Now if we search into the grounds and reasons of these disap- pointments by the hand of providence, we shall find them reducible to a threefold cause and reason.
1. The sovereign pleasure of God so disposes it.
2. The good of the people of God requires it.
3. The manifold sins of men in their calhngs provoke it. First, The sovereign pleasure of God so disposes it. He is the
Rector of the universe, and as such will still assert his dominion. It is his pleasure to establish this order in the world, to exalt some, and
* KoT/w signifies when one lies down wearied at the end of his work.
THE DISAPPOINTED SEAMAN. S9T
depress others ; to set some above, and others below : all must not be rich and great, but some must be poor and low, and to these ends providences are suited: On some it smiles, on others it frowns: 1 Sam. ii. 7. " The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich ; he bring- *« eth low, and lifteth up.*' And certainly there is much of Divine wisdom shining forth in this ordination and disposition of persons and their conditions. If providence had alike prospered every man''s de- signs, and set them upon a level, there had been no occasion to ex- ercise the rich man's charity, or the poor man's patience. Nay, with- out frequent disappointments, providence itself would scarcely be owned in successes, nor these successes be half so sweet to them that receive them, as now they are. The very beauty of providence con- sists much in these various and contrary effects : So that with re- spect to the infinite Wisdom which governs the world, it is necessary some should be crossed, and others prosper in their designs.
Secoiidlif, And if we consider the gracious ends and designs of God towards his own people, it appears needful that all of them, in some things, and many of them in most things (relating to their outward condition in this world) should be frustrated in their expectations and contrivances. For if all things here should succeed according to their wish, and a constant tide of prosperity should attend them.
1. How soon would sensuality and earthliness invade their hearts and affections? Much prosperity, like the pouring in of much wine, intoxicates, and overcomes our weak heads and hearts *. Earthly, as well as heavenly objects, have a transforming efficacy in them ; there cannot but be much danger in those earthly things that give or promise us much delight. Can a Christian keep his heart as loose from the smiling;, as from the frownins: world ? We little think how deeply it insinuates into our affections in the day of prosperity ; but when adversity comes, then we find it.
2. How soon would it estrange then) from tlieir God, and inter- rupt their communion with him .? He is certainly a very mortified and heavenly Christian, whose walk with God suffers no interruption by the multitude of earthly affairs, especially when they are prosper- ous. When Israel was settled in the midst of the riches and delights of Canaan, then say they, (even to their Benefactor, the Author of all their prosperity) " We are lords, we will come no more to thee,'' Jer. ii. 31. Or, if it do not wholly interrupt their communion, yet secretly destroys and wastes the vigour, life, and sweetness of it. So that Divine Wisdom sees it necessary to cross and disappoint them in the world, to prevent the mischievous influences that prosperity would have upon their duties. He had rather you should miss your desired comforts in these things, than that he should miss that de- lightful fellowship with you, which he so desires.
3. How loth should we be to leave this world, if constant success and
* Luxuriant animi rebus pleruvique secundis, lo prosperous times, our miftd oft wanton grows.
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prosperity should follow our affairs and designs here ? we see that notwithstanding all the cares, fears, sorrows, crosses, wants, and dis- appointments we meet with from year to year, and from day to day ; yet we are apt to hug the world in our bosoms. As bitter as it is, we court it, admire it, and zealously prosecute it. We cling to it, and are loth to leave it, though we have little rest or comfort in it. What could we do then, if it should answer our expectation and desires? If we grasp with pleasure a thorn that pierces and wounds us ; what would we do if it were a rose that had nothing but de- light and pleasure in it ?
Thirdly^ And as disappointments fall out as the effects of sovereign pleasure, and are ordered as preventive means of such mischief, which prosperity would occasion to the people of God ; so it comes as a righteous retribution and punishment of the many evils that are com- mitted in our trading and dealings with men. It is a hard thing to have much business pass through our hands, and no iniquity cleave to them and defile them. If God be provoked against us by our ini- quities, wonder not that things go cross to our desires and hopes. God may suffer some men to prosper in their wickedness, and others to miscarry in their just and righteous enterprizes; but ordinarily we find that crying sins are remarkably punished, sooner or later, with visible judgments. So that if others do not, yet we ourselves may observe the relation that such a judgment bears to such a sin.
And, from among many, I will here select these following evils, which have destroyed the estates and hopes of many.
(1.) Irrreligious and atheistical neglect and contempt of God and his worship, especially in those that have been enlightened, and made profession of religion. This was the sin which brought that blasting judgment upon the estates and labours of the Jews, as the prophet Haggai tells them, chap. i. ver. 2, 4, 6, 9. compared ; *' They neglected the house of God," i. e. were careless and regard- less of his worship, and, in the mean time, were wholly intent upon their own houses and interests, as he tells them in ver. 2, 4. And what was the issue of this ? Why, ruin to all their earthly comforts and designs. So he tells them, ver. 6, 9. " Ye have sown much, " and bring in little ; ye eat, but ye have not enough ; ye drink, but " ye are not filled with drink ; ye clothe you, but there is none ** warm ; and he that earneth wages, doth it to put it into a bag with *' holes. Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to httle ; and when " ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why, saith the Lord of " hosts .f^ Because of mine house that is waste; and ye turn every ** man unto his own house." Here are great and manifold disap- pointments of their hopes, a curse, a blast upon all they took in hand ; and the procuring cause of all this was their eager persecu- tion of the world, in a careless disregard of God and his service.
(2.) Injustice and fraud is a blasting sin. A little unjust gain mingled with a great estate, will consume it like a moth. The Spirit
THE DISAPPOINTED SEA:MAy. 399