heaven But with a soft fair sweet and gentle gale Which drives him fairly filling out his sail He sucks the sweetness of external pleasure Gods temporal blessings mans lawful pleasure If well improved he looks on every side His Cup is full he runs before the Tide Meets with no tempest neither dreads a storm And if such pleasant gales as these do harm It is because men think themselves secure Neglect the making their salvation sure For want of diligence and constant care They 'r on this Rock before they be aware When earthly favours like a swelling Tide Puffs up the mind and fills the heart with pride Instead of thankfulness he now begins To cast a pleasant glance at smaller sins And never sounds his heart to see how nigh He is the Rock but unadvisedly He still proceeds takes not the least regard Unto Gods Word but as an useless Card. First smiles at sin t is pleasant in his sight At last he doth commit it with delight Lo thus Gods mercies may for want of care And due improvement prove a hurtless snare And run a soul upon this Rock while he Is so becalm'd he doth no danger see Wherefore dear hearts if God Almighty bless Your outward man your care must be no less No less in watchfulness no less in prayer Least temporal injoyments proves a snare O search no less into Gods Holy Word Because the Lord such plenty doth afford Gods Word will tell thee That where much is given Much is required poor souls may miss of heaven When earth affords them such a plenteous store Of temporal things their hearts can wish no more A second Rock there is of which beware While some presume all 's well others despair Of being sav'd and think it is is in vain To seek for that they never shall obtain And being overwhelmed with despair Neglect that sacred remedy of prayer Neglects the use of Scriptures sweet direction Which saith man must make sure of Election 'T is not a holy sanctified life Will satisfie the soul or end the strife Despair has made despair will act its part And like a Tyrant will usurp the heart And tells the soul his sins is scor'd in heaven And are too numerous to be forgiven And thus torments the soul with endless grief And leaves the soul quite hopeless of relief 'T is not a smooth-fac'd but tempestuous Seas That runs the soul upon such Rocks as these It is some darling sin some bosome evil Some strong temptations that our Foe the Devil Doth with the best advantage that he can Make use of for the overthrow of man But that thou mayst safely arrive at last At thy desired Port and not be cast Upon the Churlish Rocks and scape the sand Thou must endeavour next to understand That holy Art of Sacred Navigation Which is the Subject of our next Relation CHAP. II. Wherein is laid down the Three Principaâ— Parts of Spiritual Navigation Here Sacred Navigation is held forth Fitted to th' Body of Divinity That holy Seamen sailing on the earth May rightly steer to bless d Eternity SIth to the World the term of Sea is given Through which the soul must make its way to heaven And Christian Seamen whose body is likewise Term'd a Ship their Souls the Merchandize Saints then stands i'need to bend their meditation To learn the Art of Sacred Navigation Or else they 'll never rightly understand To steer aright unto the Holy Land A Seaman may be made to act his part And be expert at Sea by humane Art But Art makes not a Saint Man may be taught By Art to whirle a Ship this world about With speed and safety to the Indian shore Whose pleasant banks abound with Golden Ore And yet unskilful cannot understand To steer aright unto the Holy Land Whos 's dust's more worth than pearl whose sacred mould Is far more excellent than Indian Gold Whos 's treasure is not liable to rust Like Gold whose first Original is dust To know I say and well to understand To steer our course to fair Emanuel's land Requires more Skill than humane Art can teach It is a mystery Nature cannot reach The Art 's Divine and is divinely wrought Yet God prescribes a way how 't may be taught Whoever then would learn this Sacred Art He must deny come out of and depart His Bark of Reason he must lay aside At least not trust to 't so as to confide In humane Wisdom least he should miscarry He must repair unto the Sanctuary The sacred Scripture must be thy Instructor The holy Spirit also thy Conductor The best Informer of a Christians heart In this so sacred soul-concerning Art Or else he 'l sink into that Deep Abiss That Lake of Fire where no bottom is Where endless misery and sore distress Must be his Port instead of happiness He that would steer his course to heaven right Must have a clear a true and perfect sight Not only of that Sacred Mystery Christs Glorious Kingdom but of Divinity The Art and Mystery of Soul Navigation Is a divine and sacred Spectulation This sacred Art doth teach the Soul to know Where heaven lies and how to steer thereto The first part of this Sacred Art I call Speculative the second Practical The third Affectionate with all these three The Spiritual Seaman must acquainted be As Light was made first in the Old Creation So in the New the first is Speculation Or Sacred Knowledg A man must first receive Thngs in his understanding then believe Then must he practice according to direction Knowledg and Practice will inflame affection Thus having opened each several part Of this Soul-saving Navigable Art Our next work will be to treat upon Each part distinctly teach them one by one The whole discourse no further will extend But to unfold these three and then t will end The first part therefore of Soul Navigation Being Divine and Sacred Speculation Knowledge I mean that