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scriptures by a variety of metaphors and emblems. "I, saith the Lord, will be a wall of fire round about it," Zech. ii. 5. Some think this phrase alludes to the cherubim that kept the way of the tree of life with flaming swords: others, to the fiery chariots round about Dathan, where Elisha was; but most think it to be an allusion to an ancient custom of travellers in the desarts, who, to prevent the assaults of wild beasts in the night, made a circular fire round about them, which was as a wall to them. Thus will God be to his people a wall of fire, which none can scale. So in Exod. iii. 3, we have an excellent emblem of the church's low and dangerous condition, and admirable preservation. You have there both a marvel and a mystery. The marvel was to see a bush on fire and yet not consumed. The mystery is this -the bush represented the sad condition of the church of Egypt; the fire flaming upon it, the grievous afflictions, troubles, and bondage, it was in there; the remaining of the bush unconsumed, the strange and admirable preservation of the church in those troubles. It lived there as the three noble Jews, untouched in the midst of a burning fiery furnace: and the angel of the Lord in a flame of fire, in the midst of the bush, was nothing else than the Lord Jesus Christ, powerfully and graciously present with his people amidst all their dangers and sufferings. The Lord is exceedingly tender over them, and jealous for them, as that expression imports, "He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of mine eye," Zech. ii. 8. He that strikes at them, strikes at the face of God, and at the most excellent part of the face, the eye, and at the most tender and precious part of the eye, the apple of the eye. And yet this people of whom he uses this tender and dear expression, were none of the best of Israel either; but the residue that staid behind in Babylon, when their brethren were gone to rebuild the temple; and yet over these, he is as tender as a man is over his eye.

Reflection. And is the security of the church so great, and its preservation so admirable amidst all storms and tempests? Then why art thou so prone and subject to despond, O my soul, in the day of Sion's trouble? Sen

sible thou wast of it, and oughtest to be; but there is no reason to hang down the head through discouragement, much less to forsake Zion in her distress, for fear of being ruined with her.

What David spake to Abiathar, 1 Sam. xxii. 23, that may Zion speak to all her sons and daughters in all their distresses; "Though he that seeketh thy life seeketh mine also, yet with me shalt thou be in safeguard." God has entailed great salvation and deliverances upon Zion; and blessed are all her friends and favorers; the Rock of ages is her defence. Fear not therefore, O my soul, though the hills be removed out of their place, and cast into the midst of the sea. O let my faith triumph, and my heart rejoice upon this ground of comfort. I see the same rocks now, and in the same place and condition they were in many years ago. Though they have endured many storms, yet there they abide; and so shall Zion, when the proud waves have spent their fury and rage against it.

CHAPTER XII.

The Industry of Seamen.

Observation. How exceeding solicitous and adventurous are seamen for a small portion of the world! How prodigal of strength and life for it! They will run to the ends of the earth, engage in a thousand dangers, in the hope and on the probability of getting a small estate. Hopes of gain make them willing to adventure their liberty, yea, their life, and encourage them to endure heat, cold, and hunger, and a thousand straits and difficulties, to which they are frequently exposed.

Application.-How hot and eager are men's affections after the world! and how remiss and cold towards things eternal! They are careful, and troubled about many things; but seldom do they mind the great and necessary matter. They can rise early, go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness; but when do they so deny themselves for their poor souls?. Their heads are full of

designs and projects to get or advance an estate. "We will go into such a city, continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain;" this is the master-design, which engrosses all their time, studies, and contrivances. The will has past a decree for it, the heart and affections are fully let out to it; "they will be rich." This decree of the will, the Spirit of God takes deep notice of; and indeed it is the clearest and fullest discovery of a man's portion and condition; for what is highest in the estimation, first and last in the thoughts, and upon which we spend our time and strength with delight, certainly that is our treasure. The heads and hearts of saints are full of solicitous cares and fears about their spiritual condition; the great design they engage in, to which all other things are but things by the bye, is to make sure their calling and election. This is the weight and bias of their spirit. If their hearts stray and wander after any other thing, this brings them back again.

