The Seamans Companion, Sermon 2
THE SEA-MAN IN A STORM. SERMON II.
Psal. 107.23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
They that go down to the Sea in Ships, that do business in great Waters: These see the Works of the Lord, and his Wonders in the Deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the Stormy Wind which lifteth up the Waves thereof. They mount up to Heaven, they go down again to the Depths; their Soul is melted, because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken Man, and are at their wits end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress.
THis Psalm contains an excellent account of the mysterious and admirable effects of Providenee. And this Paragraph contains that Vein or Branch of Divine Providence which respects Sea-men; a sort of Men more immediately depending upon the favor of Providence than any Men in the World; though all do necessarily, and continually depend upon it.
In these Verses we have a description, both (1) of the persons, (2) of the danger, (3) of the deliverance; by the wonderful working of Divine Providence for them.
First, A description of the persons about whom this wonderful Providence is exercised. They that go down to the Sea in Ships; that do business in great Waters; the Periphrasis of a Sea-man. These are said to go down to the Sea in Ships; not because the Sea is lower than the Land, but because it is lower than the Shore, which is the Rampire raised by Providence against its Inundations. And their end or design ingoing down into the Sea, is not pleasure and recreation; but to do business, (i. e.) to Export and Import such Wares and Commodities as are necessary, if not to the Being, at least, to the welbeing of the several Kingdoms and Countreys of the World. These are the Men here spoken of, who see (more than any) the Works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deeps. Works and Wonders by an, foreign, usual Figure, is as much as his wonderful Works; namely, of Creation, in the strange and monstrous productions of the Sea, and of Preservation, with respect to themselves, in the dreadful dangers they there …ncounter. Thus the Person or Subject …s described.
Secondly, The danger is likewise de…cribed, in which these Seafaring-men …re sometimes involved: And indeed the …salmist here gives us a very rhetorical …nd elegant description of their conditi…n in the Stormy Sea; and shews us how …eplorable their state and condition is at …uch a time. Where we are to note both …he Causes and Effects of these Tem…ests.
1. The Causes, and they are twofold.
First, The principal cause, the will and pleasure of God. He commandeth and raiseth the Stormy Wind. This is Gods Prerogative, none can raise Winds, but himself; and if Devils or Witches do it at any time; yet it is still by his permission, as you see in Job 1.12, 19. The Lord is said to hold the Wind in his Fists. Prov. 30.4. As a Man holds a wild fierce Beast in a Chain, or by a Collar: And when they blow he brings them out of his treasuries, Psal. 135.7. There is indeed a Natural Cause of Winds, o… which Philosophers give us this rationa… account. That it is a hot, and dry exhalation raised from the Earth, by the power of the Heavenly Bodies, which being repelled or forced back by the coldness of the middle Region, moves oblickly or slentingly, and sometimes very violently through the Air. But though this be the Natural Cause of the Wind; yet this doth not at all restrain the absolute Soveraignty of God over them. It is he that commands an… raiseth them, as the Text speaks; and though it be said Joh. 3.8. The Win… blows where it listeth; yet that expression mak…s it not an arbitrary creature: Bu… the meaning is either thus, It blows where it listeth, for any opposition that Man can make to it, though it cannot …low where it listeth with respect to God. Or thus, Such is the great varia…leness and instability of the Winds, …lowing now this way, now that, that …t seems to move with a kind of sponta…eity, as a Bird doth in the Air; though …ndeed it doth but seem so, for all its …otions are ordered of the Lord. And …ou cannot say in this sense, as 1 Kings ….11. That God it not in the Wind. Now when it pleaseth the Lord to shew his …ower upon the great Deeps, he sends …orth these Winds out of his Treasure. This is the principal Cause. Then …ext
2. We have the instrumental subordi…ate and next Cause of the Storm; and …hat is, the Winds lifting up the Waves of …he Ocean. There is naturally in the Sea … continual agitation, and rolling of its Waters hither and thither; it cannot rest, …s the Prophet speaks; but when a vio…ent Wind blows upon it, the Ocean is …ncensed and inraged; and the Winds …oll, moving Mountains of Water be…ore them. Then like Wild Beasts, the Waves seem to break loose and rage, not only to be latrantes undas, as Virgil calls them, barking Waves; Undaemaris efferatae. Beza.but foreign, raging Waves, as Jude speaks Vers. 13.Fluctus truces. Yea, roaring Waves, as our Saviou… stiles them, Luk. 21.25. Thus of the Causes of the Storm Principal and Subordinate. Next we have
Secondly, The terrible Effects of the Tempests, and that upon both thei… Bodies and their Minds.