precious beam of Light Whose rising in the Soul doth put to flight The evening mists makes shadows fly away And in the Understanding makes a day Gives that being that ne'r yet hath been Discovers that which never yet was seen That Spiritual Seamen therefore may discern What 's necessaâ—y in this Art to learn The Seamans Compass shall the cafe decide And for instructions shall be our guid As in the Compass Four Points there be Four Points in Christian Compass you shall see â—he Four general Points that 's most of all â—oted by Seamen as the principal â— North the first i' th Compass and the rest â—ollows in order thus East South and West â—od in our Christian Compass first of all â— to be eyed as the principal â—o God alone man first must cast his eye â—o Dread and sear his Soveraign Majesty â—y the North Star the Seaman is Directed â—o point i th Compass profits that neglected â—l our endeavours will be nothing worth â— first we eye not God God stands for
And would perswade thee there 's no greater treâ—suâ— To be enjoy'd the senses now invites The flesh to taste which draws in these delighâ— Like as a leak draws water at the Seas And sink the Ship so do such leaks as these Draw in this worldly pleasure until they Be fill d so full the Vessel 's cast away And Lading lost which is the worst of all And by this means came our first Fathers fall Eve's eye beheld the Fruit and so admir'd Presents it to the flesh the flesh desir'd Man being made of earth by nature weak Not minding as he might to stop the leak He lost his Vessel as he well deserv'd Although it s hop'd his Lading was preserv'd This leak sunk Achan his eye-delighting pleasure As by a leak did let in such a measure Of Avarice that using no endeavour To stop that Leak his Ship was lost for ever And in a word the naked truth to speak Most mischiefs makes their entrance at this leak The sense of Seeing first doth act its part Presently brings the object to the heart The heart whose office 't is to stop the leak â—f it neglects its part these waters break â—nto the Ship runs in without controul And sinks the Ship and overthrows the Soul Then keep thy heart with diligence and care Let not thy eye nor ear thy heart ensnare â—fe'r thine eye invite thine heart to pleasure Think how uncertain is this earthly treasure What true content what solid joy can I Take in this world alass I am born to die â—uppose I find some pleasure for too day â—oo morrow death tells me I must away â—o earth from whence I came the grave must keep My mouldring body till I wake from sleep I leave my pleasure and I leave my sorrow I sleep too day and shall awake too morrow And when I shall awake I shall be hurl'd Immediately into another world And then shall live again and stand before The judge of heaven and earth and die no more This state shall be a state of joy or pain From which I never shall be mov'd again If for this worlds uncertain pleasures I Should lose that joy that lasts eternally How costly would these pleasures be What ratâ— Should I pay for these toys whose longest datâ— Admits no longer measure then a Span Whose largest confines is the life of man Such serious thoughts as these they will no doubâ— Stop all these Leaks and keep vain pleasures out The third resemblance that there is between Mans Body and a Ship may thus be seen It s not the empty Ship that men so prize But for the sake of its rich Merchandize And as a Ship contains within his hould The Merchants treasure so mans precious Soul That is far richer than the Golden Ore The Merchant fetches from the Indian Shore Is in his Body wherefore man beware Of Soul Ship-wrack use Diligence and Care To keep thy Lading safe Slack not thy pain For that once lost thou'lt never find again Thy Lading being lost there 's no indeavoâ— Can save thy Vessel but it sinks for ever Into a burning Lake a Lake of fire Whose torments ceases not nor flames expire O man be careful whilst thou hast a day Thy want of care will cast thy Ship away The Carcass of a Ship when all its store Is buried in the sand is of far more Esteem and value than the Body when It s precious Soul is gone from thence for then The Body 's nothing but a lump of Clay Sleeping in Dust until the Judgment Day When all must wake to joy or else to sorrow Unto a dismal night or joyful morrow A Ship at Sea is liable to harms As well by Rocks and Sands as sudden Storms A Chrstian while upon these troubled Seas He hath his Rocks and Sands and upon these He sometimes runs aground and sometimes hits Upon these Churlish Rocks until he splits His slender Vessel which with great indeavour Is hardly sav'd from perishing for ever Sins and temptations is a Christians Sand On which sometimes he runs aground and stands And cannot move the sins of Christians heels Like red sea sands takes off their Chariot wheels Weakens a Christians Faith he scarce can know Whether he moves one step for Heaven or no. A Christian that is with his Sin defil'd He 's at a stand scarce thinks himself a Child It is but faintly that he calls him Father But like the prodigal he chuseth rather The name of Servant unto such a stand Doth sin put sold Sons lost on such a sand And other sands there be of no less danger To which a Christian must not be a stranger They are temptations of every kind That oftentimes do much afflict the mind As when a Christian sees Blasphemers flourish While Righteous ones is rather fit to perish It runs the soul on ground he scarce can say That he is in the right and perfect way This sometimes made the best of men mistrust And judge the generation of the Just That soul that runs himself on such