Chapter 23: When Trading Fails and Voyages Go Bad — The Cause Is Sin Undetected

Does Trading fail, and Voyages prove bad? If you cannot discern the cause, 'tis sad.

OBSERVATION.

OBSRRVATION.

There are many sad Complaints abroad (and I think not without cause) that Trade fails, nothing turns to account. And though all Countries be open, and free for Traffick, a general Peace with all Nations, yet there seems to be a Dearth, a secret Curse upon Trading. You run from Country to Country, and come losers home. Men can hardly render a reason of it; few hit the right cause of this Judgment.

APPLICATION.

That prosperity and success in Trade is from the blessing of God, I suppose few are so Atheistical, as once to deny or question. The Devil himself acknowledges it, Job 1. 10. You hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the Land. It is not in the power of any man to get Riches, Deuteronomy 8:18. You shalt remember the Lord your God, for it is He that gives you power to get wealth. It is his Blessing that makes good men rich, and his Permission that makes wicked men rich. That Maxime came from Hell, Quisque fortunae suae faber: Every man is the Contriver of his own Condition: Certainly, The good of man is not in his own hand, Job 21. 16. Promotion comes not from the East or West, Psalm 76:6, 7.

This being acknowledged, it is evident, that in all disappointment, and want of success in our Callings, we ought not to stick in second cause, but to look higher, even to the hand and dispose of God: For, whose it is to give the Blessing, his also it is to with-hold it. And this is as clear in Scripture as the other. It is the Lord that takes away the Fishes of the Sea, Hosea 4:3. Zephaniah 1:3. It is he that curseth our blessings, Malachi 2:2.

This God does as a punishment for sin, and the abuse of mercies: And therefore in such cases, we ought not to rest in general complaints to, or of one another, but search what those sins are that provoke the Lord to inflict such Judgments.

And here I must request your patience, to bear a plain and close word of Conviction. My Brethren, I am perswaded these are the sins, among many other, that provoke the Lord to blast all your Employments.

1. Our undertaking designs without Prayer. Alas, how few of us begin with God? Interest him in our dealings, and ask counsel and direction at his mouth. Prayer is that which sanctifies all employments and enjoyments, 1 Timothy 4:5. The very Heathen could say, A Iove Principium, They must begin with God O that we had more Prayers and fewer Oaths.

2. Injustice and Fraud in our dealings. A sin to which Merchants are prone, as appears by that expression, Hosea 12:7. This is that which will blast all our enjoyments.

3. An over-earnest endeavor after the World. Men make this their business, they will be rich: And hence it is, they are not onely unmerciful to themselves, in wearing and wasting their own spirits with carking cares, but to such also as they employ; neither regarding the Souls or Bodies of Men: Scarce affording them the liberty of the Lord's Day (as has been too common in our New-found-Land Employments;) or if they have it, yet they are so worn out with incessant Labors, that that precious time is spent either in sleep or idleness. It is no wonder God gives you more rest than you would have, since that day of Rest has been no better improved. This over-doing has not been the least cause of our undoing.

Lastly, Our abuse of Prosperity, when God gave it; making God's Mercies the Food and Fewel of our Lusts. When we had an a[•]fluence and confluence of outward Blessings, this made us kick against God, as Deuteronomy 32:15. Forget God, Deuteronomy 4:14. Indeed, grow proud of our strength and riches, Ezekiel 16:15. and Ier. 2. 31. Ah! How few of us in the days of our prosperity, behaved our selves as good Iehosaphat did? 2 Chron. 17. 5, 6. He had silver and gold in abundance, and his heart was lifted in the way of God's Commandments; not in pride and insolence.

REFLECTION.

Are these the sins that blast our Blessings, and wither our Mercies? O then let me cease to wonder it is no better, and rather admire that it is no worse with me; that my neglect of Prayer, injustice in dealings, Earthly-mindedness, and abuse of former Mercies, have not provoked God to strip me naked out of all my enjoyments. Let me humbly accept from the Lord the punishment of my Iniquities, and lay my hand upon my mouth. And O that these disappointments might convince me of the Creatures vanity, and cause me to drive on another trade for Heaven; then shall I adore your wisdom in rending from me those idolized enjoyments. Ah Lord, when I had them, my heart was a perpetual drudge to them. How did I then forget God, neglect duty, and not mind my eternal concernments! Oh, if these had not perished, in all probability I had perished. My God, let my Soul prosper, and then a small portion of these things shall afford me more comfort than ever I had in their greatest abundance. A little that a righteous man has, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psalm 37:16.

THE POEM.

There's great Complaint abroad that Trading's bad;

You shake your head, and cry, 'Tis sad, 'tis sad.

Merchants lay out their stock, Sea-men their pains,

And in their eye they both may put their gains.

Your Fishing fails, you wonder why 'tis so,

'Tis this (says one) or that: but I say No;

'Twill ne'r be well, till you confess and say,

It is our sin that frights the Fish away.

No wonder all goes into Bags with Holes,

Since so the Gospel has been in your Souls.

We kick'd, like Jesurun, when the flowing Tide

Of Wealth came tumbling in, this nourish'd Pride.

'Twixt Soul and Body, now I wish it may

Fare, as between the Jews and us this day.

O that our outward want and loss may be

To us a Soul-enriching Poverty!

If disappointments here, advance the Trade

For Heaven, then complain not; you have made

The richest Voyage, and your empty Ships

Return deep laden with Soul-benefits.