The Seaman's Catechiſm,
The Seaman's Catecbifm.
" in trouble."
Payit, foul,andpayit ſpeedilyuntoGod, elle he will recover itbyjustice, and fetch it outofthybones in hell. O trifle not any longerwithGod, andthat in ſuch ferious matters as theſe are ?
Andnow Ihavedone my endeavour to give your former mercies andpromifes a refurrection in your confciences. O that you would fitdown and pauſe awhile upontheſe things, and then reflect upon the past mercies ofyour lives, and on whathath paffedbetwixtGod and your fouls, in your former ſtraits and troubles ? Let not theſeplainwordsworkupon thy ſpleen, andmake thee fay, asthewidow ofSareptadid tothe prophet Elijah, 1 Kings xvii. 18. "What have I to dowith
" thee, O thouman ofGod? Art thou come to call my fin " to remembrance ?" But rather let it work kindly on thy heart, andmake thee ſay as David to Abigail, 1 Sam. xxv.
32, 33. "Bleffed bethe LordGod ofIfrael, which ſent thee "this dayto meet me; and bleffed be thy advice."
CAUTION V.
THE fifth and lastdangerI ſhall ſhall warn you of, is,your contempt and flighting ofdeath. Ah! how light a matter do many ofyou, at least in words, make ofit? It seems you have little reverential fear ofthis king of terrors, not only that you ſpeak flightly of it, but also becauſeyou make но more preparations for it, andare no more fenfible of your prefervationsand deliverances from it.
Indeed, the heathen philoſophersdidmanyofthem profeſs acontempt ofdeath, upon the accountofwisdom and fortitude; andtheywereaccounted the braveſt men, that moſtdeſpiſedandflighted it:But, alas, poor fouls! they faw not their enemy against whom they fought, but fkirmiſhedwith their eyes ſhut ; they faw indeed its pale face, but not its ſting and dart.
There is alſoa lawful contempt of death. We freely grant, that, intwo cafes, abelievermaycontemn it. First, When it ispropoundedto them atemptation, on purpoſe to fcare them from Chriftand duty, then they ſhould flight it ; as Rev. xii. 1. " They loved not " their lives unto the death." Secondly, Whenthe natural evil ofdeath isſet in competition with the enjoyment of God in glory, thenabeliever ſhoulddeſpiſe it, as Chriſt is faidtodo,
Heb. xii . 2. though his was a ſhamefuldeath. But upon all other accounts and confiderations, it isthe height of ſtupidity and ſecurity todefpiſe it.
Now, to the endthatyou might have right thoughts and apprehenfions ofdeath, whichmayput you upon ferious preparation for it ; and that when everyour turn comes te con-
The Seaman's Catechism.
flict with this king of terrors, under whoſehandthePompeys, Cæfars, and Alexanders oftheworld, whohavebeen the terrors ofnations, haveboweddown themselves; Iſay,thatwhen yourturnandtime comes,as the Lord onlyknows howfoon it maybe, you may eſcape the ſtroke ofits dart and ſting, and taſte no other bitterness indeath, than the natural evil of it : to this end I have drawn the followingquestions and anſwers, which, ifyou pleaſe, maybe called The Seaman's Gatechism.
And, oh! thatyou might notdare to launch forth intothe deeps, untilyou have ſerioufly interrogated andexaminedyour hearts upon thofe particulars. Oh ! that you would refolve,
beforeyou go forth, to withdraw yourſelves a while from all clamours and diſtractions, and calmly and ferioutly catechiſe your own ſelves inthismanner.
Quest . 1. What may the iſſue ofthis voyage be ?
Anfw. Death,Prov. xxvii. 1. " Boaft notthyselfof to-mor- " row, for thou knoweſt not what adaymay bring forth." Jam. iv. 13, 14. "Go to now, ye that ſay, To day, or to-morrow,
" wewill go into ſuch a city, and continuethere a year, and "buyand fell, andgetgain: whereas you knownotwhat ſhall
"be on the morrow;forwhatisyourlife ? It is even avapour that appeareth fora little time, and then vaniſheth away."
Quest. 2. What is death ?
Anfw. Death isa feparation offoulandbody, untilthe refurrection, 2 Cor. v. 1. " We knowthatifourearthly houſeofthis
" tabernacle be difſolved." Job xiv. 10, 11, 12.Readthewords.
