or brass, with a pen of iron, and point of a diamond, or as ivy in an old wall, that hath gotten root in it. "Wickedness is sweet to their mouths, they roll it under their tongues." No threats nor promises can divorce them from it.

Reflection.-Lord, this is the very frame of my heart, may the graceless soul say. My corruptions quietly settle in me, my heart labors not against them. I am a stranger to that conflict which is daily maintained in all the faculties of the regenerate soul. Glorified souls have no such conflict, because grace in them stands alone, and is perfectly triumphant over all opposites; and graceless souls can have no such conflict, because in them corruption stands alone, and has no other principle to make opposition to it. And this is my case, O Lord. I am full of vain hopes indeed, but had I a living and well-grounded hope to dwell for ever with so holy a God, I could not but be daily purifying myself. But O what will the end of this be? I have cause to tremble at that last and most dreadful curse in the book of God, "Let him that is filthy be filthy still." Is it not as much as if God should say, Let them alone: I will spend no more rods upon them, no more means shall be used about them; but I will reckon with them for all together in another world? O my soul, what a dismal reckoning will that be!

CHAPTER V.

The Caution of Sailors.

Observation.-How watchful and quick-sighted are seamen to prevent dangers! If the wind die away and then freshen, or if they see the sky hazy, they provide for a storm. If by the glass they see an enemy at a distance, they prepare for fight, and bear up, if able to cope with him; if not, they keep close by the wind, make all the sail they can, and bear away. If they suppose themselves, by their reckoning, near land, how often do they sound! and if upon a coast with which they are unac

quainted, how careful are they to get a pilot that knows and is acquainted with it!

Application. Thus watchful and suspicious ought we to be in spiritual concerns, We should study and be acquainted with Satan's wiles and policy. The apostle takes it for granted, that Christians are not ignorant of his devices. "The serpent's eye," as one says, “would do well in the dove's head." The devil is a cunning pirate; he puts out false colors, and ordinarily comes up to the Christian in the disguise of a friend.

O the manifold depths and stratagems of Satan to destroy souls! Though he have no wisdom to do himself good, yet he has policy enough to do us mischief. He lies in ambush behind our lawful comforts and employments; yet, for the generality of men, how supine and careless are they, suspecting no danger! Their souls, like Laish, dwell carelessly, their senses unguarded. O what an easy prize and conquest does the devil make

of them!

Indeed, if it were with us as with Adam in innocency, or as it was with Christ in the days of his flesh (who by reason of that overflowing fulness of grace that dwelt in him, was secure from the danger of all temptations) the case then were otherwise; but we have a traitor within, as well as a tempter without. "Our adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:" and, like the beasts of the forest, poor souls lie down before him, and become his prey.

All the

sagacity, wit, policy, and foresight, of some men, is summoned to serve their bodies, and secure their fleshly enjoyments.

Reflection.-Lord, how does the care, wisdom, and vigilance, of men in temporal and external things, condemn my carelessness in the deep and dear concernments of my precious soul! What care and labor is there to secure a perishing life, liberty, or treasure! When was I thus solicitous for my soul, though its value be inestimable, and its danger far greater! Self-preservation is one of the deepest principles in nature. There is not the poorest fly, or worm, but will shun danger, if it can: yet I am so far from shunning those dangers to which my

soul lies continually exposed, that I often run it upon temptations, and voluntarily expose it to its enemies. I see, Lord, how watchful, jealous, and laborious thy people are; what prayers, tears, and groans, searching of heart, mortification of lusts, guarding of senses; and all accounted too little by them. Have not I a soul to save or lose eternally, as well as they? Yet I cannot deny one fleshly lust, nor withstand one temptation. O how I am convinced and condemned, not only by others' care and vigilance, but my own too, in lesser and lower

matters!

CHAPTER VI.

The Rudder of a Ship.

Observation.-IT is a just cause of admiration, to see so great a body as a ship is, and when under sail too, before a fresh and strong wind, by which it is carried, as the clouds, with marvellous force and speed, yet commanded with ease by so small a thing as the helm is. The scripture takes notice of it as a matter worthy of our consideration; "Behold also the ships, which though they be great, and driven of fierce winds; yet they are turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth," Jam. iii. 4. Yea, Aristotle himself, that eagle-eyed philosopher, could not give a reason of it, but looked upon it as a very marvellous and wonderful thing.