a sand Is often times put to a perfect stand 'T was this made righteous David thus complain Surely saith he I 've wash'd my hands in vain O soul beware this is a dangerous sand This put good David unto such a stand That till the spring-tide of Gods love did flow Into his Soul his faith was grown so low He there stuck fast in danger to miscarry Until he went into Gods Sanctuary Whose holy streams Did give his soul such strength That he got off that dangerous sand at length Christians have rocks as well as sands and they Do seldom miss to cast the Ship away I 'll mention two but they shall be the Chief And yet but two because I will be brief Presumption and Despair on these two Rocks Whoever runs with violence and knocks If on the first of these his soul but hit 'T is very seldom but the soul is split When men presume to sin and yet will dare Presumptuously to promise equal share With best of Saints in everlasting joy How many thousands thus themselves destroy It is a sign saith the Physician Who when he minds his Patients disposition Finds him so stupifi'd he doth not know Whether he be distempered or no Though every one about him gives him over And leaves expecting that he will recover The dying man feels nothing hath no fears Whilst his relations dews his bed with tears And sees him dying though he sees no danger Sees death approaching while the man 's a stranger Unto the thoughts of death presumes all 's well And thus presumptuously some goes to Hell Laughing at sin while others under deep Sad apprehensions of their state can weep Beholds him dying that sees no such thing Sees death hath stung him though he feels nothing The choicest Christians floating on the Seas Of swelling pomp may run himself with ease Upon this Rock he is not fiercely driven By any storm or tempest sent from
could make the World to bear his Yoke Must in a Moment â—eel the direful Stroke Of Death which will remove him from his Treasure And in a moment level mighty Caesar With Beggars that upon the Dung-hill lies So swiftly this conceited Substance flies Where 's now the Man that 〈◊〉 so lately seen Subdue the Earth He 's as he had not been The seeming-Substance in the which he boasted Is like a Shaddow fled and he has lost it Then happy 's he that on this Point doth stear His Course aright he has need to fear The Threats of Death his Sins are all forgiven And his enduring Substance is in Heaven Where he shall need no Sword to keep his Right Or Watch-man to secure him in the Night Where Tears shall never more offend his Eyes And where he never more shall hear the Cryes Of Souls opprest where Wickedness shall cease Where all his Sorrows shall be turn'd to Peace Where Sighing shall be turn'd to singing Praise Where Nights are chang'd into perpetual Days Where wicked Men shall never lay more Hands On such as do delight in God's Commands Where all their threatning their cruel words Where-with they â—ex Christ's little Flock like Swords Shall pierce their Souls with Sorrow and their Heart Shall never more be freed from the smart Whose haughty Looks the Lord will then abase And they with Horror shall behold God's Face They that to Mercy would not be inclin'd Shall beg for Mercy and no Mercy find But they who shall in Heaven receive a Place Happy are they that are in such a Case O happy are those Souls whose God 's the Lord Who 've squar'd their Lives according to his Word Blessed's that Man in Death who in his Life Hath loved Holyness hated Strife Then Stear thy Course aright on West by North Where Treasures lye whose excellence worth Cannot be measured by me nor can Its Height and Depth be valued by Man It is indeed Man's Duty to inquire Into its Worth believe and so admire THus in our Christian Compass we have past From North to East to South to West at last We 're come to North again Our longest Day On Earth is measured to us by the Stay Of Heaven's great Lamp of Light the glorious Sun When it stayes longest in oâ—â— Horizon But now our Sun will never lose its Light We never more shall see a Cloudy Night If while thou art on Earth thou makest sure This sacred Treasure thou lyes down secure And free from Fear no Darkness will arise To hide this sacred Glory from thine Eyes Who then would make this World 's uncertain Treasure The Object of their Comfort Joy Pleasure Lay Treasure up in Heaven that may be From Thieves and Rust from Death and Danger free The height of Earthly Glory 's like a Bubble Fill'd with the wind but tost about with Trouble It 's at no certain speaks thee fair To-day And of a suddain it makes hast away The Pâ—rsian Monarch once could make his boast His Branches spread themselves in every Coast Throughout the Universe and in one Story The World agreed to Crown him with their Glory All People is contented he shall have What e'r his Eye could see or Heart could crave The Enjoyment of all this the Reason why We cannot call it true Felicity â—â—its Uncertainty Man has no Power To keep himself in this Estate an Hour The momentary Dangers that attend him He cannot scape though all the World be friend him Sorrows as well as Pleasures do abound On every Hand Dâ—ngers besets him round His Enemies beholds him and admire His prosperous State and secretly conspire His suddain Death hoping a Change in State May make an Alteration in their Fate But if through Servant's watchfulness and care He be preserved and escape that snare â—here's other Dangers that be incident To Man as such Care never can prevent The Sorrows that this Monarch doth sustain As the true Product of some grievous Pain Sometime is in less somtime in greater measure Bereaves