Navigation Spiritualized, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Millions of Creatures in the Seas are fed:
Why then are Saints in doubt of daily bread?
OBSERVATION.
THere are multitudes of Living Creatures in the Sea. The Psalmist saith, There are in it things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts, Psal. 104. 25. And we read, Gen. 1. 20. that when God blessed the Waters he said, Let the Waters bring forth abundantly, both Fish and Fowl, that move in it, and fly about it. Yet all those multitudes of Fish and Fowl, both in Sea and Land, are cared and provided for, Psal. 145. 15, 16. Thou givest them their meat in due season; thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
APPLICATION.
If God take care for the Fishes of the Sea, and the Fowls of the Air, much more will he care and provide for those that fear him. When the poor and needy seeketh water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them, Isai. 41. 17. Take no thought for your life (saith the Lord) what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; or for the body, what ye shall put on: Which he backs with an Argument from God's Providence over the Creatures, and enforceth it with a [much rather) upon them, Matth. 6. 25, 31. God would have his people be without carefulness (i. e.) anxious care, 1 Cor. 7. 32. And to cast their care upon him, for he careth for them, 1 Pet. 5. 7. There be two main Arguments suggested in the Gospel, to quiet and satisfie the hearts of Saints in this particular: The one is, that the Gift of Jesus Christ amounts to more than all these things come to; yea, in bestowing him, he has given that which virtually and eminently comprehends all these inferiour mercies in it, Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all? how, shall he not with him freely give us all things? And 1 Cor. 3. 22. All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Another Argument is, That God gives these Temporal Things to those he never gave his Christ unto, and therefore there is no great matter in them: Yea, to those, which in a little while, are to be thrust into Hell, Psal. 17. 14. Now, if God cloath and feed his enemies, if (to allude to that, Luke 12. 28.) he cloath this Grass, which to day is in its pride and glory in the Field, and to morrow is cast into the Oven, into Hell. How much more will he cloath and provide for you that are Saints?
This God that feeds all the Creatures, is your Father, and a Father that never dies; and therefore you shall not be as exposed Orphans, that are the Children of such a Father. For he hath said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you, Heb. 13. 3. I have read of a good woman, that in all wants and distresses, was wont to encourage herself with that word, 2 Sam. 22. 47. The Lord liveth. But one time being in a deep distress, and forgetting that consolation, one of her little Children came to her, and said, Mother, Why weep ye so? What, is God dead now? Which words from a Child, shamed her out of her unbelieving fears, and quickly brought her Spirit to rest. O Saint, whilst God lives, thou canst not want what is good for thee.
How sweet a Life might Christians live, could they but bring their hearts to a full subjection to the disposing Will of God! to be content not only with what he commands and approves, but also with what he allots and appoints. It was a sweet Reply, that a gracious Woman once made upon her Death-bed, to a Friend that asked her, VVhether she were more willing to live or die? She answer'd, I am pleas'd with what God pleaseth. Yea, said her Friend, but if God should refer it to you, which would you chuse? Truly, (saith she) if God should refer it to me, I would refer it to him again. Ah blest Life, when the Will is swallow'd up in the Will of God, and the heart at rest in his care and love, and pleased with all his appointments!
REFLECTION.
I remember my fault this day, may many a gracious Soul say. Ah how faithless and distrustful have I been notwithstanding the great security God hath given to my Faith, both in his Word and Works! O my Soul, thou hast greatly sinned therein, and dishonoured thy Father! I have been worse to my Father, than my Children are to me. They trouble not their thoughts with what they shall eat or drink, or put on, but trust to my care and provision for that: Yet I cannot trust my Father, though I have ten thousand times more reason so to do, than they have to trust me, Mat. 7. 21. Surely, unless I were jealous of my Father's affection, I could not be so dubious of his provision for me. Ah, I should rather wonder that I have so much, than repine that I have no more. I should rather have been troubled that I have done no more for God, than that I have received no more from God. I have not proclaimed it to the World by my Conversation, that I have found a sufficiency in him alone, as the Saints have done, Hab. 3. 17, 18. How have I debased the Faithfulness and All-sufficiency of God, and magnified these earthly trifles, by my anxiety about them? Had I had more Faith, a light Purse would not have made such an heavy heart. Lord, how often hast thou convinced me of this folly, and put me to the blush, when thou hast confuted my unbelief; so that I have resolved never to distrust thee more, and yet new exigencies renew this corruption? How contradictory also hath my heart and my prayers been? I pray for them conditionally, and with submission to thy Will; I dare not say to thee, I must have them; yet this hath been the language of my heart and life. O convince me of this folly!
THE POEM.
Variety of curious Fish are caught
Out of the Sea, and to our Tables brought;
VVe pick the choicest bits, and then we say,
VVe are sufficed; come, now take away.
The Table's voided, you have done; but fain
I would perswade to have it brought again.
The sweetest bit of all remains behind
VVhichWhich through your want of skill, you could not find.
A bit for Faith, have you not found it? Then
I have made but half a meal; come taste agen,
Hast thou considered (O my Soul) that hand
Which feeds those multitudes in Sea and Land?
A double mercy in it thou shouldest see;
It fed them first, and then with them fed thee.
Food in the Waters we should think were scant
For such a multitude, yet none do want.
VVhat numerous flocks of Birds above me fly?
VVhen saw I one, through want fall down and die?
They gather what his hand to them doth bring,
Though but a VVorm, and at that Feast can sing.
How full a Table doth my Father keep?
Blush then, my naughty heart, repent and weep;
How faithless and distrustful hast thou been,
Although his care and love thou oft hast seen?
Thus in a single dish you have a feast,
Your first and second course, the last the best.