Chapter 2: The Vast Ocean — God's Boundless Mercy and Eternity

In the vast Ocean Spiritual Eyes des[•]ry God's boundless Mercy, and Eternity.

OBSERVATION.

THE Ocean is of a vast extent and depth, though supposedly measurable, yet not to be sounded by Man. It compasses about the Whole Earth, which in the account of Geographers, is Twenty one thousand and six hundred Miles in compass; yet the Ocean surrounds it on every side, Psalm 104:25. and Job 11. 9. Suitable to which is that of the Poet.

He spread the Seas, which then he did command,

To swell with Winds, and compass round the Land.

And for its Depth, who can discover it? The Sea in Scripture is called, The Deep, Job 38. 30. The Great Deep, Genesis 7:11. The gathering together of the Waters into one place, Genesis 1:9. If the vastest Mountain were cast into it, it would appear no more than the head of a Pin in a Tun of Water.

APPLICATION.

This in a lively manner shadows forth the infinite and incomprehensible Mercy of our God; whose Mercy is said to be over all his works, Psalm 145:9. In how many sweet Notions is the Mercy of God represented to us in the Scripture. He is said to be Plenteous, Psalm 4:5. Abundant, 1 Peter 1:3. Rich, Ephesians 2:4. in mercy; then, that his Mercies are unsearchable, Ephesians 3:8. High as the Heaven above the Earth, Psalm 10:4. Which are so high and vast, that the whole Earth is but a small point to them: indeed, they are not only compared to the Heavens, but to come home to the Metaphor, to the Depths of the Sea, Micah 7:19. which can swallow up Mountains as well as Mole-hills; and in this Sea God has drowned sins of a dreadful height and aggravation, even Scarlet, Crimson (i. e.) deep dyed with many intensive aggravations, Isaiah 1:18. In this Sea was the sin of Manasseh drowned; and of what magnitude that was, may be seen, 2 Chron. 33. 3. Indeed, in this Ocean of Mercy, did the Lord drown and cover the sins of Paul, though a Blasphemer, a Persecutor, Injurious, 1 Timothy 1:13. None, says Augustine, more fierce than Paul among the Persecutors; and therefore none greater among sinners: to which himself willingly subscribes, 1 Timothy 1:1[••] yet pardoned. How has Mercy rode in triumph, and been glorified upon the vilest of Men! How has it stop[•] the slanderous mouth of Men and Devils! It has yearned upon Fornicators, Idol[•]ters, Adulterers, Thieves, Covetous, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners; to such has the Scepter of Mercy been stretched forth, upon their unfeigned repentance and submission, 1 Corinthians 6:9. What does the Spirit of God aim at, in such a large accumulation of Names of Mercy? But to convince poor sinners of the abundant fullness and riches of it, if they will but submit to the terms on which it is tendered to them.

In the vastness of the Ocean, we have also a lively Emblem of Eternity. Who can comprehend or measure the Ocean, but God? And who can comprehend Eternity, but he that is said to inhabit it? Isaiah 57:15. Though shallow Rivers may be drained and dried up, yet the Ocean cannot. And though these transitory Days, Months, and Years will at last expire and determine; yet Eternity shall not. O! it is a long World! and amazing Matter! What is Eternity, but a constant permanency of Persons and Things, in one and the same State and Condition for ever; putting them beyond all possibility of change? The Heathens were accustomed to shadow it by a Circle, or a Snake twisted round. It will be to all of us, either a perpetual Day or Night, which will not be measured by Watches, Hours, Minutes. And as it cannot be measured, so neither can it ever be diminished. When thousands of years are gone, there is not a minute less to come. Gerhard and Drexelius do both illustrate it by this known similitude: Suppose a Bird were to come once in a thousand years; to some vast Mountain of Sand, and carry away in her Bill one Sand in a thousand years; O what a vast time would it be, e're that immortal Bird, after that rate, had recovered the Mountain! and yet in time this might be done. For there would be still some diminution; but in Eternity there can be none. There be three things in Time, which are not competent to Eternity: In Time there is a Succession, one Generation, Year, and Day passes, and another comes; but Eternity is a fixed [now.] In Time there is a Diminution and wasting; the more is past, the less to come: But it is not so in Eternity. In time there is an Alteration of condition and states: A Man may be poor today, and rich tomorrow; sickly and diseased this week, and well the next; now in contempt, and soon in honor: But no change passes upon us in Eternity. As the Tree falls at Death and Judgment, so it lies for ever. If in Heaven, there you are a Pillar, and shalt go forth no more, Revelation 3:12. If in Hell, no Redemption from there, but the smoke of their torments ascends for ever and ever, Revelation 19:3.

