MEDITATION XXXIV.
MEDITATION XXXIV.
ANCHORING OFF AN ENEMY'S COAST.
Cancal Bay, June 21, 1758.
Now we are not far from land—but, however fierce the storm, we must not set a foot on shore, else we would soon find ourselves in the power, and at the mercy of our enemies. Even so it fares with the wicked, who are at war with the God of the whole earth. Now, in the day of God's patience, they can put off without making friendship with Him.
But what will they do in their last extremity, in the day of God's judgement and wrath? To whom will they flee for help, seeing they then cannot lay claim to one promise; and have no saving interest in him who made the promises? How will they stand when the storm pursues behind, and no shelter presents itself before? And how will it gall them to see the saints in quiet resting places, and themselves exposed forever to the tempest?
But although we may not land here, yet we may return to our own king's dominions, where we shall be joyfully received. But it is not so with the sinner, who is in rebellion against the God of Heaven. Where shall he flee from God, or where can he hide himself from his omniscient eye? How shall he get outside the reach of his all-present arm, or escape the stroke of angry Omnipotence? He has disobeyed God, he has rejected Christ, he has despised the promise, he has sinned away the day of grace, and trampled on the patience of Heaven!
So, when the Judge shall come in flaming judgment—what will he do? To what God can he go? To what Savior can he cry? To what hand can he turn—to whom shall he bewail himself—and in what ear make his moan? What promise can he plead, or to which of the saints can he turn? Ah! God is his inexorable Judge, and the Savior is no more his friend! All hopes perish, all helps fail, all friends forsake him. God's pity has no ear to his complaint, and God's mercy no compassion on his moan!
O how miserable are the wicked, then, who thus on oceans of burning brimstone, shall be exposed to the storms and tempests of eternal wrath, and never, never see a shore!
But, on the other hand, how happy are you, O saint! Every land is the property of Him who in all his vast possessions is your by promise. He is yours—who can make enemies entreat you well in adversity. He is yours—who is not only the God of the whole earth—but the possessor of heaven and glory; who is not only the Prince of the kings of the earth—but the Father of eternity who holds the waters in the hollow of his hand. You are safe, therefore, upon the depths; and though you should never see your native country, yet you shall arrive, when your course is finished, at the land that lies afar off.
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