Meditation LXX.
Meditation LXX.
ON SHIPS MISTAKING ONE ANOTHER.
Mediterranean, March 14, 1759.
How often on the ocean do we prepare to fight a friend ship! Wherever we see a strange sail that belongs not to our fleet or squadron, we look upon her as an enemy, and so give chase.
When at last, we learn that she is out on our side. But at other times, while in the dark night, and misunderstanding each other's signals—we think we have found our enemy, and so fire upon one another. When the morning light undeceives us, we feel the most intense sorrow for our mistake; though our country has made provision for the family of the unhappy sufferers if they die, or the sufferers themselves if rendered lame, by engaging one another through mistake.
Even so is the case often among the saints and churches of God. Contests come between the best of men, and sometimes about the smallest matters. Paul and Barnabas are so hot about their companion, that they part company; and to this day the godly can be at odds about a word, though they own one Lord, and subscribe to one creed.
Then, from these differences, we think one another to be enemies; and, giving ground to our apprehensions, we begin to treat each other as enemies to the truth, and to the King of Zion—to the injury of the common cause of true religion, and the hurt of the loyal subjects of Heaven.
Such indeed are the trials of the saints and church in their earthly state, such are the calamities that are contingent to her in these days of darkness, and on this sea of trouble. But when they come to speak mouth to mouth, and to see eye to eye in the light of glory, they shall be all one. We should indeed contend for the truth with a zeal and concern due to its divinity—but with a tenderness and sympathy which our present imperfection pleads for.
We should love the truth dearly—but yet rather pity than despise those who depart from some points which we count truth. We should not sell the truth to buy friends, or gain numbers to our side; but we should forego our own personal opinions, that the truth be not wounded by us. We had sometimes, better employ our time in prayer to God, to turn them from the error of their way—than show our learning and our spleen, in proving them to be wittingly blind, and to have wilfully erred. We should do all things—except wound the truth—to make all men one in the truth.
And when differences are done away, personal affronts should never stand in the way of reconciliation. How deplorable would it be, if my hands, instead of being a mutual help, should scratch and tear another; if my feet, instead of taking me out the way, should kick at another! So, and much worse is it for saints, who are the spiritual members of Christ, the living head, to bite and devour one another; but this is owing to the remains of corruption in them; and perfect peace is reserved for the state of highest perfection.
Now, as it is only at sea, and under the gloom of night, that we are likely to make mistakes; for when we come into harbor, and enjoy the noon-day beam, we have no doubt of one another—but know that we are all the subjects of one King, engaged in one cause, and combined against the common enemy; so it is only in this valley of tears, this day of thick darkness, that we cannot understand one another—but are ready, like the meddlesome disciples, to forbid those who who do not follow us in all things, though they are the servants of Christ.
But when the warfare is finished, and the saints assembled before the throne of God and the Lamb, all wrong views, jarring opinions, discordance and difference—shall be done away forever. In view of which eternal tranquility, we must comfort ourselves under the disagreeable occurrences of this troublesome life, where we not only must fight with foes—but at times disagree with dearest friends.
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