Application. To the same use and office has God designed conscience in man, which being rectified and regulated by the word and spirit of God, is to steer and order his whole conversation. Conscience is as the oracle of God, the judge and determiner of our actions, whether they be good or evil. And it lays the strongest obligation upon the creature to obey its dictates. As often as conscience from the word convinces us of any sin or duty, it lays such a bond upon us to obey it, as no power under heaven can relax or dispense with. Angels Div. No. XVII.

cannot do it, much less man; for that would be to exalt themselves above God. Now therefore it is a high and dreadful way of sinning, to oppose and rebel against conscience, when it convinces of sin and duty. Con science sometimes reasons it out with men, and shows them the necessity of changing their way and course; arguing it from the clearest and most allowed maxims of right reason, as well as from the indisputable sovereignty, of God: as, for instance, it convinceth their very reason that things of eternal duration are infinitely to be preferred to all momentary and perishing things; and that it is our duty to choose them, and make all secular and temporary concernments to stand aside and give place to them. Yet though men be convinced of this, their stubborn will stands out, and will not yield up itself to the conviction. It argues too from this acknowledged truth, that all the delight and pleasures of this world are but a miserable portion, and that it is the highest folly to adventure an immortal soul for them. Alas! what remembrance is there of them in hell? They are as the waters that pass away. What have they left of all their mirth and jollity, but a tormenting sting? It convinces them clearly, also, that in matters of deep, concernment it is a high point of wisdom, to apprehend and improve the right seasons and opportunities of them.' "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son." "A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment." "There is a season to every purpose," a nick of time, a happy juncture, when if a man strikes, he does his work effectually, and with much facility: such seasons conscience convinces the soul of, and often whispers thus in its ear; Now, soul, strike in; close with this motion of the Spirit, and be happy for ever; thou mayest never have such a gale for heaven any more. Now, though these are allowed to be maxims of reason, and conscience enforces them strongly on the soul, yet cannot it prevail;' the proud stubborn will rebels, and will not be guided by.it.

Reflection.-Ah! Lord, such a heart have I had before' thee; thus obstinate, thus rebellious, thus uncontrolable by conscience. Many a time has conscience thus whis

pered in mine ear, many a time has it stood in my way, as the angel did in Balaam's, or the cherubims that kept the way of the tree of life with flaming swords turning every way. Thus has it stood to oppose me in the way of my lusts. How often has it calmly debated the case with me alone! and how sweetly has it expostulated with me! How clearly has it convinced me of sin, danger, duty! How terrible has it menaced my soul, and set the point of the threatening at my very breast! And yet my head-strong affections will not be remanded by it. I have obeyed the voice of every lust and temptation, but conscience has lost its authority with me. Ah! Lord, what a sad condition am I in, both in respect of sin and misery! My sin receives dreadful aggravations, for rebellion and presumption are hereby added to it. I have violated the strongest bonds that ever were laid upon a creature. If my conscience had not thus warned me, the sin had not been so great and crimson-colored. Ah! this is to sin with a high hand, Numb. xv. 30; to come near to the great and unpardonable transgression, Psal. xix. 13. O how dreadful a way of sinning is this, to sin with open eyes! And as my sin is thus out of measure sinful, so my punishment will be out of measure dreadful, if I persist in this rebellion. Lord, thou hast said, such shall be beaten with many stripes. Yea, Lord, and if ever my conscience, which by rebellion is now grown silent, should be in judgment awakened in this life, O what a hell shall I have within me! how will it thunder and roar within me, and surround me with terror!

Thy word assures me, that no length of time can wear out of its memory what I have done, Gen. xlii. 21; no violence or force can suppress it, Mat. xxvii. 4; no greatness of power can stifle it; it will take the mightiest monarch by the throat, Exod. x. 16; Dan. v. 6; no music, pleasures, or delights, can charm it, Job xx. 22. O conscience, thou art the sweetest friend, or the most dreadful enemy, in the world. Thy consolations are incomparably sweet, and thy terrors insupportable. O let me stand out no longer against conscience.