Quest. 3. Isdeath to bedefpiſed and flighted, ifitbe ſo?
Anfw.Ono ! it isoneofthe moſtweighty andferiousthings that ever a creature went about:fo dreadful doth it appear to fome, thatthe fearof itſubjects them tobondage all their lives,
Heb. ii. 15. "And todeliverthemwho,throughfear ofdeath, "wereall alltheir life-time ſubject to bondage." And inſcripture it is called, The king of terrors, Job xviii. 14. Or the black prince, as ſome tranflate. Never had any prince fuch atitle before.
To ſome it hath been ſo terrible, that none mightmention its name before them..
Quest. 4. What makes it ſo terrible and affrighting tomen ?
Anfw . Several things concur to make it terrible to the moſt of men: as, first, Its harbingers and antecedents, which are ſtrong pains, conflicts, and agonies. Secondly, Its office and work itcomes about, which is to transfer us into the other world. Hence, Rev. vi. 8. it is fet forth by a pale horse : an horſe for its uſe and office tocarry you awayfrom hence into theupper, or lower region ofeternity; andapale horſe, for its
The Seaman's Catechifm. ghaftlineſs andterror. Thirdly, Butabove all, it is terrible in regardof its conſequence ; for it is the doorof eternity, the partingpoint betwixt the preſent world andthat to come ; the utmoſt line and boundary ofalltemporalthings. Hence, Heb. ix. 27. " It is appointeduntomenonce todie ; but after this
"thejudgment," Rev. vi. 8. " And I looked, and behold, a "pale horſe, and his name that fat on him was Death, and hell
" followed him." Ah ! itmakes a fudden and ſtrange alterationuponmens conditions, to be plucked out of houſe, and from amongfriends, andhonours, and ſo manydelights, and hurried in amoment intothe land ofdarkness, tobe cloathed with flames, and drink the pure wrath of theAlmighty for ever.
This is itthat makes it terrible.
Quest. 5. If deathbe ſoweighty a matter, am I prepared todie?
Anfw. Idoubtnot; I am afraid Iwantmanythings that are neceſſary to adue preparation for it.
Quest. 6. What are thoſe things wherein a due preparation fordeath confiſteth ?
Anfw . Many things are neceſſary. First, Special and ſaving unionwith Jeſus Chriſt.
This is that whichdifarms it of its ſting: " O death,where is thy ſting ? Thanks be toGod, who " hathgiven [us] thevictory, through [our] LordJesus Chrift,"
1 Cor. xv. 55, 57. So John xi. 26. " Whosoever [liveth], " and [believeth] in me, ſhallnever die."
Whoſoever liveth, (i. e.) is quickened with a new ſpiritual life and principle, and ſo puts forth the principal act of that life, viz. faith, he ſhall never die, (i. e.) eternally.
This hornet, death, ſhall never leave its ſting in his fides.
Secondly, To entertain death comfortably, the evidence andknowledgeofthis union is neceffary, 2 Cor. v. 1. " For we [know], that if our earthly
"houſeofthis tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a buildingof "God," &c. Andthenhe cannot only be content, butgroan tobeuncloathed,ver. 2. Amiſtake in the former will coſt me my foul ; and a mistake here willlofe me mypeace and com. fort.
Thirdly, In order to this evidence, it is neceſſary that I keep a good confcience in all things both towardsGodand man, 2 Cor. i. 12. "This isourrejoicing, even the teftimony
"ofour confcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly fincerity, not " in fleſhlywisdom, butby the grace ofGod, we have hadour
"converſation inthe world." This good confcience reſpects alland every part ofour work andduty tobe done, and all and every fin tobe renounced anddenied: fo thatheis that isearly uniteduntoChrift by faith, hath the clearevidence ofthatunii
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on; andthe evidence fairly gathered from the teftimony of a good confcience, witneſſing his faithfulneſs, as to allduties to bedone, and fins tobe avoided, he is fit to die ; death cando himno harm;but, alas! theſe things arenottobe found inme.
Quest. 7. But what if Idie without fuch apreparation as this is ? Whatwilltheconſequence ofthatbe?
