Meditation LXVI.

ON SAILING NEAR DIFFERENT NATIONS.

Feb. 20, l759.

There is a great pleasure in sailing to different parts of the world—to see the divine wisdom, and profuse bounty of God everywhere displayed. But there is a great pain in this—that wherever we go, we see the terrible devastation of sin. If we look to one shore—there superstition reigns. If we look to another shore—there cruelty rages.

In one place they are deluded Papists; in another place they are violent Mohammedans; while those in a third location are mere infidels. All worship some God—but how few the true God. How very few worship the true God in truth!

O, then, that God would have respect to his covenant, because the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of horrid cruelty! When shall the darkness that covers the nations—the gross darkness that covers the people—be dispelled by the light of the glorious gospel of the Son of God? Shall Satan continue to take kingdoms captive at his will? Shall the destroyer of the Gentiles ruin precious souls without number? Shall he not spare continually to slay the nations?

Let not the curse devour the earth, and those who dwell thereon. When shall the name of Jew and Gentile be lost in that of Christian, and professing Christians become the true worshipers of the Father, the followers of the Lamb? When shall that reviving acclamation charm the ears of all the expectants, of the sacred conquest, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. And he shall reign for ever and ever!"

Meditation LXVII.

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