REFLECTION.

And is the Mercy of God, like the great Deeps, an Ocean, that none can fathom? What unspeakable Comfort is this to me? may the pardoned Soul say. Did Israel sing a Song, when the Lord had overwhelmed their corporal Enemies in the Seas? And shall not I break forth into his Praises, who has drowned all my sins in the depth of Mercy? O my Soul, bless you the Lord, and let his high praises ever be in your mouth. Mayst not you say, that he has gone to as high an extent and degree of Mercy, in pardoning you, as ever he did in any? Oh my God, who is like to you! that pardonest Iniquity, Transgression and Sin. What mercy, but the Mercy of a God, could cover such abominations as mine!

But O! what terrible Reflections will Conscience [•]ake from hence, upon all the Despisers of Mercy, when the sinners eyes come to be opened too late for Mercy, to do them good! We have heard in[•]eed, that the King of Heaven was a merciful King, [•]ut we would make no address to Him, while that Scepter was stretched out. We heard of Balm in Gilead, and a Physician there, that was able and willing to cure all our wounds, but would not commit our selves to him. We read that the Arms of Christ were open to embrace and receive us, but we would not. O unparallel'd folly! O Soul-destroying madness? Now the Womb of Mercy is shut up, and shall bring forth no more Mercies to me for ever. Now the Gates of Grace are shut, and no cries can open them.

Mercy acted its part, and is gone off the Stage; and now Justice enters the Scene and will be glorified for ever upon me. How often did I hear the Bowels of Compassion sounding in the Gospel for me? But my hard and impenitent heart could not relent; and now, if it could, it is too late. I am now past out of the Ocean of Mercy, into the Ocean of Eternity, where I am fixed in the midst of endless Misery, and shall never hear the Voice of Mercy more.

O dreadful Eternity! Oh Soul-confounding Word [•] An Ocean indeed, to which this Ocean is but as a drop; for in you no Soul shall see either Bank or Bottom. If I lie but one Night under strong pains of body, how tedious does that Night seem! And how do I tell the Clock, and wish for day! In the World I might have had Life, and would not; And now, how fain would I have Death, but cannot [•] How quick were my sins in execution? And how long is their punishment in duration? O, how shall I dwell with everlasting Burnings? Oh that God would but vouchsafe one treaty more with me! Bu[•] alas, all tenders and treaties are now at an end with me. On Earth peace, Luke 2. 13. but none in Hell O my Soul! consider these things: come, let us debate this matter seriously, before we launch o[•] into this Ocean.

THE POEM.

Who from some high-rais'd Tower views the ground,

His heart does tremble, and his head does round:

Even so my Soul, while it does view and think

On this Eternity, upon whose brink

It borders, stands amazed, and does cry,

O boundless! bottomless Eternity!

The Scourge of Hell, whose very Lash does rend

The damned Souls in twain: What! never end?

The more thereon they ponder, think and pore,

The more, poor wretches, still they howl and roar.

Ah! though more years in torments we should lie,

Than Sands are on the Shore, or in the Skie

Are twinkling Stars: yet this gives some relief,

The hope of ending. Ah! but here's the grief!

A thousand Years in Torments past and gone,

Ten Thousand more afresh are coming on;

And when these Thousands all their course have run,

The end's no more than when it first begun.

Come then, my Soul, let us discourse together

This weighty Point, and tell me plainly whether

You for these short-liv'd Ioys, that come and go,

Will plunge your self and me in endless woe.

Resolve the Question quickly, do not dream

More Time away. Lo, in an hasty stream

We swiftly pass, and shortly we shall be

Ingulphed both in this Eternity.