Chapter 24: Greater Fish Devour the Less — So Some Men Crush Those Within Their Power

In Seas the greater Fish the less devour: So some Men crush all those within their power.

OBSERVATION.

There are Fishes of Prey in the Sea, as well as Birds and Beasts of Prey on the Land. Our Sea-men tell us, how the devouring Whales, Sharks, Dolphins, and other Fishes follow the Caplein, and other smaller Fish, and devour multitudes of them. It is frequent with us, in our own Seas, to find several smaller Fishes in the Bellies of the greater ones; indeed, I have often heard Sea-men say, That the poor little Fry, when pursued, are so sensible of the danger, that they have sometimes seen multitudes of them cast themselves upon the Shoar, and perish there, to avoid the danger of being devoured by them.

APPLICATION.

Thus cruel, merciless, and oppressive are wicked Men, whose tender mercies are cruelty, Proverbs 22:10. We see the like cruelty in our Extortioners, and over-reaching Sharks ashore, who grind the faces of the Poor, and regard not the Cries of the Fatherless and Widows, but fill their Houses with the gain of Oppression. These are, by the Holy Ghost, compared to the fishes of the Sea, Habakkuk 1:13, 14. This is a crying sin, indeed, it sends up a loud cry to Heaven for Vengeance, Exod. 22, 23. If you afflict the widow and the fatherless, and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry. And Verse 27. I will hear his cry, for I am gracious. In fact, God will not only hear their Cry, but avenge their Quarrel. That is a remarkable Text, 1 Thessalonians 4:6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the [Avenger] of all such. This word Avenger, is but once more used in the New Testament, Romans 13:4. And there it is applyed to the Civil Magistrate, who is to see Execution done upon Offenders. But now this is a Sin that sometimes may b[•] out of the reach of mans Justice, and therefore God himself will be their Avenger. You may overpower the Poor in this World, and it may be they cannot contend with you at mans Barr, therefore God will bring it before his Barr.

Believe it, Sirs, it is a sin so provoking to God, that he will not let it 'scape without severe punishment, sooner or later. The Prophet Habbakkuk, Chap. 1. verse 13. wondred how the holy God could forbear such till the general day of reckoning, and that he did not take exemplary Vengeance on them in this Life. You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look upon Iniquity: Therefore then lookest you upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest your tongue when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he? And Proverbs 23:10, 11. Enter not into the Fields of the Fatherless, i. e. Of the poor and helpless. But why is it more dangerous violently to invade their right, than anothers? The reason is added, For their Redeemer is mighty, and he shall plead their cause with you. It may be they are not able to retain a Counsel to plead their cause here; therefore God will plead their cause for them.

REFLECTION.

Turn in upon your self (O my Soul) and consider, Hast you not been guilty of this crying sin? Have I not (when a Servant) over-reached and defrauded others, and filled my Master's House with Violence and Deceit? and so brought myself under that dreadful threatning, Zephaniah 1:9. Or since I came to trade and deal upon mine own account, have not the Ballances of Deceit been in my hand? I have (it may be) kept many in my service and employment; have not I used their labors without reward, and so am under that woe? Ier. 22. 13. Or not given them Wages proportionable to their work? Isai. 58. 3. Or by bad Payment and unjust Deductions and Allowances, defrauded them of a part of their due? Malachi 3:5. Or at least delayed payment, ou[•] of a covetous disposition to gain by it; while their necessities in the mean time cryed aloud for it; and so sinned against God's express commands, Deuteronomy 24:14, 15. Levit. 19. 30. Or have I not persecuted such as God has smitten? Psalm 69:26. And rigorously exacted the uttermost of my due, though the hand of God has gone out against them, bre[•]king their estates? O my Soul, examine your self upon these particulars; rest not quiet, until this guilt be [•]emoved by the application of the Blood of Sprinkling. Has not the Lord said, Jam. 2. 13. That they shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy? And is it not a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, who has said, He will take vengeance for these things?

THE POEM.

Devouring Whales and ravenous Sharks do follow

The lesser Fry, and at one gulp do swallow

Some hundreds of them, as our Sea-men say:

But we can tell far stranger things than they.

For we have Sharks ashore, in every Creek,

That to devour poor Men do hunt and seek.

No Pity, Sense, or Bowels in them be,

In fact, have they not put off Humanity?

Extortioners and Cheaters, whom God hates,

Have dreadful open Mouths, and through those Gates

Brave Persons with their Heritages pass

In Funeral-state, Friends crying out Alas!

O give me Agur's wish, that I may never

Be such my self, or feel the hands of either.

And as for those that in their paws are grip'd,

Pity and rescue, Lord, from that sad plight.

When I behold the squeaking Lark, that's born

In Falcon's Talons, crying, bleeding, torn;

I pity its sad case, and would relieve

The Prisoner, if I could, as well as grieve.

Fountain of Pity, hear the piteous Moans

Of all your Captive and Oppressed Ones.