Chapter 25: Spreading Much Sail in Storms Endangers All — Carnal Mirth When God Calls to Mourning

In Storms to spread much Sail endangers all: So carnal Mirth, if God for Mourning call.

OBSERVATION.

IN Storms at Sea, the wise Navigator will no[•] spread much Sail; that is the way to lose Masts and all; They use then to furl up the Sails, and lie a Hull, when not able to bear a Knot of Sail; or else to lie a Try, or Scud before the Wind and Seas▪ It is no time then to hoist up the Top and Top-gallant, and show their bravery.

APPLICATION.

When the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth, it is no time then to make mirth, Ezekiel 21:10, 11. Should we [then] make mirth? It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as dispise it, Psalm 2:9. O it is a provoking evil, and commonly God severely punishes it. Of all persons, such speed worst in the common calamity, Amos 6. 1. Vvo to them that are at ease in Sion, that are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, as ver. 4. It may be (as one observes upon the Text) they did not laugh at him, or break Jests upon him; but they did not condole with him. And what shall be their punishment? See vers. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive: God will begin with them first. Solomon tells us, Ecclesiastes 3:4. There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance: Only (as Master Trap notes upon the Text) we must not invert the order, but weep with Men, that we may laugh with Angels. To be merry and frolick in a day of tribulation, is to disturb the order of seasons. That is a terrible Text, Isai. 22. 12. which should make the hearts of such as are guilty in this kind to tremble: In that day did the Lord of Hosts call to mourning, and to girding with sackcloath; and behold, joy and gladness, slaying Oxen, killing Sheep, drinking Vvine, &c. Well, what is the issue of this? Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from you, till you die. O dreadful word! Surely (my Brethren) Sympathy is a debt we owe to Christ Mystical. Whatever our Constitution, Condition, or Personal Immunities be, yet when God calls for Mourning, we must hear and obey that call. David was a King, an expert Musician, a Man of a sanguine and chearful constitution; yet who more sensible of the evil of those times, than he? Rivers of water ran down his eyes at the consideration of them. Melancthon was so affected with the Miseries of the Church in his days, that he seemed to take little or no notice of the death of his Child, whom he entirely loved. At such a time we may say of laughter, You are mad, and of mirth, What does it?

REFLECTION.

Blush then, O my Soul! for your levity and insensibility under God's angry Dispensations. How many of the precious Sons and Daughters of Sion, lie in Tears abroad, while I have been Nourishing my heart, as in a day of slaughter? The voice of God has cried to the City, and Men of understanding have heard its voice, Micah 6:9. But I have been deaf to that cry. How loth (my God) have I been to urge my sensual Heart to acts of Sorrow and Mourning! You hast bid me weep with them that weep but my vain heart cannot comply with such commands. Ah Lord! if I mourn not with Sion, neither shall I rejoyce with her.

O, were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into Tears; and like that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. to lie weeping at the feet of Christ. Lord, What stupidity is this? Shall I Laugh when you are Angry, and your Children weeping and trembling? Then I may justly fear, lest when they shall sing for joy [〈◊〉] heart, I shall howl for vexation of spirit, Isai. 65. 13▪ 14. Surely, O my Soul! such laughter will be turned into mourning, either here or hereafter.

THE POEM.

In troublous Times, Mirth in the Sinners face

Is like a Mourning-Cloak with Silver Lace.

The Lion's roaring makes the Beasts to quake;

God's roaring Iudgments cannot make us shake.

What Belluine Contempt is this of God,

To laugh in's face, when he takes up the Rod?

Such laughter God in tears will surely drown.

(Vnless he hate you) e're he lay it down.

These Rods have Voices; if you hear them well:

If not, another Rod's prepar'd in Hell.

And when the Arm of God shall lay it on,

Laugh if you canst; no, then your Mirth is gone.

All Sion's Children will lament and cry,

When all her beauteous Stones in dust do lie;

And he that for her then laments and mourns,

Shall want no joy, when God to her returns.