him tho a Prince of all his Pleasure Death so impartially doth throw his Dart Makes Prince Pesant from his Pleasures part The Kings of Egypt making of their Feasts Fit to accomodate their Princely Guests Did serve Death's-Head as the last Course whereby They were inform'd of their Mortality Thus at the end of all their Dainty Chear They by Death's head of Death admonisht were This is the Counsel therefore that I give To such as do in full Enjoyment live Of Princely Pleasures know for certainty You are but Men tho Princes you must dye You are but Clay Death will dis-robe you quite And bury all your Glory out of sight Naked you shall arise and stand before The Judge of Heaven Earth have no more Advantage than the Beggar All shall have One common Resurrection from the Grave And no Respect of Persons will be there No notice will be taken what you were In Men's Esteem whether you were the Head Or such as was constrain'd to beg their Bread But what your Works have been O happy He Tho Rich or Poor of high or low Degree Whose VVorks shall be accepted He or they Shall stand in Judgment at the Judgment-Day All those whom Death finds in the Lord are blest They cease from Labour enter into Rest Thus have we run our Christian Compass round And if our way Canaan we have found Thorow the raging Seas of VVorldly Trouble Our Labors then will be rewarded double If we have learn'd to scape the Rocks and Sand And every Point o' th' Compass understand And upon every Point can stear aright Whether in pleasant Day or stormy Night If we each Point do so exactly learn That whether we be at Mast or Pump or Stern We can behave our selves in every Place Like Men accomplisht Happy is our Case OUr Compass being finisht one thing more Is necessary to be known Before Our Christian Compass we begin to con We must erect the Point it turns upon An Enlivened Conscience THe PIN on which our Christian Compass turns which giv's quick Motio to our lifeless Urns It is a Conscience touched with God's Word That 's quick sharper than a Two-edg'd Sword Which entereth into the very Soul And doth direct thine Eye unto the Pole God's Word 's the sacred Load-stone therefore The Conscience toucht therewith will ever more Gently be moving upon thy Affection With fixed Eyes to God for true Direction VVhen as the Seaman's Compass is erected And on his Part no Labor is neglected But that he dayly cons his Compass over Tho neither Sun nor Moon he can discover Minding his Compass he knows how to stear And knows when either Rocks or Sands be there Christians that do erect their Compass right Though they be Storm beset or in the Night Can find their way their Compass being laid Upon the Conscience but when no use is made Of Conscience in the things we undertake
to thy desired rest Is his desire who doth here recommend Tâ—â—s Poem to thy use who is thy Friend Benjamin Keach TO THE READER By a Gentlewoman who was an intimate Friend of the Authors in Commendation of this Poem IT is not common for the Female-kind In Printed papers to expose their mind To publick view yet if I here transgress I hope my fault will seem so much the less Because I never did so much before And Peradventure never may do more These lines kind Reader that I hear commend I had th' advantage first to see them Pend And hear them read the matter so delighted My ravish'd Senses that it has invited Me to commend these Poems which I know To be of Soul-concern to High and Low There 's not a Man upon the Earth so high But may upon this Subject cast an eye He that doth think himself too high to know His Maker while on Earth will be too low For God to know when he would be regarded While such as knows God here will be rewarded He that doth think himself to know so much That he need know no more 't is unto such That Paul that good Apostle is so bold To tell them they know nothing as they should Who think themselves too high to be concern'd VVith any thing that here is to be learn'd VVill be too low to offer his Repentance Or stand in Judgment or reverse the Sentence Of Go you Curs'd VVherefore let none disdain To look upon this Piece because 't is plain So much the rather may you be contented To look upon this Piece that 's here presented Because the matter that it doth contain Is no new Doctrin no Fanaticks strain 'T is Catholick Apostolick likewise That which no sober Christian-man denyes It is the knowledge of the Lord most high One God in Essence three in Trinity To know that God made Man upright and good To know likewise that Man no long time stood In this so just so perfect good Estate Before he did from thence degenerate To know that Man was tempted by the Devil To break God's Law till when he knew no Evilâ— To know that Man was sentenced to Dye And Christ was promised immediatly To wound the Serpent by whom Man was slain And to restore fal'n Man to Life again To know that Christ was very God indeed And very Man made of the VVomans Seed To know that Christ by God's appointment dy'd And was by Pontious Pilate Crucifi'd And in the Grave did for a time remain And on the Third Day He did Rise again That unto Christ all Soveraign Power was given Both in the Earth and also in the Heaven To know I say and rightly understand That all the VVorld is now at Christ's command To know the Father and the Son likewise To know the Holy-Ghost that Sanctifies And fits the Soul for Death and future Glory These are the things the Author spreads before ye My hearts desire is the Author he May be rewarded in Eternity In everlasting Joy where Saints shall sing Continual Anthems to their Heavenly King VVhere God himself will wipe away