(1.) External upon their Bodies; i… tosses them up and down in a dreadfu… manner, which the Psalmist elegantly expresses in the Text. They mount up t… Heaven, they go down to the Depths, a lofty hyperbolical expression; very nea… unto it is that of Virgil.
Tollimur in coelum, curvato gurgite; & iidem,
Subducta, ad manes imos descendimus unda!
Aen. 3.
They seem to mix with the very Clouds; and then, open deep Graves for them in the bottom Sands. Yea, it moves them not only perpendicularly, lifting them up, and casting them down, but obliquely and circularly also. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, or as some translate, agitantur in gyrum, they run round: They are indeed moved according to the unstable motion of the Waves, on whose proud backs they are mounted. This is the External Effect of the Storm upon their Bodies.
(2.) The Internal Effect of it upon their Minds, which is far more terrible. For it is said here, Their Soul is melted because of trouble, and they are at their wits end. Both which expressions do import a greater commotion, and storm in the Passions of the Mind, than that is in the Waves of the Sea. The stoutest spirit quails and melts when it comes to this; and the wisest Artist is at his wits end. Thus you have the description of the persons, and of their danger, both in the Cause and Effects upon the Body and Mind. Next
(3.) We have their deliverance by the wonderful hand of divine providence, in Vers. 27. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distress. Their usual cry in such extraordinary exigencies is Mercy! Mercy! Now they can pray, that could not pray before. Extremity drives them to their knees, not only with cryes, but vows to the Lord. And he delivers them out of their distress: Some delivered one way, and some another, but all in a stupendious way, which cannot but astonish them that are so delivered, and make them acknowledge the Finger of God was in it.
From all this we observe.
Doctr. That the Preservations and Deliverances of Sea-men in the dreadful Storms and Tempests at Sea, is the wonderful Work of Divine Providence.
The Works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Psal. 111.2. And among his Providential Works none greater, and more admirable, than those which Seamen daily behold in their marvellous Protections upon the Sea.
Now the Glory of Divine Providence towards Seamen, shines and displays it self in three things. Especially first, in making the Ocean navigable for them at any time. Secondly, In preserving them from Shipwracks in the fury and stress of Weather. Thirdly, In finding out ways, …nd strangely providing means of safety when their Ships are lost, and broken upon the Sea.
1. It is a wonderful providence of God, to make the Ocean navigable for Men at any time; that such a fluid Body as Water is, which cannot support a Stone or Bullet of an ounce weight, should yet …y reason of its own Saltness, and the …nnate property of Timber, be able to …upport Ships of such vast burthen, which are carried daily from place to place, be…ng mounted on the backs of its proud Waves. Who can but acknowledge a most wise Providence, in gratifying the Natural wit and desire of Man, which fits him for Converse and Traffick with Foreign Nations, with instruments and materials so fit for his purpose; as Timber, Iron, Hemp, Pitch, the Loadstone, and whatever else is necessary for his purpose? I cannot open the Wisdom of Gods Providence in this respect, to better advantage than I find it done by the Learned Pen of Dr. More in his Antidote against Atheism. Pag. 58. Navigation (saith he) being of so great consequence to the delight, and convenience of humane life; and the… being both wit and courage in Man to a…tempt the Seas, were he but fitted wi… right Materials, and other advantages r…quisit; when we see there is so pat a pr…vision made for him to this purpose, i… large Timber for the building of his Shi… a thick Sea-water to bear the Ships bur…then; in the Magnet or Loadstone for hi… Compass; in the steddy and parallel Di…rection of the Axis of the Earth for hi… Cynosura: And then observing his natu…ral wit and courage to make use of them… and how that ingenite desire of knowledg… and converse, and of the improving of hi… own parts, and happiness, stir him up t… so notable a design. We cannot but conclud… from such a train of Causes, so fitly an… congruously complying together, that it wa… really the counsel of an Ʋniversal and Eternal Mind, that hath the over-seeing an… guidance of it, &c.
