Meditation CVII.
Meditation CVII.
ON A POPISH PROCESSION, TO PREVENT THE RETURN OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
Madeira, April 2, 1761.
Of all curses, those that are spiritual are most terrible; and none more dismal than to be given up to strong delusions to believe a lie. Do these men think that the Deity is like children—pleased with pomp, and novelty, and show? When the power of religion decays, it goes more and more into bodily exercises, which profit little, and into external forms and farces. Will a few boys, creeping on their hands and feet, before you through the streets, make the heart-searching God believe you are truly humbled?
Do you substitute the walking bare-footed along a stony pavement—the same as walking with God by faith? Do you imagine you shall avert divine wrath by gently whipping your naked bodies? Is such treatment of the body equal to a real sorrow for, and turning from sin? Do you think God has ceased to be a spirit, and no more demands to be worshiped in spirit and in truth—but, like the idols of old, with the fooleries of men?
Are the graces of the Holy Spirit converted into bodily-gestures? Can your being veiled in a mournful manner deceive him who sees through the thick darkness? Do you think that the carrying a piece of wood, in the form of a cross, through your city, will awe the earthquake into eternal silence? Will God look down favorably on the image of your saint and patroness which you have made in breach of his own express command?
Our blessings must come through him who suffered on the cross, and for his sake—but we must expect nothing from the cross itself. Of old the doctrine of the cross was foolishness to Jews and heathen Greeks; but now the cross, while its divine doctrine is dropped, is very folly among nominal Christians.
Now, if God, who has another time to judge, should, in his general forbearance and common mercy, not send a second earthquake, how will they be persuaded of the prevalency of their procession, and thus be hardened in their superstition and delusion!
O with what fervor, for it is the interest of Christ; with what constancy, for souls are precious; with what tenderness, for they are our fellow-creatures and brethren—should all the reformed churches pray for the destruction of the man of sin, and the fall of Babylon, that nations who have nothing but shadows for substance, rites for religion, and the inventions of men for the doctrines of truth—may walk in the light, and enjoy the liberty of the glorious gospel!
But shall I forget the special favor of Heaven to me? for it was not by chance that I was born in a Protestant land—but by the good will of him who has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of the habitation of every individual under the sun.
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