Page images
PDF
EPUB

Injuries of the Weather. Some are defended by Arch made of Earth, and cemented with a peculi Sort of Glue. Some are covered with Rafters d flender Wood, and thatched with Rushes or Gra The Roof is always raifed with a double Slope, tel turn away the Current of the Waters, and fhoot the Rain from their Store-houfes. They all beftir them felves, with inceffant Affiduity, while the Air is fe rene; while the Roads are good; and Abundance of loofe Grain lies fcattered over the Fields.-B thefe Precautions, they live fecure, when Storms embroil the Sky; they want no Manner of Conve piency, even when Winter lays wafte the Plains.

Afp. Do we improve, fo diligently, our prefer Opportunities? This Life is the Seed-time of Eter nity. Do we husband the precious Moments, like Perfons fenfible of their unfpeakable Importance Senfible, that if we trifle and are indolent, they will be irrecoverably gone, and we irretrievably ruined

Sickness, we know not how foon, may invade us, Pain inay torment us, and both may iffue in our final Diffolution. Are we duly aware of thele awful Changes, and properly folicitous to put all in order for their Approach? We walk (alarming Thought!) upon the very Brink of Death, Refur rection, and Judgment. Do we walk like wife Vi gus, with our Loins girt; with our Lamps trimmed in a State of continual Readinefs, for the heavenly BRIDEGROOM's Advent?

Those Ants have no Guide, Overfeer, or Ruler, Ye they prepare their Meat in the Summer, and gather their Food in the Harveft*. We have all thefe, yet neglect the Time of our Vifitation.We have GOD's unerring Word, to guide us; GOD's everwatchful Eye, to overfee us; GOD's fovereig Command, to rule and quicken us. Notwithstanding

*Prov. vi. 7

all

11 thefe Motives, is not the Speech of the Sluggard,
he very Language of our Conduct? A little more
leep, a little more Slumber, a little more Folding of
be Hands to fleep. The moft fupine Indifference,
here all poffible Diligence is but juft fufficient!-
his, you must allow, is the true Character of
Mankind in general. And does this demonstrate
he Rectitude of their Will?

Ther. The Understanding may be faid to carry the
Torch, the Will to hold the Balance. Now, the
Perfection of a Balance confifts, in being fo nicely
oifed, as to incline at the leaft Touch, and prepon-
lerate with the flightest Weight. This Property be-
ongs, without all Difpute, to the human Will.

Afp. What? If one of your Scales fhould defcend

to the Ground, tho' charged with Trifles, that are

ight as Air? If the other fhould kick the Beam,

hough its Contents be weightier, than Talents of

Gold?-Is not this an exact Representation of our

Will, when the fleeting Pleasures of Senfe, or the

puny Interefts of Time, excite our Wishes; even

while the folid Delights of Religion, and the im-

menfely rich Treasures of Immortality, can hardly

obtain our Attention? - However, let us quit the

Metaphor,

*There is, if I mistake not, a nice Gradation, in this

Speech of the Sluggard; fuch as very naturally mimics

the Manner of that lazy Creature.-He pleads, firft, for

fome confiderable Degree of Indulgence, A little Sleep.-

If that is too much to be granted, he craves fome finaller

Toleration of his Sloth; A little Slumber.-If the Task-

mafter still rings in his Ear, ftill goads his Side; one al-

most sees him, rubbing his heavy Eyes, and yawning out

his laft Request; A little Folding of the Hands at least

to lie down, ' pan Prov. vi. 10.-When

fuch is our Conduct with regard to eternal Interests,

how justly may we apply that fpirited Expoftulation of

the Poet;

Tantamne Rem tam negligenter !

Metaphor, and examine Fact. Suppofe, I make appear, that, instead of choofing the most eligib Objects, the Will is fo deplorably vitiated, as to lot what is falutary, and be fond of what is baneful.

Ther. If you prove this to be univerfally the Cafe, you will prove your favourite Point with a witnes Afp. When Providence is pleased to thwart our Measures, or defeat our Endeavours; to bring u under the Cloud of Difgrace, or lay upon us the Rod of Affliction? what is our Behaviour?-Do we bow our Heads in humble Refignation? Do we open our Mouths in thankful Acknowledgments?Ob serve the Waters in that elegant octangular Bafon. They affimilate themselves, with the utmoft Readi nefs, and with equal Exactness, to the Veffel that contains them. So would the human Will, if it were not extremely froward and foolifh, conform itfelf to the divine; which is unerringly wife, and, of all poffible Contingencies, incomparably the beft *.Yet, how apt are we to fret with Difquietude; and ftruggle under afflictive Dispensations, as a wild Bull in a Net!

