Difference between revisions of "Meditation LXXVI."

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Meditation LXXVI.

THE NEEDLE.

May 5, 1759.

Of what excellent use is the compass to the mariner in his course from one country to another! It is his guide over the trackless ocean, so that the darkness of the night shortens not his sail, nor turns him out of the way. By this he reaches the remotest parts of the world, and adventures out into the immeasurable main.

By this the trading nations stand and flourish, and kingdoms share mutually the commodities of one another. Even such is the everlasting gospel, such the word of God, to the rational world. By this we reap the blessings of paradise, and are enriched with the productions of the better country. By that mariners plow the wide ocean; by this we launch into unbounded eternity itself.

The usefulness of the needle rises from the magnetic virtue with which it is impregnated, and which makes it point always to the north; so the excellency of the scripture is, that it came not by the will of men—but holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; and therefore it leads all who will attend to its instructions to God.

Now, as one piece of metal, capable of receiving the magnetical influence, will communicate it to another piece of the same metal; yet, whatever way the virtue is received, when properly suspended, it points to the true pole; so the scriptures and the ordinances never teach men to rest in them—but to rise to God, the chief good, and ultimate end of all; and to this purpose all inspiration points, and all teaching and preaching tend.

How deplorable would a ship at sea be, without its compass! and no less so were the world lacking Scriptural revelation, without which they could not find the haven of glory. What, then, must the misery of those nations be, who sit in gross darkness! and the cruelty of those who will not let the poor people look into the words of eternal life!

But, alas! for all this noble assistant of navigation, how many ships perish in storms, or mistake their reckonings, and are dashed on rocks! Even so, in the Christian world, for all this divine guide, how many make shipwreck of a good conscience, perish amidst the storms of temptation, in the dark night of defection, and, by opposing error to truth, dash against moveable rocks, and are lost forever.

The compass is in no respect so useful to the seaman, as the scriptures to the Christian, by which errors are discovered, dangers disclosed, doubts discussed, darkness dispelled, and our eternal concerns laid open to our view. They are our cloud which shelters us in the desert, a light to our path, our companion by the way, our counselors, and our song in the house of our pilgrimage.

The compass is of little or no use at home, when we take up our fixed residence, and travel no more from shore to shore. So, when the saints arrive at heaven, and take up their last abode in the divine presence—they shall stand in need no more of gospel ordinances and the scriptures.

But again how does that needle give a lively idea of the soul that is truly united to Christ! it seeks its center, and the saint says to his soul, "Return to your rest, O my soul!"

Take the compass to whatever part of the world you please, still it turns to the north pole; so the saints, in all conditions, and in all places, still seek to Christ. And like the Jews in captivity, who prayed with their faces toward Jerusalem, so the saints in their pilgrimage have their faces towards Zion, their hearts heavenward, their conversation in heaven.

Indeed it is possible to toss the needle from its pole—but see in what confused motion it agitates, and never rests until it has reached its center again; so the spouse may miss her Beloved—but she rests not seeking him everywhere, and asking at everyone she meets, "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?" nor gives up the inquiry, until she finds him, and, with all the vehemency divine affection, embraces him in the arms of her soul; with a resolution never to let him go again.

The attractive power in the magnet is a secret in nature, for no visible change is in the needle more than before; it is by the effects that we know it has been touched by the load-stone, in its attracting, and being attracted, and turning to the pole.

So the new birth, the spiritual union between Christ and the soul, is an unsearchable mystery that no finite creature can explain; for there is a glorious change made in the man, yet the physical man is not changed; he continues still a man—human, frail, changeable, mortal, possessed of the same feelings, powers, passions—only they are all directed into a noble channel, and by this the change is known.

Finally (to add no more) as the needle is always in a tremulous motion, though pointing toward its pole; because of the restless ocean on which it is, and the false attraction with which it meets; yet, when the ship is laid up and the compass set on solid ground, the needle will point to its pole forever, without the least hair-breadth of variation.

So is it with the saints.

They endeavor to make God the rest and center of their souls; yet in this day of sin and sorrow, in this valley of misery and tears, where false attractions surround them, their dependence is not so entire on him, their faith not so firm, nor their communion so close as they could wish. But when they are translated to the highest heaven, God shall be the rest of their souls, their center and sole delight forever!

Meditation LXXVII.

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