sand-bank: But, in these disquieted times, we may be shattered by an engagement, sunk by the foe, or blown up by accident; or, should we escape all these, we may have a mutiny within. Just so, whatever be the situation of the sons of men, still the children of grace have a war to maintain; not only a sea full of storms to struggle through, but a field of foes to fight through. It is through fire and water, through severe trials, and heavy afflictions, that all spiritual champions have to force their way. Satan knows well how to act; when faith would look to the bright side of every event, satan turns up the black side, to drive the soul to despair; and, on the other hand, when grace looks to the blackness of sin, he turns up the beautiful side of pleasure. In adversity, I am ready to dash against the rocks of discontent; and, in prosperity, to fall among the quicksands of worldly cares and temporal concerns. have foes on every hand to fight, temptations from every quarter to resist, all the powers of darkness, all the principalities of the pit, to combat with; nor is peace to be expected while an enemy is on the field; neither must we lay aside our armour, the weapons of our warfare, till we lay down the body of death.

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Again, though for a time we have no foe to affright us, no tempest to trouble us, no rock to endanger us, yet a mutiny may rise within, than which nothing can be more terrible; and it is always the dregs of the crew that are chiefly concerned in it, while the officers are sure cither to be cut off, or confined. Just so, there may be a tumult raised in the soul, a war in the very mird, when rascally corruptions, headed by unbelief, claim the command; when graces, faith, love, patience, resignation, spirituality, &c. are wounded, and put under confinement: Thus, one complained of old, "I see another law in my members, waring against the

law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members." Now, as no scene can be more raelancholy than a mutiny, till it be suppressed, and order restored; so nothing can be more melancholy than a soul suffering all the calamities of a war within, corruption rampant, and grace bleeding.

But, how happy is the ship, when peace is restored, and the mutineers secured in irons, and what a strict eye is kept on them during the voyage! So it is with the soul; what joy, what exultation and triumph, prevail, when sin is subdued, and the love of God, and peace of conscience, are shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost!

This is known, that when the mutineers get the ascendance, and compel the rest of the ship's company to join them, they turn pirates, are resolute in battle, bloody in their conquests, desperate in all attacks, a terror to, and hated of every nation. Even so, he that sets out with a fair profession of religion, and on the way to heaven, but turns a black apostate, spues out malice against the ways of God, becomes the bitterest of all enemies, the most profligate of all offenders, and is hated of saint and sinner.

When a mutiny takes place, it is sometimes requisite for the safety of the ship, and for the honour of government, to cut off some otherwise very useful hands. Just so, we are to cut off lusts, though dear as our right eye, or useful as our right hand, that we perish not for ever.

Again, our being provided with what enables us to defend ourselves, and to distress our foes, has sometimes been the ruin of ships, while the fatal spark makes a terrible explosion, tears the vessel to pieces, and scatters the lifeless crew on the deep. So the best

of blessings, the choicest privileges, when not improved, entail the bitterest of curses. Thus Judas, who sat in his divine master's presence, heard his sermons, and witnessed his miracles, not improving these golden opportunities, turned traitor and hanged himself, in the anguish of despair. And Capernaum, that in privileges was exalted to heaven, is threatened to be thrust down to hell.

When war is over, peace proclaimed, ships on foreign stations called home, prize-money received, ships paid off, and laid up, and the crews discharged, and set at liberty; how is all mirth and jocundity, festivity and joy! But, what tongue can tell the transports, the joy, the rapture, and delight, which the Christian shall feel when his warfare is finished, and he translated to the mansions of glory, to the presence of God!

Some poor creatures, who, though weary of the war, yet not knowing how to support themselves, or where to go after discharged from the ship, would be content to continue still in the service. And this reminds me of some saints, who, not being free of doubts with respect to their state in a future world, notwithstanding all their toils in life, and struggles against sin, cling to life, and startle at the thoughts of death.

But, there are some provident persons who have saved a little in the course of the war; and some so happy as to get on the half pay list, or obtain a pension from their prince: These cheerfully retire to live on their money, repeat their dangers, recount their conquests, and commend their king. Just so, the souls that are enriched by the King eternal, and blessed with the full assurance of celestial felicity, go triumphant, at the hour of death, to dwell in the courts of God,on the treasures of glory, through an endless evermore.

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MEDITATION XIX.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE GUILTY.

Lying off Normandy, June 14, 1758.

THOUGH, with respect to the outward man, there is no difference, as one Creator has fashioned them both alike in the womb ; yet, with respect to the inner man, there is an amazing dissimilitude. In the darkest night, there are some rays of light; but, in these sons of vice, there is not the least vestige of holiness. Yea, that modesty, which one would think was inseparable from human nature, they have eradicated by a long practice of sinning. They seem to have stabbed their conscience, bound it hand and foot, and carried it forth to be buried, like a dead corpse, in the deep dug grave of oblivion, from whence it shall come forth upon them in a terrible resurrection.

What a wide difference, then, between the shining examples of piety, and the sons of profanity? The affections of the one are refined, and their desires exalted; but thre inclinations of the other are corrupt, and their desires grovelling. Sin has but a tottering standing, and a momentary stay in those; but has fixed his throne, and taken up his eternal residence (if grace prevent not) in these. In the one, grace and sin struggle for sovereignty; in the other sin domineers, and there is no disturbance. The one is wise for a world to come, the other minds not that there is a future state. The discourse of the one is always seasoned with salt; of the other, insipid and vain. The one has his hope fixed in God, the other has no fear of God before his eyes. Those use the world

without abusing it; but these, in using the world, abuse both themselves and it. The one confesses a God in his daily conversation, and rejoices with his whole heart in him; the other says in his practice, there is and wishes in his heart, there were no God. The one adores the Creator above all, the other worships the creature more than the Creator, though he be God over all, blessed for ever. The one names the name of God, with profoundest reverence, and departs from iniquity; the other profanes it with impudent loquacity, and adds iniquity to sin. The one redeems common time, and sanctifies that which is sacred; the other trifles away the one, and sins away the other. The one studies his duty in obedience to all, the other shakes himself loose of every law. This forgives his foes, that lays a snare for his friends. The one commits it to God to plead his cause, and avenge his wrong; the other, fiery and tumultuous, threatens duels and death. The one loveth chastity in all things, the other wallows in uncleanness. The one injures himself rather than his neighbour; the other, the whole world rather than himself. The one is content with his condition, the other covets all the day long. The one is all glorious within, the heart of the other is like a cage full of unclean birds. The one walks at liberty in the ways of God, the other is the servant and slave of sin. In this, dwells the spirit of God; in that, rules the god of this world. The one has his conversation in heaven; the other, in hell.

But, as there is a wide difference in their principles and practice, so in their privileges. The one is under the blessing of love, the other under the curse of the law. The one is a child of adoption, the other, the prey of the terrible one. He is faithful that hath proM