But now, what returns do we make to heaven for these mercies ? O what notice is taken of the good hand of Providence, which thus supplies and feeds us with the blessings of the sea ? I fear there are but few that own, or act in submission to it, and are careful to return, according to received benefit. Men do not consider, " That their " works are in the hand of God,'' Eccl. ix. 1. And even those that have the most immediate dependence upon Providence, as merchants and seamen, yet are very prone to undertake designs i;i the confidence of their own wisdom and industry ; not looking higher for the bles- sing, Jam. iv. 13. They often " sacrifice to their own net, and burn " incense to their drag, because by them their portion is fat, and " their meat plenteous," Hab. i. 16. viz. They attribute what is due to God unto the creature : now this is a sin highly provoking to the Lord ; for look in what degree the heart cleaves to the second cause, in the same degree it departs from the living God, Jer. x. 5.
And how do you think the blessed God will take it, to see him- self thus debased, and the creature thus exalted into his place ; to see you carry yourselves to the creature as to a God, and to the blessed God as to a creature. Surely, it is a great and common evil and such as will blast all, if not timely discovered and lamented. If we make flesh our arm, it is just with God to wither and dry up the arm. Do we not, my brethren, look upon second causes as if they had the main stroke in our business ? And with a neglective eye pass by God, as if he came in but collaterally, and on the bye, into it ?
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But certainly all endeavours will be unsanctified, if not successless In which God is not eyed and engaged.
" It is in vain tor you to rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the " bread of sorrows ; for so he giveth his beloved sleep," Psalm cxxxvii. 2. i e. It is to no purjiose for men to beat their brains, tire their spirits, and rack their consciences for an estate. The true way of acquiring and enjoying the creature, is by submitting quietly to the will of God, in a prudent and diligent, yet moderate use of law- ful means : Nothing can thrive with us till then.
Why then should I disquiet myself in vain ; and robmyself of my peace, by these unbelieving cares and distractions ? O this hath been my sin ! I have acted, as if my condition had been at my own dispose ; I have eyed creatures and means too much, and God too little. How have my hands hanged down with discouragement, when second causes have disappeared, or wrought cross to my designs in the world, ready to transfer the fault on this thing, or that ! And again, how apt am I to be vainly lifted up in carnal confidence, when I see my- self competently furnished with creature munition, and provision ? Oh, what a God-provoking wickedness, is this ! How oft hath pro- vidence checked my carnal presumption, and dashed many hopeful projects ? Yet have I not owned it, as I ought, and submitted to it. Oh, it is a wonder this hath not closed the hand of providence against me, and pulled down a curse upon all ! Ah Lord, let me now learn, '* to acquaint myself with thee, then shall I decree a thing, and it •' shall be estabfished,'' Job xxii. 28.
JLN all the gifts of God we should advance
His glorio'.is name; not say, it came by chance.
Or to the idol of our prudence pay
The tribute of our praise, and go our way.
The waves do clap their hands, and in their kind
Acknowledge God ; and what ! are they more blind
That float upon them ? Yea, for what they get
They offer sacrifices to their net.
This is your manner, thus to work you go :
Confess the naked truth ; is't not so ?
This net was wisely cast, 'tis full, 'tis full :
0 well done mates, this is a gallant pull. Thus what is due to God, you do apply Unto yourselves most sacrilegiously.
1 cannot wonder such come empty home. That are so full of self and sin : Yet some I hope look higher, and on God reflect
Due praise. A blessing such may well expect.
NAVIGATION SPIRITUALIZED. ^69
Whilst thou hy art the silly fish doth hill, Perchance the devils hook sticks in thy gill.
X HERE is skill in fishing ; they that go to sea in a fishing voyage, use to go provided with their craft (as they very fitly call it) with- out which they can do nothing. They have their lines, hooks of several sizes, and their bait. They carefully observe their seasons ; when the fish fall in, then they ply their business day and night.
But how much more skilful and industrious is Satan to ensnare and destroy souls ? The devil makes a voyage as well as you ; he hath his baits for you, as you have for the fish : He hath his devices and wiles to catch souls, 2 Cor. ii. 11. Eph. vi. 11. He is a serpent, an old serpent, Rev, xii. 9. Too crafty for man in his perfection, much more in his collapsed and degenerated state, his understanding being cracked by the fall, and all his faculties poisoned and perverted. Divines observe four steps, or degrees of Satan's tempting power : First, He can find out the constitution-evils of men ; he knows to what sin their natures are more especially jirone, and inclinable. Secondly, He can propound suitable objects to those lusts, he can exactly and fully hit every man's humour : as Agrippa mixed her poison in that meat her husband loved best.
Thirdly^ He can inject and cast motions into the mind, to close with those tempting objects; as it is said of Judas, John xiii. 2. " The devil put it into his heart.*"
Fourthly, He can solicit, irritate, and provoke the heart, and by those continual restless solicitations weary it : and hereby he often draws men to commit such things as startled them in the first motion All this he can do, if he finds the work sticks, and meets with rubs and difficulties ; yet doth he not act to the utmost of his skill and power, at all times, and with all persons ; neither indeed need he do so ; the very propounding of an object is enough to some, without any further solicitation ; the devil makes an easy conquest of them. And, beside all this, his policy much appears in the election of place, time, and instruments to tempt by : And thus are poor souls caught, " as fishes in an evil net," Eccl.ix. 12. The carnal man is led by sense, as the beast ; and Satan handles and fits him accord- ingly. He useth all sorts of motives, not only internal and intellec- tive ; but external and sensitive also ; as the sparkling of the wme, when it gives its colour in the glass ; the harlot's beauty, whose eye- lids are snares, hiding always the hook, and concealing the issue from them. He promises them gain and profit, pleasure and delight, and all that is tempting, with assurance of secresy : By these he fastens
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the fatal hook in their jaws, and thus they are led captive by hini at his will.