all tears VVhere he no more shall be perplext with fears Of stearing right unto that Holy Land VVhere Saints and Angels in God's presence stands Yet while he on these restless Seas remains That he might be assisted in his pains My hearts desire is he may Inherit The gifts and graces of God's holy Spirit That may descend into him like a flood That he thereby may do his Country good Thus with my hearty prayers to God I rest Desiring his endeavours may be blest Vnto that use for which they were intended Then shall I think my Friend is well be-friended SHe that doth this Unpolish'd piece commend Was willing that it should obtain its end No pains she spar'd to give these Poems Birth But with desire sought to bring it forth And to that end that nothing might prevent Gave her assistance for encouragement May these my labours to thy use be blest For which her Love her Zeal her Heart exprest Courteous Reader I Have for thy ease and pleasantness in Reading drawn up this brief Table containing in it the chief Heads that is Treated on in the First Part of this Book because the first part is not divided as it ought to have been nor as the Second aâ—d Third Part is I have therefore used this Method to every particular matter that is Treated on in this First Part I have given thee Directions in what Page to find them that so thou may readily turn to that matter thou art most desirous to inspect The First Part of this Book is an Introduction to the Art of Soul-Navigation and ought to have been so Intituled The TABLE THat there is a true resemblance between a Ship at Sea and a Christian in this World and between the Sea and the World pag. 1 2 3 The like true resemblance between the Word of God and the Sea-mans Compass the Seas resemble this world in three particulars 1. In the unconstancy of its motion 2ly In the Salt gusâ— the waters of the Sea hath 3dly In the Violence of the Waves p. 4 5 A Ship at Sea resembles a Christian in this world in three particulars First In being liable to Leaks p. 6 7 8. In being liable to run upon Sands and so broken p. 9 10. In being liable to be split upon Rocks p. 11. â—e Rocks explained p. 12 13. â— the Second Part call'd Speculation begins with an Introduction to Speculation p. 14 15 16. â—e four Cardinal Points Treated of The North compared to God the West to Christ the South to Holiness West to Death p. 17. â—ripture grounds for this Allusion p. 18 19. â—eculation explained the first part of it being the true knowledge of God p. 21 22 23. â—ow Christ must be known p. 24 25 26. â—f Holiness p. 27 28. â—f Death p. 29. â—he certainty of the Resurrection from Death to Life again as the Sun moves from West to North and from North to East again so Man rising from the Grave goes to God from God to Christ his Judge p. 30. The Blessed Estate of the Righteous p. 31 32 33. The sad State of Sinners after Resurrection they must return back again from Christ their Judge to their Western Point which is the Second Death p. 34 35 36. A general Application p. 37 38. ERRATA Reader THere is some but not many Faults escaped the Press which because somâ— wrongs the Sense I have noted omitting sucâ— Literal Mistakes as do not wrong the Sense PAge 2 line 12 for worth read World p 9 l. â—9 f hiâ— r. God p. 10 l 2 f. sould r Sâ—uls Ibid â— Sâ—â—â— Some 's p 11 l. 7 r. It is a signe of Death p. 57 l. 22. â— â—â—ssuated p. 68 l. 27 r. External THE â—eaman's Spiritual Companion OR Navigation Spiritualized A Ship at Sea that on the Waves is tost In danger every moment to be lost
Titus the Roman when he did behold The Sanctum Sanctorum beautified with Gold â—e stood amaz'd lifts up his hands to Heaven Desires of the Lord to be forgiven His great offence to God protesting still That glorious Temple fell against his will Wherefore he crys aloud calls out amain â—o spare that Holy Temple crys again â— spare saith he that glorious place 't is pity â— should be ruin'd with this wicked City â—et was this Temples glory not so great â—o answer to the height of mans conceit â—or may the height of mans conceit compare â—ith what this Vision did to John declare â—welve thousand furlongs was its measured height â—he glory of the Lamb did give it light â—he Suns resplendent rays when shining clear â—ould give no light it had no luster there â—o night was there no cloud nor sables shade â—his is the glorious day the Lord hath made â—hat tongue or pen can give a true relation â—f new Jerusalem the habitation â—f glorified Saints whose full perfection â—all be compleated at the resurrection But last to the West â—â—ve this to say â—ere is eternal night as well as day Thugh God in Christ do bless the Sts. with light God out of Christ prepares perpetual night For wicked men and Devils no exemption In life there is in death there 's no redemption All men must die we know it to be true Daily experience doth this matter shew There 's none exempt from death the very best Choicest of Christians pass from South to West The good man dies the wicked dies also Both good and bad from West to North must go The good man shall be rais'd so will the evil The Angel must be judg'd so will the Devil The difference lies here the Saints perfection Is at the highest after resurection 'T is then their everlasting day begins 'T is then they turn their backs of all their sins But with the wicked it is nothing so From their North Point to West again they go Depart they must from Gods eternal light VVith go you cursed to perpetual night But Oh! what heart can think or tongue express Their endless wo their grief remediless Consider Christians joy you need not borrow A