Anfw. Very terrible, even the ſeparation of my foul and body from the Lord to all eternity; John iii. 36. "He that " believeth on the Son hath everlasting life : andhe that be- " lieveth notthe Son, ſhall not ſee life; but the wrath ofGod
" abideth on him."
Heshaltnotfee life; there isthe privativepartofhis miſery, ſeparation from thebleffedGod. And the wrath], mark it, not anger, but wrath ; not thewrathof man, but of [God], at whoſe rebukes the mountains ſkip like frighted men, and the hills tremble: the wrath of God not only flaſhes out upon him, as a tranfient flash oflightening, but [abideth], dwells, ſticks faſt ; there is no power in the worldcanlooſethe foulfrom it. [Upon him], notthebodyonly, nor the foul only, but on [him], (i. e.) the whole perſon, the whole man. Here is the principal poſitive part of that nan'smifery.
Quest. 8. Can Ibear this miſery ?
Anfw. No: my heart cannot endure, nor my hands be strong, when God fhall havetodo with me upon this account.
Icannotbear his wrath; angels couldnotbear it; it hath funk them intothe depths of misery.
Thoſe that feel but a few ſparks ofit in their confciences here,are evendiſtracted by it,
Plalm lxxxviii. 15. Chriſt himself had never borneup under it, had it not been ſupportedbythe infinite power ofthedivinenature, Ifa xlii. 1." Beholdmy Servant whom I uphold."
Howthen ſhall I live, when Goddoth this ?what willbedone to the dry tree ? Oh! there isno abidingof it, it is infufferable ! " The finners in Zion are afraid ; trembling furprizeth
" the hypocrite : who amongus ſhall dwell with the devour- " ing fire ? Who can endure the everlasting burning ?" Ifa. xxxiii. 14.
Quest. 9. If it cannotbeborne, is there anywayto prevent it?
Anfw. Yes, there is hope in Iſraelconcerning this thing.
And herein I am in better cafe than the damned ; I have the [may be's] ofmercy, andtheyhave not. Oh ! whatwouldthey give for a poſſibilityof falvation ? Ifa. i. 16, 17, 18. " Waſh
"ye, make you clean, putaway the evilof your doings from " before mine eyes; cease todo evil, learn todo well," &c.
The Seaman's Catechism.
" Come now, let us reaſon together: andthough your finsbe " as fcarlet, they ſhallbe as ſnow." Ifa. lv. 7 " Let the "wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his
" thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will "have mercy upon him ; andto ourGod, for he willabun- " dantly pardon."
Though mydiſeaſebedangerous, it is not deſperate, itdoth not ſcorn aremedy. Oh ! there is balm in Gilead, and a phyſicianthere.
There is yet a poffibility, not only ofrecoveringmyprimitive glory,but tobe ſetin abetter cafe than ever Adam was .
Queft. 10. Howmaythatbe ?
Anfw. By going to the Lord Jesus Chriſt, Rom. viii. 1.
"There is therefore nowno condemnation tothem that are in " ChriftJefus." Rom. viii.33,34. "Who ſhall lay any thing
" to the charge ofGod's elect ? It is God thatjustifieth, Whe " is he that condemneth ? It is Chriſt that died, yea, rather,
"that is riſen again."
Quest. 11. But what is it to go to Chriſt ?
Anfw. To go to Chriſt, is to * embrace him inhis +per fon and offices, and to reſt § entirely and cloſelyupon him for||pardon offin, and †† eternal life: beingdeeply ‡‡ fenfibie ofthe want and worth ofhim.
John i. 12. " To as many as " [received] him,he gavepower to becomethe fons ofGod,
" evento as many as believed on his name."
John iii. 36.
He that believeth [on the Son] hath life."
1 Cor. i. 30.
" And ofhim are ye in Chriſt Jeſus, who of God is made " unto us wiſdom, righteouſneſs, ſanctification and redemp- " tion."
Acts iv. 12. " Neither is there ſalvation inany " other," &c.
Acts xiii . 39. "And by him allthat believe " are [juftified from all things,] from whichye could not be
" justified by the law of Moſes."
Ifa. xlv. 22. " Look unto " me, and be ye ſaved," Acts ii. 37. "Nowwhentheyheard
" this theywere pricked to the heart," &c.
