state of mediocrity, or even of indigence, most proper for the heirs of heaven. And the very word,. " an heir of heaven!" is enough to balance all that can be perplexing, afflicting, or calamitous, in our lot below. When Israel walked after God, in a land that was not sown, then he was holiness to the Lord; but, when Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked, and grew forgetful of God that formed him.

People in pinching circumstances may be apt to think it impossible for them to abuse a state of opulence, would heaven bestow it on them. So Hazael, servant to Benhadad, king of Syria, stood astonished at the prophet's prediction, that on his advancement to royal authority, he should become a monster of cruelty, and exclaims, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this?" But no sooner does the servant commence a sovereign, than the man becomes a dog. So, oft-times, no sooner does the poor become rich, than he becomes proud towards man, and impious towards God, to such a degree, that frequently the change is greater in his conversation than in his circumstances. In this respect God deals with the greater part of his people, as a prudent parent does with his child; give him no sharp weapons to play with, lest, in spite of the parent's admonitions, and the child's fair promises, he might wound himself with them. It is true, some eminent saints (I say but some) are both rich and in high station; but then grace is given to them, suiting to that very station they are in. And when I find myself in straitening circumstances, I may conclude, that this very state is absolutely necessary, either to suppress some sin that might otherwise sprout up, or to exercise some grace that otherwise might

lie dormant, and thus is most conducive both to God's glory, and mine own good.

6. Poverty calls to the exercise of certain graces, which Christians in opulence cannot so properly be actually engaged in, though every saint has every grace in the habit. The rich cannot depend on God for their daily bread, in the same manner that the needy do. And when the poor, in their pinching straits, and repeated trials and disappointments, are enabled to let patience have her perfect work, to a full resignation to, and approbation of the disposal of providence in their lot, and have a sweet recumbency on the faithfulness and kindness of a reconciled God; thereby he is glorified, and their souls enriched for a world to come.

Again, the saints in poverty have a sweet display of a special providence towards them, and the small things, and petty sums they receive, have a relish to them, above the vast and yearly incomes of the rich; because these come, as it were, from the immediate hand of God, are the answer of their prayers, and the fruit of their faith. As in an indigent state wants daily return, so faith is daily necessary; and the daily actings of faith on an all-sufficient God, of all Christian graces glorifies God most, putting honour on all his perfections, on his truth and faithfulness, his power and immutability, his wisdom and mercy !— And the soul that in the highest degree glorifies God in time, shall be glorified in an higher degree in heaven; for the seeds now sown with weeping shall yield sheaves of comfort then, and the happy reapers shall rejoice for ever. Now, though the men of the world only connect one time with another, because they have no hope for eternity, yet the saints connect

this and the eternal state; therefore, it matters not how much we suffer here, if God may thereby be more glorified on earth, and we more glorified in heaven. If, then, poverty, with the divine blessing, promotes this noble end, can any deny its singular advantages? If the soul goes out towards God, has the world crucified to him, and is crucified to the world; if he esteems the heavenly bliss a sufficient portion, looks not at the things that are seen, commits all to God, welcomes every cross that comes from God, approves of that lot which he appoints, and in every thing depends, relies, confides on God, for himself and his children to the latest posterity; and if he has his little allowance (for he does not wish for much) insured in the bank of heaven (and after generations shall observe it safe, while the great sums amassed by worldly-minded men and misers, are often in a short time so entirely consumed, that their heirs have nothing) Is he a loser by poverty?

Finally, what though God lead me through a terrible wilderness, and feed me in the wilderness in a manner which the rich know not, since it is to humble me, and prove me, and do me good at my latter end, even to do me good world without end?

MEDITATION CXLII.

A JOURNEY ALONG THE SEA-SHORE.

Sept. 2, 1783.

1. AT the commencement of my journey, I must

take a passage-boat; and how noble the contrivance, thus to be wafted from shore to shore ! Let me see divine wisdom shining in the devices of men.

Here I find old and young, male and female, men of different stations and various employments; and in the safety of the vessel we are all equally interested. This is a picture of human society; for, in the felicity of a family every member should share, in the happinesss of a nation every individual should rejoice, and in the peace of Jerusalem all should triumph.

The sea is a stormy element; the winds roar, the waves rage, and some of the passengers are both fearful and very sick, though others are cheerful and courageous. Thus is our voyage through human life; tempests attack us, various afflictions rage around us, and inward grief and vexation make us sick at the very heart; but some have a more pleasant passage through life, and others, by a steady faith in God, remain tranquil and serene, We meet other passageboats, and with the same wind we pass them, and reach opposite shores; so saints and sinners, whether adversity or prosperity fill their sails, steer fopposite shores.

2. I find, in some parts on the shore, a scarcity of good fresh water; and yet an ocean of water swells before them. So, some men, in the midst of all abun dance, never taste of true joy, or solid consolation. And the whole creation, to an immortal soul, will prove but like salt water to a thirsty man, never able to allay his drought, or ease his grief.

But the inhabitants, having other conveniences, put up with this; and, alas! shall not we often put up with greater losses for trifles? How many sit still under erroneous preachers, rather than forego the least conveniency to hear an evangelical minister?

3. Travelling along the coast, I come among some very sinking sands, which makes my journey both

painful and tedious; but, when I reach the sands that are often washed with the sea, I walk with ease and delight. So it is safer and sweeter to walk in an afflicted lot, that is often washed with the briny wave of adversity, than in the wealth and ease of the worldling.

4. I find cloth laid down within the sea-mark, to prepare for whitening, and left to be covered by the waves, and so secured, that when the sea retires, the owners find all safe. Even so, afflictions and trials shall prepare the saints for glory; and though, in their own eyes, and in the eyes of others, they may seem drowned in distress, and cry out, "All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me," yet well does the heavenly Owner know how to preserve, in the midst of great waters, his own, and at last to deliver out of all trouble, and present them faultless before his presence with exceeding joy.

5. It is now tide of ebb, and, though the waves roll with fury, and threaten to recover what they have lost, still they retire, till all the shore is left dry; so, O saint! so, O soul! shall it be with thy corruptions; they may rage, and threaten to return, but still they shall lose ground, till they shall never more be seen. Though corruptions should seem as strong as ever, yet the time of their continuance is daily growing shorter; and this may be comfort to many a poor soul, that, though sin should rage never so fiercely, still it is but the last efforts, the desperate struggles of a deadly wounded enemy.-But the tide of flood calls to mind the melancholy case of sinners; for, though the waves seem often to recoil and relinquish what they had gained, still every succeeding. billow advances further than the former, till the briny surge