Chapter 31: The Sailor's Greatest Danger Is Near the Coast — The Nearer to Heaven, the Greater the Danger

The Sea-man's greatest danger's near the Coast; Vvhen we are nearest Heav'n, the danger's most.

OBSERVATION.

OBTERVATION.

Though Sea-men meet with violent Storms, yet if they have Sea-room enough, they are not much dismaid; but if they find themselves near the shoar, they look upon their condition as very dangerous. The sight of the Shore is to them (as Soloman speaks of the Morning in another case) like the shadow of death, if not able to Weather it. For one Ship swallowed up in the Ocean, may perish upon the Coast.

APPLICATION.

The greatest Streights and Difficulties that many Saints meet with in all their lives, is when they come nearest to Heaven, and have almost finished their Course. Heaven indeed is a glorious Place, the Spacious and Royal Mansion of the great King; but difficilia quae pulchra. It has a streight and narrow entrance, Luke 13. 24. O the difficulty of arriving there! How many hard tugs in Duty! What earnest contention and striving, even to an Agony, as that word imports! Luke 13. 24. Multitudes put forth, and by profession are bound, for this fair Haven; but of the multitudes that put out, how few do arrive there? A man may set out by a glorious profession, with much resolution, and continue long therein; he may offer very fair for it, and not be far from the Kingdom of God, and yet not be able to enter at the last, Matth. 7. 22.

Indeed, and many of those who are sincere in their profession, and do arrive at last, yet come to Heaven (as I may say) by the gates of Hell; and put in, as a poor Weather-beaten Vessel comes into the Harbour, more like a Wrack than a Ship, nor Mast nor Saile left. The righteous themselves are scarcely saved, (i. e.) they are saved with very much difficulty. They have not all an abundant entrance, as the Apostle speaks, 2 Peter 1:11.

Some Persons (as one well notes) Manton on Iude are afar off, Ephesians 2:23. (i. e.) touch p. 119. with no care of Religion: Some come near, but never enter; as Semiconverts, see Matth. 12. 34. Others enter, but with great difficulty; they are saved as by fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13. Make an hard shift. But then there be some that go in with full sail before a Vvind, and have an abundant entrance: They go triumphing out of the world. Ah! when we come into the Narrow Channel, at the very point of entrance into life, the Soul is then in the most serious frame, all things look with a new face. Conscience scans our evidence most crittically; then also Satan falls upon us, and makes his sorest assaults and batteries. It is the last encounter; it they escape him now, they are gone out of his reach for ever: And if he cannot hinder their Salvation, yet if he can but cloud their Evening, and make them go groaning and haling out of the world, he reaches another end by it, even to confirm and prejudice the wicked, and weaken the hands of others that are looking towards Religion.

REFLECTION.

If this be so, how inevitable is my perdition, may the careless Soul say; if they that strive so much, and go so far, yet perish at last; and if the righteous themselves are scarcely saved, then where shall such an ungodly Creature, as I appear? O Lord! if they that have made Religion their business, and have been many years pursuing a work of Mortification, have gone mourning after the Lord Jesus, and walked humbly with God; yet if some of these have such an hard tug at last, then what will become of such a vain, sensual, careless, Flesh-pleasing Wretch as I have been?

Again, Do Saints find it so streight an entrance? Then, though I have well-grounded Hopes of safe arrival at last; yet let me look to it, that I do not increase the difficulty. Ah! they are the things that are now done, or omitted, that put Conscience into such an agony then; for when it comes to review the life with the most serious eye. O, let me not stick my Death-bed full of Thorns, against I come to lie down upon it. O that I may turn to the Wall, in that hour, as Hezekiah did, 2 Kings 20. 2, 3. and say, Remember now, O Lord, I have walked before you in truth, and with a perfect heart,&c.

THE POEM.

After a tedious Passage, Saints descry

The glorious Shore, Salvation being nigh;

Death's Long boat's launch'd, ready to set ashore

Their panting Souls. O, how they tug at Oar,

Longing to be at rest! but then they find,

The hardest Tug of all is yet behind.

Iust at the Harbours mouth, they see the Wrach

Of Souls there cast away, and driven back.

A world of dangerous Rocks before it lie;

The Harbours barr'd, a[•]d now the Vvinds blow high▪

Thoughts now arise▪ fears multiply apace;

All things about them have another face

Life blazes just like an expiring light;

The Soul's upon the lip, prepar'd for flight.

Death, till the Resurrection, tears and rends

Out of each other's arms, two parting Friends,

The Soul and Body. Ah! but more than so,

The Devil falls upon them ere they go,

With new temptations, back'd with all his power,

And scruples kept on purpose for that hour.

This is the last encounter, now or never.

If he succeeds not now, they're gone for ever.

Thus in they put, with hardship at the last,

As Ships out of a Storm, nor Sail, nor Mast:

Yet some go in before a Wind, and have

Their Streamer of Assurance flying brave.

Lord, give me easier entrance, if you please;

Or if I may not there arrive with ease,

Yet I beseech the set me safe ashore,

Though stormy Winds at Harbours mouth should roar.