Quest. 12. But willChrift receive me, ifI go unto him ?
Anfw . Yes, yes; he is more ready to receive thee, than thouart tocome to him; Luke xv. 20. "And he arofe, and " came to his father : but, when hewas yet a great way off,
" his father ſaw him, and had compaffionon him, and ran, " and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him." The ſundothbut go, the father ran; ifhe hadbut received him into the houſe, it hadbeenmuch; buthe fell on his neck, andkiſſed him. He
*John i. 12.
† John iii. 26.
† 1 Cor. i. 20
Ads xii . 39. tt Ifa. xlv. 22.
§Acts iv. 12, #Aas H.37.
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beſpeaks him, much after that rate he expreſſed himſelf to returning Ephraim : " My bowels are troubled for him ; I will
" furelyhave mercy onhim," Jer. xxxi. 20. There is not the Leaſtparentheſis in allthe pages of free-grace, to exclude a foul that is fincerelywilling tocome to Chrift.
Quest. 13. But how may it appear thathe iswilling to receiveme?
Anfw. Make trial of him t'hyſelf.
If thou didſt butknow hisheart topoor finners, you would not queſtion it.
Believe whathe faithin the goſpel ; there thou ſhalt find thathe isa willing Saviour ; for therein thou hast, firſt, his moſt ſerious invitations, Matth. xi. 28. " Come unto me, ye that are
" weary and heavyladen."
Iſa. lv. 1. " Ho ! every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters."
Theſe ſerious invitations are, ſecondly, backed and confirmed with his oath, Ezek.
XXXV. 11. " As I live, I deſire not the death of a ſinner."
Thirdly, Amplifiedwith pathetical wishes, ſighs and groans, Luke xix. 42. " Oh ! that thou hadſt known, even thou, at " leaſt, in this thyday."
Fourthly, Yea, delivered unto them in undiſſembled tears, Mat. xxiii. 37, 38. " He wept over it,
" and faid,O Jerufalem, Jerufalem!"
Fifthly, Nay, he hath ſhed not only tears, but blood, toconvince thee of his willingneſs.
View him inhis dying poſture upon the croſs, ftretching out his dying arms to gatherthee, hanging down his blefſed head tokiſs thee ; every one ofhis wounds was a mouth opened to convince theeofthe abundant willingness ofChrift to receive thee.
Quest. 14. But myfins are dyed in grain ; I am a finner of theblackesthue: willhe receive and pardon ſuch anone?
Anfw. Yea, foul, ifthoube willing tocommitthyſelftohim :
Ifa. i. 18. "Come now, let us reaſon together ; though your " fins be as ſcarlet, I will makethem as ſnow ; though they
"be red like crimſon, I willmake them as wool."
Quest. 15. This is comfortable news ; but may I not delay mycloſing with him for a while, andyet not hazard my eternalhappineſs, ſeeing I refolveto come to himat laſt ?
Answ. No ; there must be no delays in this cafe; Pfalm. cxix. 60. " I made haſte, anddelayed not to keep thy com- " mandments."
Quest. 16.Whymay Inotdefer it, at leaſt for a littlewhile ?
Answ. Formanyweighty reasons this work can bear nodelays.
First, The offers of grace are made to the preſent time, Heb. iii. 15. " Whilftit is faid to-day, hardennotyourheart. "
VOL. VI.
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There may be a few more days ofGod's patience, but that is unknown to thee.
2. Your life is immediate uncertain ; how manythousands aregone intoeternity ſincethe laſtnight ? Ifyou canſay tofickneſs when itcomes,Go,and come again another time, it were fomewhat.
3. Sin is not a thing to be dallied with.
Oh, who would be willing to liedown one night under the guilt of allhis fins ?
4. Delays increaſe the difficulty ofconverfion : ſin ſtill roots it elfdeeper ; habits are the more ftrengthened, and the heart ſtill more hardned.
5. Therebe thousandsnow inhell,thatperiſhedthrough delays ; their confciences often urged and preffed hard upon them, and many reſolutions they had, as thou haft now; but they were never perfected by anfwerable executions, and ſo they perished.
6. Thyway of finning now is deſperate ; for every moment thou art acting against clear light and conviction; and that is a dreadful way of fiuning.