better Pensil to paint forth their sorrow Consider but the comfort of the light From thence behold the terror of the night If naught but darkness should their souls oppress It would be sorrowful and comfortless 'T is utter darkness not the smallest beam Of light which makes their sorrows so extream Those very eyes while on the earth was blest VVith natural light shall now be dispossest Of all the incomfort what they undergo Being in darkness aggravates their woe The lustful eyes which in the earth delighted In naught but filthiness is now be nighted Shall never see a pleasant object more But weep and wail and never shall give o'r Be warn'd you swearers for these tongues of yours That in blaspâ—eming spends your precious hourâ— Uncessently shall then blaspheme Gods name For very anguish in tormenting flame And yet in darkness you that can hear God cry Repent you sinners wherefore will you die That scorns his bounty and refuse his grace While God with patience waiting gives you space You that can hear the God of Heaven complain At your destruction yet rebel again You that have grievâ—d the Lord you now must bear Your endless grief your cryes he will not hear Your ears which while on earth could give consent To hear Gods name blasphemed and be content Shall now hear sighs and lamentable cryes While you are sharers in these miseries Your hearts with which you hated every word Spoke to you by the Servants of the Lord With horror and amazement shall be smitten While all your former wickedness â—s written â—n your tormented conscience which will smite you â—nd with its aggravation shall affright you And in a dreadful manner shall present Before your face that hellish regiment Of all your former sins you have committed From which you might have been acquitted You then have time too much to see your folly But none at all to labour to be holy Your day is past your dreadful night is come Your Sun is set and darkness is your doom This is the last considerable thing Relating to the West that I shall bring But yet before we pass to th' Second part Of this soul-saving Navigable Art These four things that we have lastly read Shall once again before your eyes be spread But very brief and for no other end But that I may more seriously commend Them to your thoughts as highly your concern Rightly to weigh to understand and learn North stands for God and that you first must know From God to Christ your Eastern Star you go God out of Christ is cloathed all in ire Behold God so he 's a consuming fire To God by Christ your souls must have access And Christ conducts thee unto holiness Thy Southern Point from whence cast but thine eye Unto thy Western Point and learn to die Four things is in thy Western Point laid down All very necessary to be known First thou must die thy rising sun must set I' th' West 't is certain do not that forget From West to North from death to God you go By God through Christ th' art rais'd again also After which time thy sun will set no more Nor yet decline as it has done before But if thou do'st not die a holy man Thou wilt be far more miserable than Thou wast before thou must go back again From North to West for ever to remain In that black night which never sees a morrow Where thou wilt find no period of thy sorrow One word of use and then I shall have done Walk not in darkness while you have the Sun To be your guid He that walks in light May see to take and chuse his steps aright But he that walks in paths of darkness neither Knows how to guid his steps aright nor whether He is a going God hath provided well Why should your precious souls go down to hell What pity 't is that man that noble creature Whose well composed form and comely feature The Son of God did not disdain I say What pity 't is he should be cast away And that you may not want a full direction To bring you unto Heaven Saints perfection The next unto this Art of Speculation Must be the practick of Souls Navigation In which discourse I shall my self confine To th' Seamans Compass only more divine And shall accordingly present to view Our Practick Points in number thirty two Thus having given you a full relation Of the First Part of Sacred Navigation Which is speculation I now proceed Unto the Second Part which is indeed The Practice of a Christian after he Hath been instructed to a good degree In the true Knowledge of the Deity One God in Essence three in Divinity Distinguish't thus the Father and the Son And Holy Ghost three
may take Pleasure â— little Season and Repent at leisure â—nswer thy Flesh thou cannot surely say â—hou mayst continue yet another Day â—nd to confirm this Truth Experience sayes â—eath strikes the Child the aged Man betrays â—he hopeful young Man even in his Prime â—nd gives him not sometimes an howers time Death comes unheard her Arrow 's sharp and keen â—e strikes invisibly kills unseen â—ncertain when but certain Death will strike â—especting Kings and Beggars all alike â—eath's stroke is dreadful come it soon or late â—t being struck Repentance out of date Perhaps thou may take Pleasure for To-Day â—-Morrow Death doth take thy Life away â—e World poor Soul and all the Pleasures in it â—nnot secure thee now another Minute â—en hear To-day 't is all the time that 's given â—ject To-day and lose thy Way to Heaven West and by North. The next Point in this Quarter 's West by North â—learn this Point aright is of great worth Remember this That if thou dost not take Time by the Fore-lock when thou wast awaâ— Living on Earth I mean pale Death bereaâ— thâ— Of Life of all means of Grace leaves thâ— In no Capacity to mend thy Wayes