2. But (to come home to the case before us) that men should be preserved at Sea from immediate ruine in the dreadful Tempests that befal them there, this is a mysterious, and admirable Work of God; that a poor Ship should not be swallowed up by the furious Ocean, when Mountains of Water come rolling to…ards it with an horrid noise, and give such dreadful stripes; when Seas roll …er it, and so cover it with the Waves, at for a time they know not whether …ey sink or swim; to see it emerge out… such fatal dangers, keep up its head, …d mount upon the backs of those lofty …eas that threaten immediately to over…helm it. O how great is the power …d care of Providence in such a case! …pecially, if you consider these follow…g particulars, among many others, …hich threaten ruine on every side: And …ould but one of these many contingen…es befal them, in the eye of Reason they …re lost Men.
1. Of how many parts comparted …gether, doth a Ship consist? These parts …deed are fastened together with Bolts …f Iron, but being in so many Planks. …hat a wonder is it that none Springs, …at no Bolt gives way, or Seams open, …hilest every part works with such vio…nce, and so great a stress of Weather …es upon it. Should such a thing fall out …s it is a wonder it should not) how …on would the Ship swim within as well … without?
2. How often are they put from their course by stress of Weather, and know not where they are; not being able for many days to take any observation? So that they must go whither Winds and Waves will drive them? For there is no dropping Anchors in the Main, nor resisting the course of the Seas, to which they can make no more resistance then… Child to a Giant. And how is it they ar… not dashed upon the Rocks, or Foundered in the Sands, seeing the Winds shap… their Course, and not Art? But there is God that steers your course for you, whe… you cannot.
3. How often are you even faln upo… Rocks and Shores, before you see them and are almost past hope, before you be…gin to fear? Sometimes almost imbayed and as much as ever you can do to We…ther a Rock, or Head-Land, which yo… discerned not till it was almost too late?
I remember Doctor Johnson, in th… ingenuous and wonderful Narrative… his voyage to the Sound, when he ha… survived two Shipwracks, and was im…barked in the third Ship. We had n… (saith he) been above two or three hours… Sea, but there was a sad distraction among …s in the Ship, and the Marriners crying Mercy! Mercy! For we had almost faln …oul on a Rock, which lay so cunningly in …he Water, that we did not espie it till we …ere upon it; but by the goodness of God, …e sailed close by it, and so escaped it: …he least touch of it had been our ruine.
4. How often do you ride at Anchor … furious Weather near Rocks and …hores; Your lives, under God, every …oment depending upon a Cable and Anchor; if the one break, or the other …ome home, you are lost men. And how …onderful is it they do not! What is a Cable in a Storm? But as the new Cords …ith which the Philistines bound Samp…n, and as easily would they be snapt …sunder like a thread of Tow, were it …ot for the care of Providence over you. These, and an hundred other accidents, …hich hourly threaten you, might and would send you down to the bottom, …ut that the Lord permits it not so to …e.
3. And yet more wonderful then all …his, how often doth God suffer Ships to …ounder and sink under you, and to be …ashed to pieces against the Rocks, and …et preserve you when the ordinary means of preservation are cut off an… gone? Who like these see the Works… the Lord, and his Wonders in th… Deep?
