to accomplish their escape. So those that are in a natural state are spiritually asleep, and see no danger till they plunge into the flames of hell: but the soul that is awake to eternity, sees his danger, and flies from the wrath to come; and there is as great difference between a man in a renewed and unrenewed state, as between a man fast asleep and broad awake.

Moreover, we see that these men minded nothing but life, left all behind them, even their most precious things, and made their escape. So, when a soul seeks to be found in Christ, not having his own rigeteousness, he counts all things but loss and dung, even the things he had counted gain before, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. He sets his eye on the unseen world, and secures his interest there. Looking on the present world as a shattered vessel that cannot long carry him safe, but must sink him at last, he sees that it is his highest wisdom to get out of the leaky vessel, into the safe ark of the covenant, that still keeps above the swelling floods. And finally, he sets his affections on heavenly things, and anticipates a little of that joy and serenity which shall take place in the world to come, when storms and tempests cease.

MEDITATION LVI.

WAR.

Under sail, August 18, 1758.

HOW often have we cause to cry out of the cruelty of men! Mankind, allied to one another by blood, and human reason, yet have more cunning to destroy each other than all the beasts of the forest. No sooner were

these poor innocents as to personal prejudice (who never met before, and only meet now that they may meet no more) within the reach of mutual destruction, but they fall to work, and deprive each other of their life, and hands unknown send souls into the world unseen. Cannon roar like the destructive thunders, and all the instruments of war are set a sounding terror and dismay. Pity, that character of Heaven, knows no egress from the human breast, till the enemy are cut off, or yield prisoners to the victor. How many souls, by the unsheathed and naked sword, are sent naked into the world of spirits! Unprepared for their last moments, they have not a quiet moment at last to prépare for death, but are hurried into their last, unalterable state at once, with a few melting groans. What a piteous sight is the field of battle! The very ground is plowed with the irresistible cannon-balls; or if the battle borders on a wood, the trees are barked with continual firing, and the neighbouring hills echo with the noise, the confused noise of war, while the shriekings and groanings of the deadly wounded add to the horrors of the day. Such are the contests of courts, such the ambition of kings, who purchase. elbow-room to their sceptres, at the expence of their subjects lives.

But if the war of mortals be so terrible to one another, what must that day be when God shall rise up to the prey, to rid him of his enemies, and ease him of his adversaries? when his angry countenance shall kindle the heavens above, and set the earth on fire beneath? when the thunders of his right hand shall fill hell with universal trembling; and his flaming throne that is rolled on wheels of fire, and whence a fiery stream issues, shall affrighten the human race, being

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summoned to make their last appearance before the judgment-seat? No pity, no compassion then, no mercy, no forgiveness there! If men are cut off by the weapons of war, in the hand of frail mortals, how must they perish under the stroke of Omnipotence, which shall reach to the soul in all her powers? when his almighty hand takes hold of, and whets the glittering sword, and swears he lives for ever, to punish his enemies for ever?

O that men were wise, and would consider their latter end; would throw down the weapons of their rebellion, and fight under the Captain of salvation ! then should they be happy in war and in peace; in this, and in the world to come.

MEDITATION LVII.

UNFORTUNATE RETREAT.*

St. Cas, Sept. 12, 1758.

AH, mournful day! what moving sights, what melting sounds have I seen and heard by sea and land this day! My heart bleeds for the sons of war, who boldly shed their blood. For though their scanty number was overpowered by the enemy, who poured in fresh supplies, yet their courage was conspicuous to the last. Ah, doleful event of one fatal day! Many,

* Our forces having made a descent on the coast of France, the enemy assembled their forces, before whom our little army retreated, to re-embark: but when the greater part was carried aboard the transports by the flat bottomed boats, the enemy came down, and killed and made prisoners, about 1400. The action lasted about two hours, the frigates and bomb-ketches assisted the land-forces also.

gay and cheerful in the morning, lay gasping at noon, and are clay-cold by the evening twilight! My heartstrings are pierced with pain, while I remember the anguish of their last moments: they fall, but none to lift them up; they groan, but no kindly sympathiser; they die, and there is no tender-hearted mourner, none to deplore them. The little army is broken by superior numbers, and take to flight; but whither can they fly? A victorious enemy is before, rocks on every side, and a raging sea behind; some even adventure into the water, and are shot while wading for life, or perish in the waves !

How vain the confidence of man! how empty the boast of invincible courage! Let men remember that God gives the victory, and that at his frown heroes fall, and armies fly.

Methinks I see the yet more awful, universal, and conclusive day, when the heavens shall open in tremendous thunders, when the dreadful trumpet, with louder sounds than ever echoed from the martial plains, shall raise the sleeping dust, and the tremendous Judge descend in flaming vengeance on his fiery throne; before whom the nations shall be assembled, and by whom the final sentence passed. This is the decision that shall concern the victors and the vanquished: The survivors and the slain; sovereigns and their subjects; yea, the whole world and me.

MEDITATION LVIIL

THE NATURAL MAN INSENSIBLE OF MERCY.

Portsmouth Harbour, November 1, 1758.

DID men look but a little towards God, and into themselves, it would be their wisdom; but true wisdom can never shine where saving grace does not dwell. There are some men saved from dangers, the relation of which must astonish. They are standing monuments of singular mercy, when numbers were dropping down around them, when instruments of death were rattling thick about them, like the hail from the thunder-cloud, and bullets falling like drops of rain, and yet they preserved safe among the gasping crowd. And there are others who have still a more narrow escape, while the bullet breaks a bone to them, which might have cut the thread of their life; wounds an extremity, which might have pierced the heart and dislodged the soul. For a month or six weeks they have a kindly remembrance of their singular preservation and heaven's peculiar mercy. But, O chilling thought! how soon do these very persons forget their great deliverer, shew not the least gratitude to God, but return to sin, and proceed from evil to worse! Had any person been a mean of their preservation, they had displayed so much of the gentleman as never to forget it but it was God and they display so much of the sinner, the abandoned sinner, as never to remember it, never to acknowledge it! They pursue their sinful practises, as if their life had at first been given, and preserved when in danger, for no other purpose. These men are the enemies of God; they have been hungry and he has given them bread to cat;