The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 33
Meditation XXXIII. Ʋpon a Pleaſure-Boat.
APrivate houſe is often built by the ſame Model which Princes uſe for their Pallaces, the dimen…ons onelyonly being contracted, with the obſervance of the ſame Figure. And ſo a Boat, or Veſſel of Pleaſure, differing in its uſe and deſign, as well as in its bulk from another Ship, is yet by the skill and Ingeny of the Artiſt exactly made after the mould or ſhape of the talleſt Ship of War and Traffick; it having its Rigging, Sailes, Anchors, Cables, Falſe P…rts, and what not that pleaſe the fancy and eye of the beholder? b…t how many of theſe things are more for pomp and b…auty then for uſe and neceſſity? when the Veſſel it ſelf is made onelyonly to receive the caraſſes and blandiſhments of the Sea, and not to endure the hardſhip of a ſtorm. It is not an A…k for neceſſity, as Moſes his was, not an Ark for ſafety, as Noahs was, but a Veſſel for Pleaſure; and therefore a gentle breath that may ſwe…l the Saile…, and the curling of the Waters that may cauſe a little agitation; and a ſerene skie, which may invite the Fiſhes to ſport, do much heighten the delight of the Paſſengers; but loud Windes, Waves that roar, Cloudes which mask the Heavens with darkneſs, carry in them ſo many Im…ges of de…th, and ſoon t…rn their Pleaſure into afrightments, and put them upon nothing more than an earneſt longing and wiſhing for the ſafety of the Shore. But the reſolute Marriners in their Ships they both expect and prepare to wraſtle with ſuch difficulties, they ply their Sailes, they fathom the Sea with their Line, they have their hand to the Helm, and their eye to Heaven, they let fall their Anchors, and ride amidſt the Tempeſt till it hath ſpent its fury, with an undaunted Courage. I have now methinks ſet forth in an Allegory, the Temporary Profeſſor, and the ſound and reall Believer; the one having onelyonly the forme, and the other the power of godlineſs; the one ſerving himſelf, and the other his God, in the Work of Religion. In the Sunſhine and Proſperity of the Church, who ſpreads a fairer Sail of Profeſſion then the Temporary? who ſeemes more eager of following Chriſt Coaſt after Coaſt then he? who is more expreſſive of his joy and delight in his approaching to Ordinances, who more confident in his boaſtings, of following Chriſt, and dying with him, when others leave him, then he? And yet if but a Cloud of an hand breadth ariſe in the Firmament of the Church, who is more full of boding feares and repentings in himſelf than ever he went ſo far? If Chriſt be but apprehended, and led away to the High Prieſts Pallace, to be there buffe…ed and ſpit upon, who more ready to ſay, I know not the Man, or if it be needfull to renounce all with an Oath? Now the ground of all this is, becauſe he makes his Religion an Art, rather than a Duty, and doth rather inform and actuate it, then is informed and guided by it. He took it up not to honour God, but to better himſelf by it, and therefore reſolves if he cannot be a gainer, he will be no loſer. But how greatly differing from ſuch an one is the true and real Chriſtian? who enters into Religion as into a Covenant of Marriage, which requires Performances, not retractions, and hath its Praemeditata Commoda, & incommoda, fore-thought of Burdens, a… well as Delights. He looked upon the Church of Chriſt, not as a Pleaſure Boat, which is onelyonly for paſtime, but as a Ship, that muſt expect ſtormes, though not fear a wrack becauſe Chriſt is in it. And therefore he is reſolved with fortitude to withſtand the Corruptions of the Times, to out-face the ſins and ſcornes of Men, to be valiant for a Truth trampled upon, and not to be aſhamed of a Perſecuted Profeſſion, and to bear up againſt the threats and malice of the moſt Potent Enemies with an unbended conſtancy. Did not Peter and John thus againſt a Synode of Phariſees? Paul againſt the Contradiction of the Jewes? Athanaſius againſt the Power of Conſtantius, and the countenanced Arians? And Chryſoſtom againſt the pride and rage of Eudoxia? He indeed is not worthy of Chriſt who is allured onelyonly to come to him upon expectations of Pleaſure, nor he that is kept from him for the fear of inſuing dangers. Do thou then, O bleſſed Saviour, make my heart upright in my coming unto thee, and fix my confidence ſo in thee, that Seas of troubles may never ſeparate me in the leaſt from thee; and if at any time, like thy timerous Diſciples, I cry out, Lord ſave me I periſh: do thou calme my feares, though not the ſtorm, that ſo I may poſſeſs my ſoule in patience, and believe, that thou wilt either be my Pilot, to bring me ſafe to ſho…r, or my Plank to ſave me from ruine and periſhing.