7. There can be no folid reafon for one hours delay; for thou canst not be happy too foon : andbefure ofit, ifever thou come to taste ofthe ſweetneſs ofa
Chriſtian life, nothing willmore pierce and grieve thee than this, that thou enjoyedſt itnofooner.
Quest. 17. Oh, butthe pleaſures of fin engage me to it; how shall I break theſe cords and ſnares ?
Anfw. That firare maybe brokenby confidering folemnly theſe five things..
1. That to take pleaſure in fin, is an argument of a moſt deplorable andwretched ſtate offoul.
What apoifonous naturedoth it argue in atoad,that is fucking in nothingbutpoiſonandfilth where-ever it crawls? Owhat anheart haſtthon ! Haſtthounothingtofind pleafure inbut thatwhich makes the Spirit ofChriſt fad, and the hearts of faints ake and groan, which digged hell, and let in endleſs miſeries upon the world ?
2. Thinkthat the miſery is involves thee in is infinitelybeyond the delights it tempts thee by: it dothbutdelightthe ſenſual part, and that but with a brutiſh pleaſure, butwill torment thy immortal foul, andthat for ever. pleaſure will quickly go off, but the ſting will remainbehind.
" I taſted but a little honeyon the top of my rod, (faid Jona- "than) and I must die," r Sam.xiv. 433. Nay, that isnot all; but the Lord proportions wrath according to the pleaſures fouls have had in fin, Rev. xviii. 7. "How much the hath
" lived deliciouſly, ſo much torment and forrow give unto The " her."
4. What doſt thou pay, or, at least, pawn for this pleaſure ? Thy foul, thy precious foul, is laid to ſtake for it;
- and, in effect, thus thou ſayeſt, whenthou deferreft the clofing with Chrift uponthe account ofenjoying the pleaſures offin a
The Seaman's Catechism,
dittle longer: Here, devil, take myfoul into thypoffeffion and power: ifI repent I willhave it again ; if not, it is thine for ever. Odear-bought pleaſures!
What is theworld ? Agreat exchange of ware, Wherein all forts and ſexes cheapning are :
The flesh, the devil, ſit andcry, what lackye ?
When moſt they fawn, they most intend to rack ye.
The wares are cups ofjoy, and beds of pleaſure ; There's goodly choice, down weight, and flowing meaſure.
A foul's the price, but they give time to pay, Upon thedeath-bed, or thedying-day.
Hard is thebargain, and unjustthe meaſure, When as the priceſo much outlaſts thepleaſure.
QUARLES.
Lastly, It is thygroſs miſtake to think thou shalt be bereaven ofalldelights andpleaſures, bycoming under the government ofChrift : for oneofthoſe things inwhichhis kingdom confifts, isjoy in theholy Ghoſt, Rom. xiv. 17.
Indeed, it allows no finfulpleaſures to the ſubjects of it, nor do they need it ; but from theday thou cloſeſt inwith Chriſt, allthypure, real, and eternalpleaſures and delights begin tobeardate. Whenthe prodigalwas returnedto his father,then, faith thetext, " They
"beganto be merry," Luke xv. 24. See Acts viii. 5, 6. No, no, foul, thou shaltwant nojoy,for the ſcripture faith,"They
" ſhallbe abundantly satisfied with the fatneſs of thyhouſe, " and thou shalt makethem drink ofthe river ofthy pleaſures ; for with thee is the fountain of life," &c. Pfal. xxxvi. 8, 9.
Quest. 18. But how shall I be able to undergo the ſeverities ofreligion? There are difficult duties tobe done, and anheavy croſs tobetaken up; theſe be the things that dauntme.
Anfw. Ifpain and ſuffering daunt thee, how is it thou artnot more outoflove with fin thanwith religion? For it is moſt certain, that the fufferings for Chrift are nothing to hell, thejuſt reward and certain iſſueoffin; the pains ofmortificationare nothing to the pains ofdamnation: there is no comparebetwixt ſuffering for Chriſt, and fuffering from Chrift ;
Matth. v. 29. " If thy right hand or eye offend thee, cut it " off, and pluck it out; it is profitable for thee thatonemem- " ber fuffer, than that the whole bodybecaſt into hell."
