uccession, one generation, year and day asseth, and another comes. In time there is an alteration of condition and states, but ot so in eternity. In this world, a man may be poor to-day, and rich to-morrow; sickly and diseased this week, and well the next ; now in honour, but soon in contempt. But o change passes upon us in eternity. As the tree falls at death, so it lies for ever. If in heaven, there thou art a pillar; if otherwise, misery will be the consequence. REFLECTION. And is the mercy of God like the great deep, an ocean that none can fathom? What unspeakable comfort is this to me? may the pardoned soul say. Did Israel rejoice when the Lord destroyed their corporeal enemies in the seas? And shall I not break forth into his praises, who hath drowned all my sins in the depth of mercy? O my soul, bless the Lord, and let his high praises ever be in thy mouth. O my God, who is like unto thee! that pardoneth iniquity, transgression, and sin. What mercy, but the mercy of a God could cover such abominations as mine? But O! what serious reflections will conscience make from hence, upon all despisers of mercy, when the sinner's eyes comes to be opened too late for mercy, to do them good! We have (say they) heard, that the king of heaven was a merciful king, but we would make no address to him, whilst that sceptre was stretched out. We heard of balm in Gilead, and a physician there, that was able and willing to cure all our wounds, but we would not commit ourselves to him. We read, that the arms of Christ were open to embrace and receive us, but we would not. O unparalleled folly! O soul-destroying mad. ness now the womb of mercy is shut up, and shall bring forth no more mercies for me for ever. Now the gates of grace are shut, and no cries can open them. Mercy acted its part, and has quitted the stage; and now justice enters the scene, and will be for ever glorified upon me. How often did I hear the bowels of compassion sounding in the gospel for me! But my im penitent heart would not relent; but it is now too late, I am now past out of the ocean of mercy, into the ocean of eternity, and shall never hear the voice of mercy more. O dreadful eternity! O soul-confounding word! An ocean indeed, to which this ocean is but a drop; for in thee no soul shall see either bank or bottom. If I lie but one night under strong pain of body, how tedious doth that night seem! And how do I count the clock and wish for day! In the world I might have had life but would not. And now, how fain would I have death but cannot ? How quick were my sins in execution? And how long is their punishment in duration. Oh that God would but vouchsafe one treaty more ! But alas! all treaties are now at an end with me. Therefore my soul now con. sider these things, and let us debate this matter seriously, before we launch out inte this ocean. THE POEM. Who from some high-rais'd tower views the ground, t borders, stands amaz'd, and doth ery, The scourge of hell, whose very lash doth rend And when these thousands all their course have run,- CHAP. II. The seamen's greatest danger's near the coast, When we are nearest heav'n, the danger's most. OBSERVATION. THOUGH seamen meet with violent storms, yet if they have sea-room enough, they are not fearful: but if they find them. selves near the shore, they look upon their situation very hazardous: the sight of the shore is to them, like the shadow of death, if not able to weather it. APPLICATION. The greatest difficulties that many saints meet with in all their lives, is when they come nearest to heaven, and have almost fin ished their course. Heaven indeed is a glorious place, the spacious, and royal mansions of the great King-having a straight and narrow entrance-O the difficulty of arriving there! how many hard tugs in duty, what earnest contention and striving, even to an agony! Multitudes, however, put forth, and by profession are bound for this fair haven: but of the multitudes that put out, how few do arrive there? A man may set out by a glorious profession, with much resolution, he may offer very fair for it, and not be far from the kingdom of God, and yet not be able to enter at last, Matthew vii. 23. Yea many of those who are sincere, and do arrive at last, yet come to heaven with much difficulty, and put in, as a poor weather-beaten vessel comes into the harbour, more like a wreck, than a ship, neither mast nor sail left. But then there are others who go in with full sail before the wind, and have an abundant entrance going triumphing out of the world. Ah! when we arrive at the narrow channel, the soul then is in the most serious frame, all things look with a new face; conscience scans over our evidence most critically, reflections arise as to our past conduct through life. REFLECTION. If this be so, how inevitable is my perdition, may the careless soul say! If they who strive so much, and go so far, yet perish at last; and if the righteous are scarcely saved, then where shall such an ungodly creature as I appear. If they who have made religion their business, and pursuing a work of mortification, and walking humbly with God: yet if some of these have such a hard tug at last, then what will become of such a vain, careless, flesh-pleasing wretch as I have been? Again, if saints find it so straight an entrance. Then, though I have a well grounded hope of a safe arrival at last, yet let me look to it, that I do not increase the difficulty. Ah! they are the things, that are now done or omitted, that put conscience into such an agony then, 0 O my soul now beware of sin, as it may occasion my death bed full of thorns, when I come to lie down in it, or rather let me say with Hezekiah, "Remember now, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart." THE POEM. After a tedious passage, saints descry |