all their senses, and the exercise of their reason to the last, yet their souls, with respect to spiritual things, and communion with God, are as fast asleep, as deadly and deeply intoxicated with the juice of the vine of Sodom, even the draughts of sin and pleasure, as this poor man that died with too much liquor; and shall be equally astonished, terrified, tormented, when awaked in the world of spirits.

MEDITATION LXIX.

THE EARTH A GLOBE.

Under sail, Mediterranean, March 13. 1759. WHEREVER I sail, the earth is still beneath my feet, and the heaven is still above my head; which shews the madness of man's desire, that has no limits, when its object is every where circumscribed. It is not for a kingdom exalted above the hills, that the contending nations now are at war; it is but for a foot-breadth of dust, a province, an island, or a frontier town, that tribes are slaughtered, and nations are undone. Were there nothing better than this earth, no wonder if we sought to extend our possession in the earth. It would be excuseable for avarice to seek to the ends of the world, if there the golden mountains arched above our heads with all their sparkling veins; but still this idol of mankind lies buried in ore, and deep in the bowels of the earth, that it may not affect our ambitious eye; and still the heavens bend above us, to attract the soaring principle essential to the human soul. But as man despises what he should

esteem, and doats on what he should abhor, seeking the creature more than the Creator, who is himself blessed for ever, and makes all that seek him blessed; God, in a way of judgement, "has set the world in the hearts of the sons of men." Hence their whole chase, study, and endeavour, is for the world, which, though in great abundance obtained, cannot satisfy us; yet, believing that an addition to what we already have, will afford that satisfaction which we are conscious we want, our chase is perpetuated, and we are still disappointed. But how poor an heartful have we, who embrace our sepulchre, and hug our very tomb! For we must shortly lie buried among the mould we s0 much admire, and rot in the grosser particles of dust which we so regard. What is empire to an immortal soul? What the enjoyment of the universe for a few years, to one whose existence must measure with endless evermore? Then, as the earth is under my feet, and the heavens above my head, wherever I wander, let my affections trample this with just disdain; but my soul, on the wings of holy desire, soar to the regions of eternal day!

MEDITATION LXX.

ON SHIPS MISTAKING ONE ANOTHER.

Mediterranean, March 14. 1759. How often on the ocean do we prepare to fight a friend! Wherever we see a strange sail that be longs not to our fleet or squadron, we look upon her as an enemy, and so give chase,, bring to, and

speak with her. When we learn that she is out on the same errand, to distress the common foe, and by the same authority, at last our preparation for an engagement issues in an agreeable beguile. But at other times we are still more unhappy, while in the dark night, and not attending to, or under. standing each other's signals, we think we have found our enemy, and so fire upon one another. When the morning light, or some other means, undeceive us, we feel in the most exquisite manner for our mistake; though his Majesty has made provision for the friends of the unhappy sufferers if they die, or the sufferers themselves if rendered lame, by engaging one another through mistake.

Even so is the case often among the saints and churches of God. Contests come between the best of men, and sometimes about the smallest matters. Paul and Barnabas are so hot about their companion, that they part company; and to this day the teachers of the good knowledge of God can fall out about a word, though they own one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and subscribe one creed. Then, from these differences, we appre hend one another to be enemies; and, giving ground to our apprehensions, we begin to treat each other as enemies to the truth, and to the King of Zion, to the injury of the common cause of religion, and the hurt of the loyal subjects of Heaven.

Such indeed are the trials of the saints and church in their militant state, such are the calami ties that are contingent to her in these days of darkness, and on this sea of trouble; but when they come to speak mouth to mouth, and to see eye to eye in the light of glory, they shall be all one. We should indeed contend for the truth with

a zeal and concern due to its divinity, but with a tenderness and sympathy which our present imperfection pleads for. We should love the truth dearly, but yet rather pity than despise those that depart from some points which we count truth. We should not sell the truth to buy friends, to make a party, or gain numbers to our side; but we should forego our own humours, that the truth by us get not a wound. We had sometimes better employ our time in prayer to God to turn them from the error of their way, than shew our parts and our spleen, in proving them to be wittingly blind, and to have wilfully erred. We should do all things, except wound the truth, to make all men one in the truth; and when differences are done away, personal affronts should never stand in the way of reconciliation. How deplorable would it be, if my hands, instead of being a mutual help, should scratch and tear one another; if my feet, instead of bearing me out the way, should stand still to kick at one another! So, and much worse, is it for saints, who are the spiritual members of Christ the living Head, to bite and devour one another; but this is owing to the remains of corruption in them; and perfect peace is reserved for the state of highest perfection.

Now, as it is only at sea, and under the gloom of night, that we are like to make mistakes, for when we come into harbour, and enjoy the noonday beam, we have no doubt of one another, but know that we are all the subjects of one King, engaged in one cause, and combined against the common enemy; so it is only in this vale of tears, this day of thick darkness, that we cannot understand one another, but are ready, like the officious disciples, to forbid them that follow not with us in all

things, though they be the servants of Christ. But when the warfare is finished, and the saints assem bled before the throne of God and the Lamb, all wrong views, jarring opinions, discordance and difference, shall be done away for ever; in view of which eternal tranquillity we must comfort ourselves under the disagreeable occurrences of this troublesome life, where we not only must fight with foes, but fall out with dearest friends, and differ with our own selves.

MEDITATION LXXI.

WHAT WE OUGHT TO REMEMBER.

Leghorn, April 5. 1759.

As we can never be from under the eye of God, nor would chuse to be cast out of his care; so Zion should never be out of our mind, nor cast out of our concern. Besides, as we still think ourselves branches of the family to which we belong, and are glad to hear from our parents and relations of their welfare, however distant from them; so, if we are members of mystical Zion, we will rejoice in her prosperity and flourishing condi tion, though we be in the utmost parts of the earth. Surely, then, if I remember the Lord afar off, as I ought, Jerusalem will also come into my mind.

"How, then, have matters stood with Zion in the land of my nativity? What success has the glorious gospel had? how have the flocks been fed? how have people profited in the day of their merciful visitation? how has vice been suppressed,