Reflection.-Lord, this has been my manner from my youth, may the carnal-minded man say. I have been laboring for the meat that perisheth; disquieting myself in vain; full of designs and projects for the world, and unwearied in my endeavours to obtain an earthly treasure; yet therein I have either been checked and disappointed by Providence, or if I have obtained it, yet I am no sooner come to enjoy that content and comfort I promised myself in it, but I am ready to leave it all, to be stript out of it by death, and in that day all my thoughts perish. But, in the mean time, what have I done for my soul? When did I ever break a night's sleep or deny myself for it? Ah fool that I am! to nourish and pamper a vile body, which must shortly lie under the clods, and become a loathsome carcase; and, in the mean time, neglect and undo my poor soul, which partakes of the nature of angels, and must live for ever. I have kept others' vineyards, but mine own vineyard I have not kept. I have been a perpetual drudge and slave to the world; in a worse condition has my soul been, than the slaves who are condemned to the mines. Lord, change my treasure and change my heart. O let it suffice that I have been thus long laboring in the fire

for very vanity. Now gather up my heart and affections to thyself, and let my great design be, to secure a special interest in thy blessed self, that I may once say, "To me to live is Christ."

CHAPTER XIII.

The Food provided for the Inhabitants of the Sea.

Observation.-THERE are multitudes of living creatures in the sea. The psalmist says, there are in it, "things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts," and we read, that when God blessed the waters, he said, "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth." Yet all those multitudes of fish and fowl, both in sea and land, are provided for; "Thou givest them their meat in due season: thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing," Psal. cxlv. 15.

Application. If God takes care for the fishes of the sea and the fowls of the air, much more will he care and provide for those that fear him. "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them," Isa. xii. 17. "Take no thought for your life," saith the Lord, "what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; or for the body what ye shall put on:" and he supports this with an argument from God's providence over the creatures, and enforces it with a "much rather;" Matt. vi. 25, 31. God would have his people be without carefulness, that is, anxious care; and to cast their care upon him, for he careth for them." There are two main arguments suggested in the gospel, to quiet and satisfy the hearts of saints in this particular: the one is, that the gift of Jesus Christ amounts to more than all these things come to; yea, in bestowing him, he has given that which virtually and eminently comprehends all these inferior mercies in it; "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not

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with him freely give us all things?" Rom. viii. 32. "All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Another argument is, that God gives these temporal things to those he never gave his Christ unto, and therefore there is no great matter in them; yea, to those who, in a little while, are to be thrust into hell; Psal. xvii. 14. Now if God clothes and feeds his enemies, if he clothes the grass, which to-day is in its pride and glory in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven, into hell; how much more will he clothe and provide for you that are his saints?

This God who feeds all the creatures, is your Father, and a Father that never dies; and therefore you shall not be as exposed orphans, who are the children of such a Father; for he hath said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." I have read of a good woman, who in all wants and distresses was wont to encourage herself with this saying"The Lord liveth." But once, being in a deep distress and forgetting that consolation, one of her little children came to her, and said, "Mother, why weep you so? What, is God dead now?" Which words, from a child, shamed her out of her unbelieving fears, and quickly brought her spirits to rest. O saint, whilst God lives, thou canst not want what is good for thee.

How sweet a life might Christians live, could they but bring their hearts to a full subjection to the disposing will of God! to be content not only with what he commands and approves, but also with what he allots and appoints! It was a sweet reply that a woman once made upon her death-bed, to a friend that asked whether she were more willing to live, or die? She answered, "I am pleased with what God pleases." "Yea," said her friend, "but if God should refer it to you, which would you choose?" "Truly," said she, "if God would refer it to me, I would refer it to him again." Ah blessed life, when the will is swallowed up in the will of God, and the heart at rest in his care and love, and pleased with all his appointments!

Reflection. I remember my fault this day, may many a gracious soul say. O how faithless and distrustful have I been, notwithstanding the great security God has

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