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No. VIII.

NAVIGATING THE SHIP.

"WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPMatt. xxvi. 41.

TATION."

"EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH." 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

In vain would it be to fit out the finest ship in the best and most expensive manner; in vain to put the most valuable cargo on board, and to send her to sea in the fairest season, and under the most flattering circumstances; in vain, I say, would all this care and expence, and all these advantages be, if, when she got into deep water, the log, and compass, and quadrant were to be neglected. She might float a few leagues, indeed, but as to circumnavigating the globe, and returning safe, and enriched at last, there would be no hopes of such events; on the contrary, the ship, and men, and cargo would, sooner or later, be lost. Of this seamen are so confident, that they would not sail on board a vessel whose officers were likely to act so mad

a part. Hence at sea there is great care taken to keep the log going, to steer by the compass, to consult the chart, to obtain soundings, and get observations of the sun and other heavenly bodies by the quadrant as often as possible. Every careful navigator sees to all these things, and settles his reckoning, and endeavours to find the bearings and distance of the nearest land, and of his intended port, at least once in every four and twenty hours.

So with respect to man. In vain are all his best natural faculties of mind, his valuable helps of education, his fair and smiling prospects in the world; these will avail nothing towards conducting him safe and happy across this dangerous sea of life, to a heavenly kingdom, unless they are brought into constant and suitable use. Nor can all the natural and worldly advantages that ever distinguished man conduct his soul to heaven, without the grace of God attending, and blessing, and sanctifying all his natural gifts. This being the case, it becomes necessary for the most rich and learned, as well as for the poor and illiterate, to use every means of grace in their power, to hear the word of God, to pray, to meditate, to watch their steps, to bridle their tongue, to suppress their anger, to regulate their whole course by the compass of Scripture. Without this they may, indeed, for a

season, appear to go on as well as others, and, for a time, even to prosper; but shortly they will strike on some fatal rock, or founder in the whirlpools of ignorance, infidelity, or presumption. This the thoughtful Christian knows, and, therefore, he consults his Bible as the chart which is to point out his various dangers across this perilous and intricate ocean. From time to time, by self examination, he fathoms his own heart, and compares its soundings with those laid down in the map of God's word. He looks forward, and calculates on approaching dangers and temptations, and then directs his eyes to heaven to Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness, for wisdom and grace to avoid them. His prayer is,

“Help, Lord, to whom for help I fly,
And still my tempted soul stand by,
Throughout the evil day!

The sacred watchfulness impart,

And keep the issues of my heart,

And stir me up to pray,

"Whene'er my careless hands hang down,
O let me see thy gath'ring frown,

And feel thy warning eye;

And starting, cry, from ruin's brink,

Save, Jesus, or I yield, I sink,

O save me, or I die!"

This is the way by which he discovers what progress he has made towards the port of heaven, how far he has been driven back, or where, and how wide he has deviated from the due. course. He knows that of himself he has no power, nor even a will to shun surrounding evils; he is certain that God must work in him both to will and to do: but then he also knows, that the Spirit of God is given to them who ask it; that he is commanded to seek and ask this all-sufficient Guide, and by rightly occupying with each entrusted talent, to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling; and, therefore, he often endeavours to stir up his soul by some such prayers as these:

"Jesu, my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
On whom I cast my every care;

On whom for all things I depend,
Inspire, and then accept my prayer.

"If I have tasted of thy grace,

The grace that sure salvation brings ;

If with me now thy Spirit stays,
And hovering hides me in his wings;

"Still let him with my weakness stay,
Nor for a moment's space depart;

Evil and danger turn away,

And keep till he renews my heart,

D

"When to the right or left I stray,

His voice behind me may I hear; Return, and walk in Christ thy way;

Fly back to Christ; for sin is near."

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