For first, sometimes a small Boat sha… save them, when a stout Ship could no… Thus many of them have been wonde…fully preserved, and thus the foremen…tioned Author relates the manner of hi… wonderful preservation? Our Ship (sait… he) had sprung a Leak, or rather a Plank… and was ready to sink: O, how the face… every man was changed at this afrigh…ment! One was at his Prayers, anothe… wringing his hands, a third shedding tear… when we had no need of more Salt-wate… After this fit they fell to work, and (as it i… usual in such extreams) we were all bus… in doing of nothing, and did we knew no… what. The Masters Mate whom we sen… down to search out the Leak, quickly returned to us with a sad countenance, trembling hands, and gnashing of teeth,… quivering tongue, and words half spoken signifying unto us, that the wound was incurable Here was now no room for counsel… neither had we time to ask one another what was best to be done; but we presentl… cast out our Long-Boat, and shot off Eigh… … nine Guns, which seemed to me to be so …any tolls of a Passing-Bell before our Death. … leaped into the Boat, but leaped short; …e leg in the Boat, Alterum in Charontis …mba. Now were we left in the North …eas, which seldom wear a smooth Brow; …ut at this time contending with the Wind, …elled into prodigious Mountains. It blew …alf a storm, and we were now in a small …ssel: What credit could we give to our safe… in a small and open Shallop, when so stately Castle of Wood, which we but now lost, …uld not defend it self against the inso…ncy of the Waves? We were many …eagues from any Shore, having no Compass guide us, nor Provisions to sustain us, …d the night grew black upon us—. …othing but a Miracle could preserve us, …ing out of the reach of humane help—. …e fell to Prayer, and our extremity plead… for us; —for in this moment of death, …hen we were without the least expectation … deliverance, he sent a Ship to us, which …e must needs confess to be the Finger of …od, &c. Thus he— And this hath been …e wonderful door opened in extremity … multitudes more for their escape. But … how astonishing are these ways of the …ord! Well may we say, His ways are in the Sea, and his paths in the great Deep, and his footsteps are not known Psal. 77.19.
Secondly, Sometimes they shall b… cast upon a Rock in the Sea, where the… shall be preserved till some other way o… deliverance come, yea, preserved strang…ly, God blessing a small matter of pro…vision which they saved to sustain them though they said of it, as the Widow… Sarepta to the Prophet, 1 King. 17.1… I have but an handful of Meal, and … little Oyl, and I am gathering two stick… that I may go in and dress it, for me an… my son, that we may eat it, and die. O… if they could save nothing, yet a fe… Muscles or Birds Eggs, with Gods Bles…ing, have sustained them till the time … Mercy came. This hath been the ca… of many. Think upon this, you that…buse the good creatures of God by drun…enness; how sweet would a cup of fres… water be to you, when reduced to su… extremity! O, if your hearts be n… harder than the Rocks you lay upo… How would such extraordinary Merc… melt you into love and thankfulness!
Thirdly, Sometimes they have be… wasted to the shore safely upon the wra… or by making a Raft of the broken pieces of the Ship, and torn Sails, and Ropes;Tabula post Naufragium. and upon this (God knows, a poor security against the boisterous Waves) …ave they ventured themselves. A sink…ng man (as we say) will catch at a Bul…ush. Paul and those that suffered Shipwrack with him, were thus saved. The Centurion commanded, that they which …ould swim, should cast themselves first into …he Sea, and get to Land. And the rest, …ome on Boards, and some on broken pieces …f the Ship: And so it came to pass, that …hey escaped all safe to Land. Acts 27.43, 44.
O the miraculous Works of the Lord! To save by such contemptible and impro…able means, who can but see and acknowledge the Finger of God to be here? Lo these are parts of his ways; …ut how small a portion is heard of him? Job 26.14.
1. Ʋse of Reproof. If your Preserva…ion in Storms at Sea, be the wonderful Works of Divine Providence; then divers of you deserve to be sharply reproved from this truth. And I beseech you suffer the word of Reproof, meekly and penitently. I shall speak nothing to reproach you; no, it is not to reproach, but to reform you: And if you hate Reproof, and mock at counsel, God may shortly speak in such thundering language to your Consciences, as will be terrible for you to hear. I remember it is said o… S. Bernard, that whilest he was seriously reproving the prophaneness of one (and if I misremember not, it was his own Brother) who was a Soldier, and observing how he slighted his holy and serious counsel, his spirit was greatly grieved a… it; and he told him, Brother, God, … fear, will shortly make way to your hear… with a sword, to which my words can find no access; and the event soon verified the sad prediction. I pray God none of you may be taught by Captivities and Shipwracks, what it is to reject faithful Reproofs and wholsome Counsel, seasonably given for your good. You that read thes… lines, seriously ask your own Consciences these following Questions.
