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"The reconciled Father joys

To see the sinner weep;

And Jesus, with extended arms,
Welcomes his ransom'd sheep."

"

No. XII.

THE SMUGGLER.

"THEY THAT WILL BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION,
AND A SNARE, AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HURT-
FUL LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION
AND PERDITION."
1 Tim. vi. 9.

Ir once happened, that a man by hard labour and great savings got money enough to build and fit out a very fine vessel, which he determined to run in the smuggling trade, as the speediest way of making a fortune. For a few voyages he succeeded beyond his expectations, and, of course, greatly increased his wealth. He now built a fine house, kept several servants, and fared sumptuously every day. But while things were going on in this prosperous way, as the world terms it, religion, and the soul, and a future world, were left quite out of the question. All his heart and thoughts were swallowed up, planning and running fresh voyages, and in carousing with his jovial companions at home. An end, however, and that an

awful one, came to all these proceedings. One day he was met at sea by a revenue cutter, and as he had a very valuable cargo on board, he was mad enough to resist; an engagement ensued, and several of the cutter's crew were killed. They however succeeded in taking the smuggling vessel, and in conveying her into port, where she was condemned, hull and cargo, and her captain's fine house and property sold to pay the fine, and he himself conveyed to prison, and tried, condemned, and hanged for an outlaw and a murderer. On his way to the place of execution, he thus expressed himself: "Oh, wretched man that I am! Had I been content with a lawful trade and moderate profits, I might, with the blessing of God, have now been comfortable, though perhaps not rich h;-yes, I might have been now going with my children to some kind friends, instead of being thus carried to my execution. I might have lived and died in the bosom of my family, instead of ending my life at the gallows: but I would be a rich and great man. I neglected God, I cared not for my soul,-and now what is all come to? My vessel is gone, my property is seized, my life is forfeited, and, I fear, my soul is lost! Alas, alas! what does it now profit, that once I had the finest vessel in the port; or that I had the best house in the parish; or that my old

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companions called me a hearty fellow? All is gone, and I am going to judgment, to receive according to the things done in the body, where the neglect of my soul, my contempt of the laws of God and man, and my unnumbered transgressions, will all appear against me. Oh, "what will it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" *

So, in like manner, many people in the army and navy, on the shore and in the merchant service, for a time, get forward in the world by pursuing their different courses in forbidden and unlawful ways. So long as they do well for themselves, so long the world gives them credit for being clever men; and they themselves often think that their very prosperity is a proof of their wisdom. Poor mistaken creatures! They forget, or rather will not believe, that the love of money and the desire of power are the roots of all evil and cruelty, of all injustice and bloodshed. Should these lines ever meet the eye of any such character, let me ask him, what will it avail to have accumulated a fortune in lands or houses, if the kingdom of heaven and the mansions of glory are lost? What will it

* See a Letter on the Subject of Smuggling, in 1st Vol. of Newton's Works, Letter XII.

avail to have obtained an earthly title, if you have lost your title to heaven? What will it profit having obtained the command of a merchant vessel, or of a king's ship, if you have allowed satan to have the command of your hearts, and this perishing world the first place in your affections? In one word, what will it profit a man, though he gain the whole world, if he lose his own soul? There is no harm in a person's honestly and conscientiously obtaining wealth, or a post of command. But the evil lies in his seeking to procure, and in his obtaining, these things, in a forbidden and unlawful way, as the smuggler seems to get rich by breaking the laws of God and his country. And then where is the wisdom, I again ask, in thus procuring earthly treasures, and losing our immortal souls? Especially, when the Lord says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

So true it is, that " they who are determined, if possible, to be rich, do fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts," which lead them, step by step, from the conscientious path of Christian duty, and at last "drown them in destruction and perdition." Infinitely more happy, even in this world, is the life of that Christian, who "having food and

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