MEDITATION XLIII.
MEDITATION XLIII.
ON THE WELL OF THE SHIP.
Spithead, July 7, 1758.
It is necessary to pump out the putrid salt water which leaks into the base of the ship. Even so, original sin is that poison which lies deep within, contaminates all around, whose filth defiles all the powers of the mind, all the members of the body, and whose guilt makes the whole man liable to all the miseries of time, to all the torments of hell.
Again, sometimes God is pleased to permit a person to fall into gross outbreakings, that thereby he may be led to see the corruption of his nature, and to bewail the spring from which such deadly streams proceed. Thus the psalmist confesses, that he, as well as all mankind, was conceived in sin, and born in iniquity. And wherever saving grace is displayed in subduing sin, there also the guilt of original sin is forgiven, and its filth taken away.
It is very remarkable, that God refines his own people, not only by afflictions, judgments, and mercies—but by sins; thus sometimes the air is purified by a thunder-storm. Hence, says God by the prophet Ezekiel, 14:9 and 11. "If the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the Lord, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel." Now, for what end is a prophet permitted to speak lies, and the people to seek to a lying prophet? That they might go no more astray, pollute his holy name no more—but that he might be their God, and they might be his people.
Thus, Peter's pride and self-confidence is so cured by his denial of Christ, that when Jesus, after his resurrection puts to him a kindly question, "Simon, son of Jonas, love you me?" he dares not say, as formerly, O Lord, my love is such that I can die for you—but humbly appeals to himself, "You know that I love you." Our Lords repeats the question, and he returns the same answer. But a third time puts him to pain. Does my Lord distrust my love, does he suspect its sincerity? It is true, alas! I have denied him, and he knows me better than I do myself. But my heart, conscious of sincerity, appeals to his omniscience, "You that know all things, know that I love you."
Moreover, the daily experience of the saints will attest, that all their lifetime they hate and abhor that sin most by which they have most dishonored God, and wounded their own souls. Alas! what daily cause have I to mourn over my depravity, whose life is blackened with daily outbreakings from this fountain that defiles! It is from my depravity, that so many vain thoughts, and low apprehensions of the holiness and majesty of God; and so many trifling delights; and such an eager pursuit of perishing pleasures, and polluted joys, which must all be thrown away.
But, such is the wonderful method of him, whose ways are past finding out, that he brings through hell to heaven and, by one sin breaking out, makes the soul hate and abhor, fight and watch against all sin, and have daily recourse to the blood of sprinkling, and to the Spirit of all grace for divine assistance.
Back to Meditations 31 to 60