(1.) Have you not soon forgotten the Works and Wonders of the Lord, which your eyes have seen? It may be for th… present you have been sensibly affecte… with your danger, and the Mercy o… God in your deliverance, but hath it remained upon your hearts? I doubt these Mercies have been written in the Dust, which should have been ingraven, as in the Rock for ever. Thus it was with Israel, a people that saw as many wonders wrought for them by the immediate Finger of God, as ever did any people in the World; and yet it is said of them, even after the Red Sea-deliverance, in which God divided the Sea for them, when the Waves thereof roared, Isai. 51.15. And with which, for the present, their hearts were greatly affected; for it is said, Psal. 106.12. That they believed his Word, and sang his Praises. But in the next Verse you read, that a little time …asily wiped out the sense of this Mercy, for it is said Vers. 13. They soon forgat his works, and waited not for his counsels. I doubt this was not the sin of Israel only, but is the case of many of you at this day. Well, God did not forget you in the …ime of your extremity, though you so …uickly forget him. Think not to excuse …our selves from this guilt, by saying, …ou do still remember the thing: You …ay do so, and yet be said to forget his Mercy. For a Deliverance may be remembred by him, that received it two ways, namely, speculatively and affectingly. A speculative remembrance is only to call to mind the stories of such a danger, and preservation. This you may do, and yet God account himself forgotten, except you so remember it, as still to feel the powerful impressions thereof upon your hearts, melting them into thankfulness, love, and dependence upon the God of your Salvations.
(2.) Have you not walked very unanswerably to your Deliverances, yea, and to the solemn ingagements you made to God in the day of your distress? I fear some of you have walked, after God hath rescued you by a wonderful immediate Hand from the Jaws of Death; as if you had been delivered to commit all these abominations. As it is Jere. 7.10. It may be, the last week or monethmonth you were reeling to and fro upon the Stormy Sea, and staggering like drunken men; and this reeling and staggering along the streets really drunken. O horrid abomination! Do ye thus requite the Lord, who pitied you in your distress, and, being full of compassion, saved you, when you cried to him? Is this the fruit of your wonderful salvation? If a man should have told you in that day, it would have been thus, you your selves could not have believed it, but would have answered, as Hazael did to the Prophet. 2 Kings 8.13. What, is thy servant a dog, that he …hould do such things? Yet so it was, and …o it is still: The Lord humble you for …his great wickedness. If this be all the …ruit of Mercy and Deliverance, it had …een better for you that you had gone down to the bottom then, rather than …o live only to treasure up more wrath …gainst the day of wrath, and fill up …our measure.
(3.) Are there not a sort of Atheisti…al Sea-men, who own not Providence …t all, either in the raising of these hor…id Tempests, or in their marvellous …reservations in them; but look on all, …s coming in a Natural way, and their …scape to be only by good Fortune, and …hance: How wonderful a thing is it in …e eyes of all considering men, that …rovidence should take any notice of …em in a way of favor, that so wicked… disown it, and so directly disoblige it? …ow can you possibly shut your eyes a…ainst such clear light, and stop your ears against such loud and plain Language, whereby the power and goodness of God proclaims it self to you in these Providences! Ah, methinks you should most readily and thankfully subscribe that great truth. Psal. 68.20. He that is our God, is the God of Salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from Death. But though men see Signs and Wonders, they will not believe, yea, though themselves become Wonders to the World by their miraculous Deliverances; yet so bruitish and stupid are they, that they will not see the hand that saves them… Take heed what you do: You set you…selves in the direct way to destruction by this, and highly provoke the Lord to a…bandon, and cast you out of the care o… his Providence; and if he once do so you are lost men.
