MEDITATION XIV.

PROVISIONS AND STORES.

THE ship must not only be well supplied with every thing necessary for navigation, but with food for the seamen on their voyage. If they have not laid in both bread and water, they shall soon be in a starving condition, reduced to eat one another, oF die, and never see the country for which they set out. Just so, if we do not live on a crucified Jesus, if he be not the food of our souls, and in us the hope of glory; if we cannot make a spiritual meal, a spiritual feast on the promises, we shall be consumed of famine, and perish in our passage.

Again, as this day's allowance will not support us to-morrow, so it is not by grace received that we must pursue our Christian journey; for we must be strong only in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and daily receive out of his fulness.

Further, the provision which we carry to sea must be prepared in another manner than what is used at land, otherwise it will corrupt, and become altogether useless. Even so, a form of godliness, and counterfeit graces, a cradle-faith, and a familypiety, will not support us in our passage to the world of spirits.

Besides, in a scarcity of provisions, the vermin, rats to-wit, will atempt to gnaw the flesh of the poor sailors. Even so, when grace is languid or with-held, what lusts prey on the vitals of the soul! O, then, for a full meal on the bread of life, that I may be safe from sin and Satan, earth and hell!

Our provisions, when long at sea, are apt to breed maggots, worms, and insects; yet, if whole some when put aboard, will support us till we accomplish our voyage. So, it is no wonder though, amidst so many snares, so many temptations, and in such a variety of circumstances and occurrences, the graces necessary to the Christian life be more or less languid at times, and sometimes appear so much disposed to putrefaction, that spiritual death is dreaded to be at hand; but, if true grace be first implanted, the Christian shall not perish by the way, but have the bread and water of life bestowed upon him, till he come to the banquet above.

Moreover, if a supply of provisions, suitable to the length of the voyage, or of the time designed to be at sea, is neglected, a scarcity will ensue, that will ruin the ship. So, how sad to sail through life, with nothing but vanity and wind to feed on! The soul must starve all his life-long, and die at last of spiritual famine, the most terrible of all deaths. A ship, indeed, short of provisions, may meet another at sea, and obtain a liberal supply: but this is not the case with a graceless soul; no other can help, none can spare of his own stores to supply others.

No private person, yea, nothing less than ma jesty, could afford so many persons as are in the navy this ample provision. So, neither from saints nor angels is the poor sinner to expect righteousness or grace; all are beggars or bankrupts them. selves, and so can give no ransom for their brother's soul. But how rich the King of heaven! that gives both grace and glory to his angels and saints, and yet remains an overflowing ocean of goodness!

In a long voyage, it may be sometimes necessary to put the whole ship's company on short allow

ance, but death never follows this. So, the saints, in their way heavenward, may find themselves for a time deprived of public ordinances, which should nourish the soul, (it is our sin, without urgent causes, to deprive ourselves of them), yea, may find the communications of grace more sparingly bestowed, or, to their sense, for a season withheld; but still grace in the soul, and the soul it self, shall by faith be kept alive, till they land in glory, where they shall feast on the plenitude of all divine goodness.

Again, we must not only have the ship thoroughly equipped, but we must have spare anchors, spare sails, and spare masts; else in a storm, when we may be driven from our anchors, or at sea, when our sails may be blown to pieces, and our masts brought by the board, we must remain at the mercy of wind and wave, and perish in our dis tress. So, it is proper that every Christian lay up in his mind the promises, the word on which God has caused him to hope; that in the day of darkness and tempest, when like to sink in the mighty waves, he may have recourse to them, as holding forth an unchangeable love, and call to mind his past experience of divine goodness; like the psalmist, "I will remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." Thus shall he weather out the storm, and have a safe passage to the land of promise.

MEDITATION XV.

BALLAST.

Spithead, May 8.1758.

NOTWITHSTANDING of all this nice apparatus, and royal provision made for the vessel designed for foreign climes, there is one thing absolutely ne cessary for her safety in the main ocean, among roaring winds, and that is, a due weight of ballast. To see such a quantity of gravel, sand, stones, pegs of iron, &c. thrown into the ship's hold, would make an ignorant person apt to conclude, that it must sink the ship, and not conduce to her safety; but, if she were not sunk to a proper depth, she would buoy up on the surface of the water, and be overset by every gale that blows. Just so, a pressure of affliction is absolutely necessary for the saint in his passage heavenward. If every thing went prosperously on, spiritual pride might buoy up the soul, and expose her to be overset by every wind of temptation; and such winds the people of God may expect below. Indeed, there are causes, manifold causes of humility cleaving to the best; but before God suffer his saints to be exalted above measure, even through the manifestation of the divine favour, he will let loose the messenger of Satan to buffet them, as he dealt with Paul of old.

As the ship sails more safely thus ballasted, though it has a greater depth of water to cut through; so it is safer for the soul to be kept in a due poise of humility and lowliness of mind, than to float on the surface, and catch every gale.

Again, it may be necessary sometimes to shift the ballast fore or aft, as the ship goes more or less upright, to alter her position. Even so, according to our necessity, our afflictions may be removed from one thing, and laid upon another that is dear to us. We may suffer in our estate, or good name; trouble, disease, or death, may be laid on our children, or the wife of our bosom; and we may be afflicted in our bodies, or in our minds, as Infinite Wisdom sees meet; which should silence us under all.

Again, the food that we eat, and the water that we drink, is part of the ballast, and keeps us deep in the water. Just so, our best comforts, at least what we thought best, are often made bitter with some cross. Thus, have not some husbands sharp sorrow from those that lie in their bosom? Have not some parents much vexation from those they have swaddled and brought up? Therefore, to expect little from the creature, and all from God, is the way never to be disappointed, but always at

rest.

Finally, here is the crowning comfort, that as the ballast is turned out when the ship goes into dock, so, when I arrive at my much-desired haven, affliction shall no more have place in me; then shall I obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and eighing shall for ever flee away.