IV.

in vapour through the lower parts of the DISC. earth, break forth and issue in streams, many of which joined form rivers, and so go back again to the place from whence they came; as the blood, in the human body, flows, in streams from the heart, through the arteries, and returns to it again, in rivers, by the veins, which grow larger as they approach, and are about to empty themselves into the great reservoir. In the greater as well as the leffer world, there is a conftant circulation maintained. The income is proportioned to the expence, and nothing is wafted. All rivers, faith Solomon, run to. the sea, yet the sea is not full, or, does not overflow; to the place from whence the rivers come, thither do they return again; but not till, by their innumerable turnings and windings, they have refreshed and enriched large tracts of country, in their paffage. So divine grace fprings up in the heart of a Christian man, as water doth in a fountain, fupplied from an invisible and inexhaustible ftorehouse. It flows forth in his words and actions, doing good to all

around

1

DISC. around it in it's courfe, and is finally swalIV. lowed up and loft in the boundless ocean of infinite perfection.

Barren and defolate as the fea appears to those who only look upon it, and search not into it, yet within it's bofom are contained creatures, exceeding in number those that walk and creep upon the land; infomuch that in the facred language, they have their name from a word which fignifies to multiply. The ingenuity and industry of man have found means to draw forth thefe inhabitants of the waters from their deepest receffes. And while they afford to fome an agreeable variety of wholesome food, they fupport multitudes of others, whose employment it is to procure them, an employment healthy, honeft; carried on in peace and quietness; without tumult, noise, strife, and bloodshed; affording to those who are engaged in it, continual opportunities of beholding the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Perfons of this occupation, men of plain fenfe and good hearts,

were

IV.

were chofen by our bleffed Lord, to preach DISC. the word of life to the nations, to caft abroad the evangelical net, and to become, as he himself expresses it, Fishers of men.

By the invention of shipping, and the art of navigation, the sea is made in reality to join those nations, which it appears to divide; the communication being often far more eafy and expeditious by water, than it would have been by land. The riches of both the Indies are wafted to our fhores; we fit at home, and feast upon the productions of every country under heaven; while the fuperfluity of our own commodities is difpofed of, to advantage, abroad. A friendly intercourfe is opened between the most distant lands. Savages are humanized, and become proficients in the arts and sciences. The gofpel is preached among them, and the light of truth made to fhine upon those who fate in darkness and the fhadow of death. They are taught the art of arts, and the science of fciences; the art of holy living, and the science of falvation. A large veffel,

DISC. veffel, with all it's conveniences, conftructed

IV.

in such a manner as to go upon the surface of the water, and to brave the fury of winds and waves, is, perhaps, the masterpiece of human contrivance. And the pfalmist, when contemplating the wonders of the ocean, cries out in admiration, as if placed in a fituation like this of ours-There go the hips.

But while we meditate upon the advantages accruing to mankind from a part of the creation, which, at first fight, might feem incapable of affording any, let us not be unmindful of the circumftance which brings us now together, and gives occafion to this discourse. Let the medicinal powers and falutary virtues with which the Almighty hath endued the waters of the sea, be always had in remembrance by those who have happily experienced them. Let praise and glory be rendered to the great Physician, who hath made the ocean a magnificent mineral bath, in which, as formerly in the pool of Bethesda, the weak become strong,

and

IV.

and the fick whole. And when we behold DISC. the mighty works thus wrought for the bodies of men, let us reflect upon that fovereign mercy, which, in like manner, ftrengthens the infirmities, and heals the diseases of our minds, and let us be equally diligent in using the means appointed to reftore them to vigour and purity; that so, thus doubly benefited and bleffed, we may exprefs the gratitude of our hearts in those divine words of David-Praife the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thy fin, and healeth all thine infirmities. Who faveth thy life from deftruction, and crowneth thee with loving kindness and mercy. Who Satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy life is renewed like the eagle.

The last use I shall mention which we are to make of the fea, is that which the Holy Spirit himself hath fo frequently made of it in the Scriptures, viz. to confider it as an emblem of the world, and of

what