(4.) And yet more vile (if more vileness can be in a sin) than all this. Ar… there not a generation of wretched me… among you, that fall a swearing, cursing and blaspheming God, even when he i… uttering his terrible voyce in the Tem…pest, and every moment threatning t… intomb them in the Deep? When yo… should be upon your knees bewailin… your sins, and pleading with God for Mercy (as I doubt not but some of you …o) to be yet more and more provoking …im, daring him to his face; and yet …ore incensing his indignation which is …lready kindled against you; who, that …ears this, can chuse but admire the riches …f Gods patience and forbearance to…wards such men? The very Heathen Ma…iners in a Storm, called every man upon …is God, Jonah 1.5. We say, extremity will cause the worst of men to pray, and …ompose the vainest spirit unto serious…ess; but it seems by you, it will not. Is …his the frame and temper you will meet …eath in? What, speaking the language of Devils, and damned Spirits before …ou come among them? Hasting on your own ruine, as if it were too slack and …ingering in its motion? The Lord open …he eyes of these miserable Creatures, and convince them, that they are not only going to Hell as others are, but that …hey are the forlorn of all that wretched crew that are bound thither; and proportionable will be their misery, except …hey repent.
2. Ʋse of Exhortation. This point is …et farther improvable for you by way of Exhortation; serving to press you to those proper duties which God calls you to, by his terrible providential voice in the Storms, and by your wonderful Deliverances.
1. And the first lesson you are to learn from hence, is, To adore the power of God. O what a manifestation of Divine Power is here! You are the men that see more than others, the Works of the Lord, and his Wonders in the Deep. It is one of Gods ends, in shewing you these Wonders, To make his mighty power known, Psal. 106.8. O what a terrible voyce doth God utter upon the Seas, when the Heavens are black above you, the furious Winds and dreadful Thunders ratling about you, the Sea and Waves roaring beneath you! Is not this voice of the Lord full of Majesty? Doth it not aw your hearts and make them tremble? In three things his infinite power is discovered to you.
First, In raising these terrible Tempests, and that from so small and weak a beginning as a thin vapor from the Earth is: This is the wonderful Work of God. Psal. 135.7. He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the Earth; he maketh Lightnings for the Rain, he bringeth Wind out of his Treasures.
Secondly, In limiting and bounding their force and power: What prodigious effects else would follow? The Wind is a fierce and boisterous creature, and would (if God did not by his Providence restrain) destroy, and overturn all, both by Sea and Land. Or if Satan, who is stiled The Prince of the power of the Air, were left at liberty to execute his malice by such an instrument, not a Ship should cross the Seas, nor a House be safe at Land; as is evident enough by the furious haste he made, to overturn the house with an horrible Tempest upon Jobs Chidren, as soon as he had received a permission from Heaven to do it.
And 3. no less visible is the Power of God in calming, and appeasing the stormy winds, and remanding them into his treasuries, Psal. 107.29. He maketh the Storm a Calme: Yea, he doth so in the very nick of time when all is concluded lost. Thus you read in Mark 4.39. when the waves beat into the Ship; So that it was now full, and the Disciples cried to the Lord, Master, carest thou not that we perish? He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the Sea, Peace, be still; and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Just as one would hush a Child, Peace, be still. O the Soveraign Power of God! How should it be reverenced and adored by all that behold it, in these marvellous effects of it?
2. The second lesson you are taught by this Doctrine, is, To admire the Mercy of God. Mercy is no less discovered than Power, yea, the Power of God is put forth to give his Mercy a fair occasion to shine forth in your Deliverance. God sometimes permits your danger to grow to an extremity, and delays your Deliverance to the last moment, till all hopes of safety are gone, upon the like reason, That Lazarus his Resurrection was deferred; that the Work of God in your Preservation may commend it self to you under the greatest advantage.
O that you would view these Mercies in all their indearing circumstances. I can only hint your duty generally in this case, you may inlarge upon it, if you have hearts fit for such a blessed Work. And mark particularly the multitudes of Mercies, that are complicaated and involved in one Deliverance. Observe the season when, the manner how, the means by which your Salvation was wrought. It is a thousand pities, that so much of Gods glory, and your comfort as anyone, even the smallest circumstance may contain, should be lost.
