disappointments and want of success in our callings, we ought not to stick in second causes, but to look higher, even to the hand and disposal of God: for whose it is to give the blessing, his also it is to withhold it. And this is as clear in scripture as the other. It is the Lord that takes away the fishes of the sea, Hos. iv. 3; Zeph.i. 3; it is he that curseth our blessings, Mal. ii. 3.

This God does as a punishment for sin, and for the abuse of mercies; and therefore in such cases we ought not to rest in general complaints to one another, or of one another, but search what those sins are, which provoke the Lord to inflict such judgments.

And here I must request your patience, to hear a plain and close word of conviction. My brethren, I am persuaded these are the sins, among many others, that provoke the Lord to blast your employments.

1. Our undertaking designs without prayer. Alas! how few of us begin with God, interest him in our dealings, or ask counsel and direction at his mouth! Prayer is that which sanctifies all employments and enjoyments, 1 Tim. iv. 5. The very heathen could say, that "they must begin with God." O that we had more prayers and

fewer oaths!

2. Injustice and fraud in our dealings-a sin to which merchants are especially prone, as appears by that expression in Hos. xii. 7.

3. An over-earnest endeavour after the world. Men make this their business; they will be rich and hence it is, that they are not only unmerciful to themselves, in wearying and wasting their own spirits with anxious cares, but to such also as they employ; neither regarding the souls or bodies of men; scarcely affording them the liberty of the Lord's day; or if they have it, yet they are so worn out with incessant labors, that that precious time is spent either in sleep or idleness. This over-doing hath not been the least cause of our undoing.

4. Our abuse of prosperity when God gave it, making God's mercies the food and fuel of our lusts. When we had affluence of outward blessings, "this made us kick against God," as, Deut. xxxiii. 15;" forget God," Deut. iv. 14; yea, grow proud of our strength and riches, Ezek.

1

xvi. 13; Jer. ii. 31. O how few of us in the days of our prosperity, behaved ourselves as good Jehoshaphat did? "He had silver and gold in abundance, and his heart was lifted up in the way of God's commandments," not in pride and insolence, 2 Chron. xvii. 5, 6.

Reflections. Are these the sins that blast our blessings, and wither our mercies? O then let me cease to wonder it is no better, and rather admire that it is no worse with me; that my neglect of prayer, injustice in dealings, earthly-mindedness, and abuse of former mercies, have not provoked God to strip me naked of all my enjoyments. Let me humbly accept from the Lord the punishment of my iniquities, and lay my hand upon my mouth. And that these disappointments might convince me of the creature's vanity, and cause me to drive on another trade for heaven; then shall I adore thy wisdom in rending from me these idolized enjoyments. When I had them, my heart was a perpetual drudge to them. How did I then forget God, neglect my duty, and not mind my eternal concerns! If these had not perished, in all probability I should have perished. My God, let my soul. prosper, and then a small portion of these things will afford me more comfort, than ever I had in their greatest abundance. "A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked," Psal. xxxvii. 16.

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Preying of Fishes on one another.

Observation.-THERE are fishes of prey in the sea, as well as birds and beasts of prey on the land. Our seamen tell us, how the devouring whales, sharks, dolphins, and other fishes, follow the smaller fish, and devour multitudes of them. It is common with us in our own seas to find several smaller fish in the bodies of the greater ones; yea, I have often heard seamen say, that the poor little fry, when pursued, are so sensible of the danger, that they have sometimes seen multitudes of

them cast themselves upon the shore and perish there, to avoid the danger of being devoured.

cry,

Application. Thus merciless and oppressive are wicked men, whose "tender mercies are cruel." We see the like cruelty in our extortioners and over-reaching sharks ashore, who grind the faces of the poor, and regard not the cries of the fatherless and widows, but fill their houses with the gain of oppression. These are, by the Holy Ghost, compared to the fishes of the sea, Hab. i. 13. This is a crying sin, yea, it sends up a loud cry to heaven for vengeance: "If thou afflict the widow and the fatherless, and they cry unto me, I will surely hear their cry," Exod. xxii. 23. Nay, God will not only hear their but avenge their quarrel. That is a remarkable text, 1 Thes. iv. 6, "That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such." This word "avenger" is used only once more in the new testament, Rom. xiii. 4; and there it is applied to the civil magistrate, who is to see execution done upon offenders. But now this is a sin that sometimes may be out of the reach of man's justice, and therefore God himself will be their avenger. You may overpower the poor in this world, and, it may be, they cannot contend with you at man's bar; therefore God will bring you before his bar.