Living thou may but dead thou cannot praisâ— The sacred Name of God within the Grave There 's no Remembrance that the Dead â— haâ— King Solomon whom God hath made more wâ— Than any Man before or since did prize A living Dog tho th' mean'st one could set 〈◊〉 Before a dead altho a Kingly Lyon And Solomon doth give this Reason why The Living knows saith he that he must dye The Dead knows nothing Therefore while tâ— liâ— Observe the Counsel that Christ Jesus gives Work while it is to-day the Night will hast In which the time of working will be past 'T is in the Day Men work not in the Night Wherefore improve thy Day with all thy miâ— The Heavenly Hosts of Angels are delighteâ— When Sinners turn before they are be-night Christ to Jerusalem was heard to say O that thou didst but know in this thy Day The things that do concern thy Peace But noâ— The Day is past and Darkness doth ensue â—ese things which in the day God doth reveal â—e Night being come thick darkness doth conceal Well then be careful thou that art to stear â—on this Point for if thou miss it here â—ou runs the hazard of th' approaching Night â—hen Heaven will refuse to give thee Light â— thou would have thy Soul-Endeavours blest â—en mind the next Point which is West North-VVest VVest North-VVest â—t not the greatness of the Numbers sway thee â—r let the Counsel of the most betray thee â—e most are careless how they spend their time â—ving their Lusts and Satan with their prime â—tear not by most Examples for thereby â—u'lt miss thy Point and sink Eternally â— Paths of Death is like the mighty Ocean â—en quiet calm'd deny their Waves of Motion â—en Seamen ride upon the smooth-fac'd Seas â—thout disturbance Many run with Ease â—aths of Darkness and are quite mis-led â— so have many thousands perished â— Way that leads to true Felicity â—ke the narrow Channel that doth lye â— at the Entrance of some Isle A Stranger â—nding out the Channel meets with danger â—ell thou art sailing to the Holy I le â— not the smooth-fac'd Seas thy Soul beguile The Pleasures of this World I mean which doâ— Bring many thousands to Eternal Woe And with this Caution I 'le this Point concludâ— Go not to Hell because the multitude Will not seek after true Felicity But rather chuse the Paths of Death and dye 'T is better go to Heaven though alone Than go to Hell ' cause thousands more are gonâ— This leads us to North-West by West where weâ— Shall farther in our Christian Compass be North-West by West Instructed still that so we may not miss That sacred Shore where true Contentment iâ— We 're still exhorting of you to prepare To meet with Death to mind your Western Staâ— We having told you You must learn to dye If you would live in Joy eternally That you may learn to dye we also give You Notice that you first must learn to live But for as much as some impediments Do threaten much as if they would prevent All good Endeavours I shall now asay To take all such impediments away The two next Points that follow will I spend Alone for the promoting of that End Obj. The Flesh objects against our first Advicâ— Supposing it to be a Point too nice Should thou saith Flesh refuse to own that wâ— Which most walk in what is' t Men will not sayâ— Thou wilt expose thy self to all Men's scorn And be as one forsaken and forlorn And many troubles thou 'lt find beside Thy Sorrows will be daily multiply'd Ans To this I Answer 'T is no matter what Man say or think so God reject thee not Man may revile thy soul they cannot harm Undaunted Sea-men do not fear a Storm 'T is not whom Man but whom the Lord approves That finds acceptance wherefore it behoves Thee not to let the fear of Man betray Thy Soul and keep thee from the narrow way This Channel 's narrow and is hard to find But Christ's thy Pilot fear thou not the wind Believe God's Word and do thou not regard Mens threatnings or their promise of reward This is his Word Whoever doth not hate Father and Mother Life for my Name 's sake He is not worthy of the smallest measure Of Sion's Glory Christ the Eternal Treasure What shall the fear of mortal man whose breath Is in his Nostrils shall the fear of Death Cause thee to slight the way of God deny His sacred Truths and fall eternally Let not thy life be precious in thine eyes But freely give it for a Sacrifice If God require it as He often hath done To bear a Testimony for his Son What! did the Son of God freely lay down His Sacred Life to purchase thee a Crown And shall a Christian think his life too dear To lose for Christ Alas thy stay is here But for a moments time the life of Man At longest is compared to a Span. Suppose thou layest down thy life thou dost But lay thee down to sleep awhile at most And sleeping thou wilt pass away the Night To rise to Glory in the Morning-Light Then fear not dying but be mov'd thereby To learn to Live that thou may learn to Dye North-West Our next Point is North-West this Point doth give Some brief directions how to learn to live Wherefore give heed for thus thy Point begins Look not too lightly upon smaller Sins And let small duties be in thy esteem As much as these that greater duties seem 'T is true indeed there 's no command at all As it proceeds from God himself is small Nor any Sin against that Glory bright Though it may seem but little in our sight Can be accounted small though there may seem Some difference in