Secondly, Thou ſeeſtthe worst, butnotthe best of Chriſt. There be joys and comforts in thoſe difficult duties and fufferings, thatthou ſeeſtnot; Col. i. 24. " Who now rejoice in my fuf-
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" ferings."
James i. 2. "Mybrethren, countitalljoywhen ye fall intodivers temptations," &c.
Thirdly, Great ſhall bethy aſſiſtance fromChrift, Phil. iv. 13."I cando all things
" through him that ſtrengthens me.
The Spirit helps our in- " firmities," takes theother endoftheburden,Rom. viii. 26.
Whatmeanest thou to ftandupon ſuch terms,when it ishea venorhell, eternal life ordeath, that lie before thee ?
Quest. 19. Buttowhat purpoſe willmy endeavours to come toChrift be, unleſs I be elected ? All will be to no purpoſe.
Anfw. True; Ifthoube not elected, thou canst not obtain him, orhappineſsbyhim : but, yet, that is nodifcouragement to ftrive: for inthyunconverted ſtate, thy election or nonelection is a ſecret tothee : the onlywaytomake it ſure, is by ſtriving and giving alldiligence in theway of duty, 2 Pet. i.
10. And ifyou ponderthe text well, you willfind, that electionis not onlymade ſureintheway ofdiligence and ſtriving, butcalling is put before it,and lies inorderto it : firſt ſecure thyeffectual calling, and then thine election.
Quest. 20. But Ihave no ſtrength of my own to come to Chriſtby: and is it notabſurd tourge me upon impoſſibilities inordertomy falvation?
Anfw. First, Certainly you are moreabſurdinpleading and pretending your impotence against your duty ; for you do think you have a power to come to Chriſt, elſe howdo you quiet your confcience with promiſes andſolves of converfion hereafter ? Secondly,Though itbetrue,thatnoſaving act can bedonewithoutthe concurrenceofſpecial grace ; yet this isas true, that thy inability to do what is above thy power, doth notexcuſethee from doingwhat is in thy power todo. Canſt thounot forbear, atleast,many external acts offin ? Andcanſt thou not perform, at least, the external acts of duty ? Oh! if thou canst not come to Chriſt, yet, as the blindman, lie inthe way of Chrift : do whatthou canst do, and confeſs andbewail thy impotency, that thou canstdono more.
Canft thou not takethyfoul aſide in ſecret, andthus bemoan it ; mypoor foul! what wiltthou do ? O what will become of thee, thou art
Chriſtleſs, covenantleſs, hopeleſs, and, which is moſt ſad, ſenſe-
lefs and bowelleſs ? oh ! thou canst notbear the infinite wrath ofthe eternalGod,whoſeAlmightypower willbefetonwork to torment ſuch asthou art ; and yet thou takeſt no courſe to prevent it ! Thou feeft the bufydiligenceofallothers, and how thekingdom ofheaven ſuffers violencebythem: and art not thou as deeply engaged to look tothy own happineſs, as any in the world ? Will hellbe more tolerable tothee than others?
The Seaman's Catechism.
Owhatacompoſition of ſtupidity and ſloth art thou : Thou liveft after fuch arate, as ifthere were neither fire in hell to tormentthee, nor glory in heaven to rewardthee. IfGod and Chriſt, heaven and hell, were but dreams and fables, thou couldſtnotbe leſs affected withthem. Ah, my foul! my foul ! myprecious foul! Isit easy toperish ? Wilt thou die asafool dieth ? Othat men would butdothis, ifthey cando nomore !
And, now, foul, you fee what death is,that youhave made fo flight of ; and what is the only way that we poor fons of death, have to eſcape its fting. You have here ſeen the vanity ofall your pleas and pretences against converfion, andtheway toChrift prepared and caft up for you. Now, firs, I beg you, inthenameofGod that made you, and as if Imade this requeſt upon mybended knees to you, that you will now, withoutanymore delays, yield yourſelves tothe Lord. Soul, I befeech thee,hafte thee into thy chamber, ſhut thydoor, and beſpeak the Lord after fome ſuchmanner as this,before thoudareftto launch out into the deeps again.