Reflection.-Turn in upon thyself, O my soul, and consider whether thou hast not been guilty of this crying sin. Have I not, when a servant, overreached and defrauded others, and filled my master's house with violence. and deceit? and so brought myself under that dreadful, threatening, Zeph. i. 9. Or since I came to trade and deal upon mine own account, have not the balances of deceit been in my hand? I have perhaps kept many in my service and employment; have not I used their labors without reward? and so am under that wo, Jer. xxii. 13; or not given them wages proportionable to their work? or by bad payment, and unjust deductions and allowances, defrauded them of a part of their due? Mal. iii. 5; or at least delayed payment, out of a covetous disposition to gain by it; whilst their necessities in the mean time cried aloud for it? and so sinned against God's express com

mands, Deut. xxiv. 14; Lev. xix. 30; or have I not persecuted such as God hath smitten? Psal. lxix. 26; and rigorously exacted the utmost of my due, though the hand of God has gone out against them, breaking their estates? O my soul, examine thyself upon these particulars. Rest not quiet until this guilt be removed by the application of the blood of sprinkling. Hath not the Lord said, that "they shall have judgment without mercy, that have showed no mercy?" And is it not a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? of him who has said, he will take vengeance for these things?

CHAPTER XXV.

The Taking down of Sails in a Storm.

Observation. In storms at sea, wise navigators will not spread much sail. They then furl up the sails. It is no time then to show their bravery.

Application. When the judgments of God are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth. It is a provoking evil, and commonly God severely punishes it. Of all persons, such fare worst in the common calamity. "Wo to them that are at ease in Sion, that are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph," Amos vi. 1. It may be, they did not laugh at him, or break jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment?" Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive:" God will begin with them first. That too is a terrible text in Isa. xxii. 12; and it should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this way to tremble: "In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloth; and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, killing sheep, drinking wine." And what is the issue of this?"Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die." O dreadful word! Surely sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ mystical. Whatever our constitution, condition, or personal immunities be, yet when God calls to mourn ing, we must hear and obey that call. David was a

king, a man of a sanguine and cheerful constitution: yet who more sensible of the evil of his times than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melancthon was so affected with the miseries of the church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may "say of laughter, Thou art mad; and of mirth, What doth it!"

Reflection.-Blush then, O my soul, for thy levity and insensibility under God's angry dispensations, How many of the precious sons and daughters of Zion lie in tears abroad, while I have been "nourishing my heart as in a day of slaughter! The voice of God hath cried to the city, and men of understanding have heard its voice;" but I have been deaf to that cry. How loth, my God, have I been to urge my sensual heart to acts of sorrow and mourning! Thou hast bid me weep with them that weep, but my vain heart cannot comply with such commands. Ah, Lord! if I mourn not with Zion, neither shall I rejoice with her.

O were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into tears, and like that Christian Niobe, in Luke vii. 38. to lie weeping at the feet of Christ. Lord, what stupidity is this! Shall I laugh, when thou art angry, and thy children weeping and trembling? Then I may justly fear, lest when they shall sing for joy of heart, I shall howl for vexation of spirit," Isa. lxv. 13. Surely, O my soul, such laughter will be turned into mourning either here or hereafter.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Leaks.

Observation.-THE smallest leak, if not timely discovered and stopt, is enough to sink a ship of the greatest burden; therefore seamen are wont frequently to try what water is in the hold; and if they find it increasing apon them, they ply the pump, and presently set the