MEDITATION XXVIII.
MEDITATION XXVIII.
SETTING SAIL.
Set sail, venturous rover, and let your daring keel cut the dividing billow, and plow the briny deep. But where are you bound? To cruise on a tempestuous ocean—or dash against craggy shores?
Well, my soul, remember that you also have set sail, and are rapidly carried down the stream of time—to the ocean of eternity. I should consider under what latitude, and to what point I am steering. If under the latitude of the new birth, and a living faith, I shall at last drop anchor at the haven of bliss. But if under the latitude of a natural state and unbelief, I shall be driven, by divine indignation, on the rocks of everlasting ruin, and tossed a deplorable wreck on the floods of wrath!
How ignorant is the heathen world of a future state! But, since the Son of God has come, and has taught us all the mysteries of the spiritual navigation, and, in our exalted views, leaving land on every side, we look not at the things which are seen—but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal—but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Why should I fear, or be dismayed? Shall I not have a prosperous voyage, and a pleasant landing—since Christ is both my pilot and my destination—since his Spirit is promised to lead and guide me into all truth—since the scriptures are my compass, a light to my feet, and a lamp to my path—since hope is my anchor, cast within the veil—since faith is my telescope, which gives me views of the world to come—since self-examination my sounding line, to know what depth of water I am in, to try myself, whether I be in the faith or not—and since my log-book is a Christian diary, that I may tell those who fear God, what he has done for my soul—and since all the heavenly graces are like the extended sails, one sail being unfurled after another, first faith, which is to the soul as the main-sail to a ship, and adding to faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity.
Were I once in such a happy state, my next petition would be "Awake, O north wind! and blow, O south wind!" fill my extended sails, and carry me to glory.