3. Lastly, and above all. See that you answer Gods ends in your Deliverances. If that be lost, God may say concerning you, as David did of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.21. Surely, in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the Wilderness; so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him; and he hath requited me evil for good. So here, in vain have I kept this fellow upon the Sea, when I suffered others to sink: In vain have I preserved his life, liberty, and estate; so often by an out-stretched Arm of Power, and Mercy to him, seeing he requites me evil for good.
O let me intreat you to be careful to comply with the designs and ends of God in these your wonderful Preservations. If you inquire what Gods ends in your Deliverances are. I answer,
First, It is to lead you to repentance. The goodness of God (saith the Apostle) leadeth thee to repentance. Rom. 2.4. Dost thou not know the Voice of Mercy? Why, it bespeaks thy return to God. It may be thou hast spent all thy life, to this day, in the service of sin: Thou never redeemedst one of all thy precious hours, to consider thine own estate, to bewail thy sin and misery, to seek after an Interest in Christ. Why, now here is a Providence faln in that doth, as it were, take thee by the hand, and lead thee to this great necessary Work. The end of God in raising this Storm, was to deliver thee from the more dreadful Tempest of his Wrath; which without Repentance must shortly overtake thy Soul, in the blackness of darkness for ever. Now God hath awakened thy Conscience by this fright, made it charge home thy sins upon thee, terrified thee with dismal apprehensions of Death and Hell. O, what a fair opportunity and advantage hath he now put into thy hand for Repentance, Reformation, and gaining an Interest in Jesus Christ. If this season be lost, Conscience suffered to fall again into a dead sleep, and thy heart be again hardned by the deceitfulness of sin, thou maist never have such an opportunity for Salvation opened to thee anymore.
Secondly, If this end be answered, then a farther design God hath in thy Deliverance, is to ingage, and incourage thy Soul to dependance upon God, in future straits and dangers. This is food for Faith, and now you are furnished with experience of the Power, Mercy, and Goodness of God, to inable you to roll your selves upon him, when new exigencies befal you. If God exercise you with such extremities, another time you may say with the Apostle, 2 Cor. 1.10. Who delivered us from so great a Death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust he will yet deliver us.
If your first Deliverance were a Deliverance without a Promise, when you were without Christ; what incouragement have you to depend upon him, when his end is answered in your Repentance and Conversion; and being in Christ, are intituled to all the Promises?
Thirdly and lastly, Gods end in your marvellous Preservations and Deliverances, is, to furnish you for, and ingage you to a life of praise. O, how should the high praises of God, be ever in your mouths! You have seen his Works and Wonders in the Deeps. And this is it which the Psalmist presses upon you, as a becoming Return for your Mercies, in the words following my Text. O that Men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful Works to the Childdren of Men.
O with what warm and inlarged affections, should you express your thankfulness to the God of your Salvation! And say as David, What am I, O Lord God; and what is my Fathers house, that thou shouldst do such great things for me? Was such a life, as mine, worth the working of so many wonders to save it! O Lord, thou knowest it hath been a life spent in vanity. Thy glory hath not been precious in mine eyes, but my life hath been precious in thine eyes. Many more useful, and less sinful than my self, have perished, and I am saved. O Lord, shew me the designs and gracious ends of these Deliverances. Surely there is some great thing to be done by me, or else so great a Salvation had not been wrought for me. The Lord saw in what a sad case my poor Soul was, to be summoned immediately before his Judgment Seat. That if I had gone down under all my guilt, I had sunk to the bottom of Hell: But thou in love to my Soul, hast delivered it from the Pit of Corruption, that I might yet injoy a season for Salvation; and be once more intrusted with the precious Talents of Time and Means. O that I may not abuse the Grace of God in this new intrustment, as I have done in the former! Let me not live as one delivered to commit all these abominations!
And now after all that is come upon me for my evils, seeing thou, my God, hast punished me less than mine iniquities deserve; and hast given me such a Deliverance as this: Should I again break thy Commandments? Ezra 9.13, 14. O let this new Mercy, produce a new Heart and Life!