"Ther. This is a very imperfect Proof, Afpafio, and correfponds only with Part of your Accufation. We may diflike what is wholefome, especially if it be unpalatable, yet not be fond of our Bane.

Afp. Should you fee a Perfon, who thirfts after

the

*This feems to be the Meaning of the Prophet, Despre Ifai. xxvi. 7. Not-The Way of the Fuft is Uprightness-This Senfe, in the prefent Con nection, is hardly confiftent with Humility: is by no means proper to introduce a devotional Addrefs to the great JEHOVAH. Rather-COD's Way to the full is Uprightnefs; or, ftill more emphatically, Uprightneffes. Is in all Refpects irreprovable, excellent, admirable; fuited, perfectly fuited, to every facred Attribute of Wisdom, Goodnels, and Truth.

the putrid Lake, but difrelishes the running Foun→ ain; who longs for the impoisoned Berries of the Nightshade, but abhors the delicious Fruit of the Orchard, would you applaud the Regularity of his Apbetite?-I don't wait for your Anfwer, But I more han fufpect, this is a true Picture of all unregenerate People. How do they affect Drefs and external Or nament; but are unwilling, rather than defirous, to be clothed with Humility, and to put on CHRIST Amafement will engage, Play animate, and Diverfion fire them: but as to the Worship of the living GOD, O! what a Weariness is it t! This is attended, if attended at all, with Languor, and a listlefs Infenfibility. Frothy, Novels, and flatulent Wit, regale their Tafte; while the Marrow and Fatnefs of the divine Word, are "as their forrowful Meat ]." What is all this, but to lothe the falutary, and long for the Baneful?

[ocr errors]

VOL. II.

I Pet. v. 5.

Job vi. 7.

[blocks in formation]

The Reader may fee this unhappy_Contrast drawn in the strongest Colours, by the royal Preacher, and by the mourning Prophet. Because I have called, and ye refufed; I have firetched out my Hand, and no Man regarded: But ye have fet at nought all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof. What a Croud of Words! Emphatically declaring the most incorrigible Perversenefs; which is Proof against every Method of Reformation; against all the Arts even of divine Persuasion. Prov. i. 24, 25. The Host of Heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have fought, and whom they have worshipped. What a Heap of Expreffions! Significantly defcribing that impetuous Ardor, which no Prohibitions can restrain; and that infatiable Avidity, which never knows when to fay, "It is enough." Jer. viii. 2.

If I beg leave to add another Example of this kind, it

Let me, from the fame Comparifon, propofe or Question more; which may be applicable both to th Will and to the Understanding. Should you he of another Perfon, the State of whofe Stomach wa fo difpofed, that it turned the moft nourishing Foo into Phlegm; and derived Matter of Difeafe, fro the most fovereign Supports of Health; what wo you think of his Conftitution?

Ther. I fhould certainly think it very much di tempered.

Afp. Without the Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, our Souls turn every Occurrence inte an Increase of their finful Depravity. Our very T ble is a Snare; and inftead of exciting us to Grat tude, is a Provocative to Gluttony.-How difficult is it, when we flow in Plenty, not to be elated; when we are preffed with Poverty, not to repine!-Have we Business in the World? It cumbers our Thoughts, or tempts us to Avarice. Have we no Bufinels to manage? We fink into Sloth, and fettle on the Lees! of Voluptuoufnefs.If our Schemes are profperous, it is odds but they attach us to the Interests of Time

is chiefly for the fake of clearing up an obfcure Paffage in the Pfalms; which feems to have been mistaken by the Authors of both our Verfions.-David, to fet forth the barbarous Affiduity of his Perfecutors, fays; They wan der up and down. They pry into every Corner; they fearch the City, and examine the Country; not for Meat; which, in this Connection, is a Senfe quite fo reign to the Subject, and very jejune indeed; but to devour To devour me the destined Victim of their Rage. And they are not fatisfied, if they cannot compafs their Defig by Day, they will grudge? No; but they will continue all Night, in the Profecution of their Purpose. Neither Cold nor Darkness can retard them; neither Hardships nor Dangers can divert them; but their At tempts are as indefatigable, as their Malice is implac ble, Pfal. lix. 15.

« EelmineJätka »