Odreadful andglorious Majesty ! thou hast bowelsofmercy, as well as beams ofglory : I have heard the founding of theſebowels for methis day. Lord, Ihave now heard a repreſentationofthe grim and ghaftly face ofdeath : ah, I have now feen it as the king of terrors, as the door of eternity, as the parting point, where ſinners take their eternal farewel of all their delights : I have ſeen this black prince mounted on his palehorſe, andhell following him : I have beenconvincedthis day, that ifhe should come andfetch awaymyfoulin thatcondition it is, hell would follow him indeed.
Lord,Ihave now heard ofthe prince oflife alſo, inwhoſe bleeding fidedeath hath left and lost its envenomed fting; ſothat though itmay kill, yet it cannot hurt anyofhis members. To this glorious
Redeemer I have nowbeen invited; allmy pretences againft him have been confuted, and my foul,in hisname, affured of welcome, if I come unto him, and caſt myſelf upon him.
Andnow, Lord, I come, Icome,upon thy calland invitation; I am unfeignedly willing to avouch thee this dayto be my
God, and to take thee for my portion.
LordJeſus! I come untothee ; thy clay, thy creature moves towards the fountain ofpity : look hitherto, behold a ſpectacle of miſery.
Bowels ofmercy, hear ! beholdmy naked ſoul, not a rag ofrighteouf neſs to cover it ; behold my ſtarving foul, not a bit of bread for you to eat : ah! it has fedupon wind and vanity hitherto.
Beholdmywounded foulbleeding at thy foot; everypart, head andheart, will and affections, allwoundedby fin. O thau com-
The Seaman's Catechifm . paſſionate Samaritan! turn aſide, and pourthy fovereignblood intotheſebleeding wounds, which, likeſo manyopenedmouths, plead for pity.
Behold areturning ſubmitting rebel, willing to laydowntheweapons ofunrighteouſneſs, and tocome up ontheknee for apardon. Oh,Iam weary ofthe ſervice offin,
Icanendure itnolonger! Lord Jeſus, thouwaſt anointedto preach glad tidings to the meek, and to proclaim liberty to thecaptives, andthe opening of the priſon to them that are bound; comenow, andknock offthoſe fetters ofunbelief: 0 ſetmy foul at liberty, that it may praise thee! For ſo many years Satan hath cruelly tyrannized over me. O that this mightbe the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day ofthe falvation ofmy God! Lord, thou waſt lifted up, todraw men untothee ; and,indeed,thou art adrawing Saviour, a lovely
Jeſus ! Ihave hitherto flighted thee, but it was becauſe I did not knowthee : mine eyes have beenheld by unbelief, when thon waft opened in the goſpel; but now I see thee as the chiefeſt of ten thousands. Thou art theglory ofheaven, the gloryof earth, theglory ofSion ; and, oh ! thatthou wouldſt
bethe gloryofmysoul ! I confefs, I am not worthy thou ſhouldſt lookupon me ; Imay much rather expect tobe trampled under the feet of justice, than to be embraced in thine arms ofmercy: and that thou ſhouldſt rather ſhed my pollutedblood, than ſprinkle thine own upon me. But, Lord, what profit is there in myblood? Wiltthou purſue a dried leaf? Shall it ever be ſaid, thatthe merciful King of heaven hanged up a poor foulthat put the rope about his ownneck, and focamefelf-condemningly tohim for mercy ! O, my Lord,
Iam willing toſubmit to anyterms, be they never fo hard and ungrateful to the flesh : I am fure, whatever I ſhall fufferinthy ſervice, cannot be like to what I have fuffered, or am like to ſufferby fin ; henceforth bethoumy Lord and maſter ; thy fervice is perfect freedom;be thoumypriest andprophet, my wifdom and righteouſneſs. I reſign upmyſelfunto thee ; my poor foulwith all its faculties,mybodywith all its members, tobe living inſtruments ofthyglory.
Let boliness to the Lordbe now written upon them all, letmytongue henceforthplead for thee, my hands be liftedup unto thy teſtimonies, my feetwalk in thy ways : O let all my affections, as willing ſervants, wait uponthee, and be active for thee.
Whatever I am, let mebe for thee; whatever I have, let itbe thine; whatever I can do, letmedo for thee ; whatever I can fuffer, letme ſuffer forthee.
Othat I might ſay,before I gohence, my beloved ismine, and I am his ! O that what Ihavebegged on earth, might be rati-