Wesley Corpus

3. Will you plead that you have other concerns to mind; that other business engages your thoughts? It does so indeed? But this is your foolishness; this is the very thing that leaves you without excuse. For what business can beof equal moment: The mariner may have many concerns to mind, and many businesses to engage his thoughts; but not when the ship is sinking. In such a circumstance (it is your own) you have but one thing to think of,-save the ship and your own life together! And the higher post you are in, the more deeply intent should you be on this one point. Is this a time for diversions; for eating and drinking, and rising up to play? Keep the ship. above water. Let all else go, and mind this one thing ! 4. Perhaps you will say, “So I do: I do mind this one thing, --how to save the sinking nation. And therefore now I must think of arms and provisions. I have no time now to think of religion.” This is exactly as if the mariner should say, “Now I must think of my guns and stores. I have no time now to think of the hold.” Why, man, you must think of this, or perish. It is there the leak is sprung. Stop that, or you and all your stores will go together to the bottom of the sea. Is not this your very case? Then, whatever you do, stop the leak; else you go to the bottom I do not speak against your stores: They are good in their kind; and it may be well they are laid in. But all your stores will not save the sink ing ship, unless you can stop the leak. Unless you can some way keep out these floods of ungodliness, that are still con tinually pouring in, you must soon be swallowed up in the great deep, in the abyss of God’s judgments. This, this is the destruction of the English nation. It is vice, bursting in on every side, that is just ready to sink us into slavery first, and then into the nethermost hell. “Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?” Let him think of this. Think of this, all that love your country, or that care for your own souls.