There be precious treasures in these earthen vessels, for which we should trade by mutual communion. The preciousness of the trea- sure should draw out our desires and endeavours after it ; and the consideration of the brittleness of those vessels in which tliey are kept, should cause us to be the more expeditious in our trading with them, and make the quicker returns. For when those vessels (I mean bo- dies of the saints) are broken by death, there is no more to be got- ten out of them. That treasure of grace which made them such pro- fitable, pleasant, and desirable companions on earth, then ascends with them into heaven, where every grace receives its adolescence and perfection : and then, though they be ten thousand times more ex- cellent and delightful than ever they were on earth, yet we can have no more communion with them till we come to glory ourselves. Now therefore it behoves us to be enriching ourselves by communication of what God hath dropt into us, and improvement of them, as one well notes *. We should do by saints, as we use to do by some choice book lent us for a few days, we should fix in our memories, or trans-
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cribe all the choice notions we meet with in it, that they may be our %iwn when the book is called for, and we can have it no longer by us.
Xord, how short do I come of my duty in communicating to, or receiving good by others ! My soul is either empty and barren, or if there be any treasure in it, yet is but as a treasure locked up in some chest, whose key is lost, when it should be opened for the use of others. Ah Lord ! I have sinned greatly, not only by vain words, but sinful silence. I have been of little use in the world.
How little also have I gotten by communion with others ? Some it may be, that are of my own size, or judgment, or that I am otherwise obliged to, I can delight to converse with : but O, where is that largeness of heart and general delight I should have to, and in all thy people ? How many of my old dear acquaintance are now in heaven, whose tongues were as choice silver, while they were here, Prov. X. 20. And blessed souls ! how communicative were they of what thou gavest them ? O what an improvement had I made of my talent this way, had I been diligent ! Lord pardon my neglect of those sweet and blessed advantages. O let all my delight be in thy saints, who are the excellent of the earth. Let me never go out of their company, without an heart more warmed, quickened, and en- larged, than when I came amongst them.
jL O several nations God doth so distribute His bounty, that each one must pay a tribute Unto each other. Europe cannot vaunt, And say. Of Africa I have no want. America and Asia need not strive. Which of itself can best subsist and live. Each country's want, in something, doth maintain Commerce betwixt them all. Such is the aim And end of God, who doth dispense and give More grace to some, their brethren to relieve. • This makes the sun ten thousand times more bright. Because it is diffusive of its light ; Its beams are gilded gloriously ; but then This property doth gild them o'er again. Should sun, moon, stars, impropriate all their light, What dismal darkness would the world benight ? On this account men hate the vermin brood. Because they take in much, but do no good. What harm, if I at yours my candle light ? Except thereby I make your room more bright. He that by pumping sucks and draws the spring New streams, and sweeter, to the well doth bring. Vol. V. Q
244 A KEW COMPASS FOR SEAMEN ; OK,
Grace is a treasure in an earthen pot ; When death hath das^d it, no more can be got Out of that vessel : then, while it is whole. Get out the treasure to enrich your soul.
The rocks abide, thoiigh seas against them rage : So shall the church, zchich is GocTs heritage.
X HE rocks, though situate in the boisterous and tempestuous ocean, yet abide firm and immoveable from age to age. The impe- tuous waves dash against them with great violence, but cannot re- move them out of their place. And although sometimes they wash over them, and make them to disappear, yet there they remain fixed and impregnable.
This is a lively emblem of the condition of the church, amidst all dangers and oppositions wherewith it is encountered and assaulted in this world. These meiajjhorical waves roar and beat with violence against it, but with as little success as the sea against the rocks, Matt, xvi. 18. " Upon this rock will I build my church, and the [gates] " of hell shall not prevail against it."" The gates of hell are the power and policy of hell ; for it is conceived to be an allusive speech to the gates of the Jews, wherein their ammunition for war was lodged, which also were the seats of judicature, there sat the judges ; but yet these gates of hell shall not prevail. Nay, this rock is not only invincible in the midst of their violence, but also breaks all that dash against it, Zech. xii. 3. " In that day I will make Jeru- *' salem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden them- " selves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the *' earth be gathered together against it." An allusion to one that essays to roll some great stone against the hill, which at last returns upon him, and crushes him to pieces.
And the reason why it is thus firm and impregnable, is not from it- self; for alas, so considered, it is weak, and obnoxious to ruin ; but from the almighty power of God, which guards and preserves it day and night, Psal. xlvi. 5, 6. " God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that right early." Vatab. Dum aspacit mane. When the morning appears. Which notes (saith Calvin) God's assiduous and constant help and succour, which is ex- tended in all dangers, as constantly as the sun arises. And this assi- duous succour to his people, and their great security thereby, is set forth in the scriptures by a pleasant -v ariety of metapliors and em- blems, Zech. ii. 5. "I, saith the Lord, will be a wall of fire round
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