Meditation CXI.
Meditation CXI.
A SQUALL OF RAIN, LIGHTNING, AND THUNDER.
April 20, 1761.
The other day, when the meridian sun brightened a cloudless sky with amazing effulgence, and all round about was light and beauty—I did not dream that such a tremendous night would so soon ensue. The winds blowing with amazing vigor, the disquieted ocean roaring beneath, the glaring lightnings flashing over the whole heaven, the broken clouds pouring out floods of water, and the rolling thunders echoing the majesty of the Eternal, through the conscious void—make up the solemn scene.
In like manner, trouble and disappointment will often break in on the most beautiful prospect of earthly felicity, and raise a hurricane amidst the most perfect calm. Hence, we should learn, amidst the possession or expectation of any earthly bliss, or temporal good—to hold all we have or hope for, at the kind hand of the Sovereign Disposer of all things—of whose conduct we should never complain.
Again, if the least contest among the elements, produces such dreadful effects, how terrible must the state of sinners be, who wage eternal war with Omnipotence, and shall have the arrows of the Almighty within them, the poison whereof drinks up their soul!
No place or latitude can at times boast of so delightful a day—but at other times no place undergoes a more dismal night; so let churches in general, and saints in particular, stand in awe to sin, and beware of presuming on their privileges, saying, 'The temple of the Lord are we. We have Abraham to our father.'
For of all people, none are more severely punished than those who have approached nearest to him: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your sins." Capernaum, which was lifted up to heaven, is threatened to be thrust down to hell, for abusing these singular blessings. And Jerusalem, the beloved city, where the holy temple stood, and where God was served, and manifested his glorious presence; yet for her sins, she was punished more severely.
Woe, then, a triple woe, to the poor apostate, who has once tasted of the good word of God, and has been made partaker of the Holy Spirit, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come—when he falls into the hands of an offended, angry, and avenging judge! Oh! with what care should he who thinks he stands, look to his ways, that he may never fall!
This heavy rain reminds me of the deluge. The fire and thunder reminds me of Sodom's overthrow. The first shows me how the old world perished, the last how this world shall be destroyed. The bellowing wind proclaims shipwreck to the sailor, and the sudden squall bids me be always ready for the worst event. The whole scene summed up together, preaches to me the goodness, the power, and providence of God.
Back to THE TRAVELER