April 30. 1758.

MEN that go to sea, conscious of their danger, oftentimes insure; that so, though their ships should be wrecked, their value may be secured to them. I am also going to sea, and carry a cargo with me more precious than all the treasures of the Indies, even mine immortal soul, which is also in danger of perishing upon the waters of vice and profanity. How then shall my all be safe amidst so many dangers; amidst the corruption of nature and the seeds of sin within, and bad example, base advice, bold attacks, and baneful snares without, while perhaps there is not one to counsel me aright, to strengthen my hand in God, and thereby comfort me? Blessed be the God of all consolation, that in this deplorable situation I need not despond. The insurance-office of heaven is willing to contract with me on the most honourable, and most advantageous terms for my soul; and holds forth to me the stedfast promise of his faithfulness, "That his grace shall be sufficient for me, because his strength is made perfect in weakness; and that he will not suffer me to be tempted above measure, but will with the temptation make a way to escape."

Then, Lord, my humble request is, That I may never sin against thy love and grace, nor cause thee to hide thy countenance by my untender walk-That sin may continue, whatever shape it may put on, as ugly and abominable to me as ever I thought it, yea, the more so the more I am entangled with it; as I would more loathe the serpent twisting round my legs, than crawling ten yards distant from me on the ground :-That I may ever be grieved with the sins of others, and that, in appearing against sin, I may not fear the face of man :-That the more all things would draw me from thee, I may draw the nearer to thee, and keep the closer by thee:-That I may never be ashamed of religion, or of thee:-That I may remember the concerns of thy glory as far as in me lies, and pray for the reviving of religion, and prosperity of Zion :-That I may study, since I cannot have the ordinances of God in public, to enjoy the God of ordinances in private:That I may never be cast down for temporal misfortunes, but own the hand of God in all; and, like the honeybee, suck sweetness to my soul, from that same providence which affords rancour and disquiet to the unsubmissive mind:-That in the midst of all, I may bear my latter end in my mind, and never forget the world to come:-That I may depend on nothing in myself, but be always strong in the grace and strength that is in Christ Jesus:--That every Sabbath may be sweet to my soul, in spite of all obstruction; and that an opportunity may be afforded to me, to read that word which I should esteem more than my necessary food. O grant me my request! for as of old thou didst suffer none to do thy chosen ones harm, yea, for the sake of thy prophets didst reprove mighty kings;

so now, if I be among the number of thy people, thou canst, who hast the hearts of all men in thy hand, not only restrain, but reprove the bold offender, and keep me safe in the midst of danger; and, as a sign of my gratitude for thy great goodness, not a little, but all I am, have, or can do, shall, all my lifetime, be devoted to the advancement of thy glory, and honour of thy name.

MEDITATION X.

ON PUMPING THE SHIP.

Spithead, May 11. 1758.

No ship can be so well chalked, but she will draw water, more or less, though where or how we scarce can tell; and though it is only by the assistance of the watery element we sail from shore to shore, yet, if too much water were let in on us, it would sink us to the bottom of the mountains, and bury us amidst unfathomable waves: Even so, though a moderate portion of the good things of this life be highly useful to us through the various stages thereof, yet, when the cares of this life, carnal pleasures, and a desire after riches, break in on our souls like mighty billows, we bid fair to be drowned in destruction and perdition. Again, on such an ocean of waters, and when water also swells within us, what a wonder that we are not lost! So, in such a world of wickedness, (wit. ness the wretches around me), and when corruption so swells within, what a miracle of mercy that the soul is not lost for ever!

Whatever way the water comes into the ship, it

eannot be sent out by the same way, but must be pumped out with care and toil: even so, though death and sin came in by mere man, yet life and salvation must be brought in by him who is both God and man in one. And as this bilge-water comes not from a lave of the surging waves or breaking billows, but as it were springs up within the vessel, and thus is both dangerous and disagreeable; just so, though we keep from scandalous outbreakings, yet, if we indulge ourselves in secret sins, we both defile and destroy the inner man. The faster the ship makes water, the more we ply the pump; so the more that sin attacks, and is likely to prevail, the more I am to watch and pray against it; and prayer is the Christian's chain-pump, which must be employed else the soul would perish. Lastly, As the mariner must pump again and again, and never think his labour at an end while his ship is at sea, so I must watch against sin, keep myself from mine iniquity, attend well to the state of my soul, and implore the inhabitation of the Divine Spirit, till my vessel arrive at the harbour of eternal rest.

MEDITATION XI.

ON THE ANCHORS OF THE SHIP.

Spithead, May 4. 1758.

MEN unacquainted with navigation, would think that the cables to which the anchors are append. ed were fastened to some part above deck; but it is not so; they come from the very inmost part of

C

the ship, and are as it were its bowels winding out. Even so, faith, which is the anchor of the soul, is no external form or superficial act, but the very soul, in all her faculties, going out and fastening on Christ.

And, as it is enough to the ship that she rides safe at her moorings, though her anchors are not exposed to every eye, but hid beneath a heap of waters, and only known by their effects, that she keeps by her station, in spite of winds and waves, of tides and storms: just so, it is enough that the anchor of the soul be fixed within the vail; though concealed from vulgar view, it will be known by its sweet effects. The soul shall abound in fruits of righteousness, shall find a sweet tranquillity within, shall be stable like Mount Zion, while the wic ked shall be tossed like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Sometimes a ship may drive, when neither the anchor is weighed, nor the cable cut or slipt ; but then it is owing to the anchor losing its hold; but this is remedied by letting out cable, or dropping the anchor anew: Just so, when the soul loses its hold of Christ and heavenly things, it is no wonder that it be driven hither and thither, by storms and tempests, among rocks and quicksands; nor is there any other way of bringing the soul to rest and composure, but by acting faith more strongly on Christ, and casting her anchor anew within the vail.

It would be ridiculous for the shipmaster to hoist his sails before he weigh his anchors; but the Christian can never steer safely through the course of life, but with his anchor fixed within the vail: then, if he is thus heavenly-wise, he shall weather