on pleasing Objects for What ever you behold you will abhor You will abhor and loath your selves because Your former slighting of God's sacred Laws Your stubborn Hearts refusing to Repent Has brought you to this place of Punishment From which most lamentable State thou never Shall be released altho thou should endeavour This is the Second Death and certainly It is a dreadful Death for Man to dye The first Death frees a Man from temporal Sorrow And frees him from his Labour till the Morrow The Second Death begins a Sinner's grief And leaves him helpless hopeless of Relief Now wouldst thou not be taken in the Snare Of Death the second time Oh then prepare For Death's first Summons let not sin dis-arm thee And then the Second Death will never harm thee There is no way to scape the Plagues of Hell But in thy Living and thy Dying well Two things concerning Death I 'de have thee mind Which if thou do thou wilt the Comfort find First Death is certain either first or last All living Creatours of Death's Cup must tast Aâ—d Secondly It is uncertain when Children and Infants dye as well as Men. Death is a Messenger that 's sent from Heaven Hath both his Power and his Commission given By God alone and when he 's sent to strike Respects all Ages and Degrees alike Death when it doth arrest will give no Day Death will have nothing under present Pay Nor Years nor Months nor Weeks will Death allow Death will admit of no intreaties now With ghastly Looks he stares thee in the Face And tells thee Thou hast here no longer space This Night by Death the Lord requires thy Soul Sad was the Message to that prosperous Fool That in his own Conceit had lately blest His Soul with Peace and many Years of Rest Deluded Man had not one Day to spend This Night thy many Years is at an end Thus unexpectedly are Souls ensnar'd But dreadful will it be if unprepar'd Well Death is come thy Barns all thy Store Thou must forsake and never see them more And true it is we see it with our Eyes That Death is certain in uncertainties There 's not a Man among the Sons of Men But knows that he must dy but knows not when Death on his Cloudy Errand sometimes comes And smites poor Children in their Mother 's Womb. And sometimes he will venter to Arrest The Infant Sucking at the Mothers brest And sometimes Death forbears to throw his Dart Till Childish practice joyes the Parents heart So in like manner Death is sometimes known When Childhoods past and Youthful Blossoms blown To strike his Fatal stroke and many a time Death strikes us not till we are in our prime When Strength Manhood is upon the Stage And sometimes Death stays till decripped Age. Death blasts young Buds fair Blossoms dainty Flowers At th'age of years of months weeks days and hours How darest thou in Sinning take delight And sin to day that is to dye at night Poor VVretch that at God's pleasure draws thy breath How dare thou sin that 's not secure from Death In one moments time poor Soul thou canst not tell But that this Night thou shalt go down to Hell North by West Our two and-thirtieth Point draws near the North To Steer aright upon this Point is worth Ten thousand worlds ten thousand times told over It s real worth no mortal can discover As North's by West so Death's by God He The First and Last of every Thing will be It is from God we do receive our Breath By God's appointment all must tast of Death We told you lately what a dreadful thing It was to dye the Second Death but bring You better Tydeings now and to be brief This Point well learnt will expiate all Grief It is the Tydings of a Second Life Beginning Peace and terminating trife And that I may in this one thing discharge My self bear with me Reader if I do inlarge Upon this sacred Point But what am I To undertake a Task so much too high For any Man Angels desire to 〈◊〉 it And holy Prophets never fully knew it When holy Men of old did stear their Course Upon this Point the depth thereof did force Them to cry out as Men astonisht and Confess it was too high to understand Into which Mystery when Paul inquires Instead of Satisfaction he admires At God's great Wisdom Which saith he no doubt Is over-high for Man to find it out Eye hath not seen that excellent Reward Which God Almighty hath of old prepar'd For such as Love him Heart cannot conceive Nor Tongue express the Glory they receive Some Hints the holy Prophets have laid down Which in the Scripture language is made known In such a Dialect as may impart The Mystery of this Glory to the Heart And also doth inform the Eye and Ear That to Man's Sense this Glory might appear These be the Terms it is discover'd by Riches and Honour Princely Dignity Silver Gold precious Pearl that Treasure In which the Princes of the Earth take Pleasure Fair Houses beautify'd with Gold And precious Pearl most lovely to behold Cities whose Pavements upon which we tread Is pure Gold whose Wall is garnished With precious Pearls in comely order set The Jasper Amathist and Crisolet With Saphir Tophas Emrald Chalcedon The Jasinct Sardius and Sardonix-Stone Thus in our Sailing upon West by North By these Similitudes the Lord sets forth The great Advantage of our Stearing right Upon this Point and yet this great Delight With which Man 's captivated Eye 's ensnar'd Is less than nothing if it be compar'd With Heavenly Glory which exceeds as far As Mid-day Phoebus doth the dullest Star The greatest Beauty Mortals can behold Is Gems and Jewels with refined Gold Which when th' Apostle Paul compares with thâ— In his Esteem behold how vile it is As if all Earthly Pomp had nothing been Speaking of Heavenly saith Eye hath not seâ— Nor never could Man's highest Conceit impart This Heavenly Glory unto any Heart 'Twixt Heaven and Earthly Joy the disproportion Is like one Drop of Water to the Ocean For though one drop be real Water yet It 's not sufficient for Man's Benefit There is no Substance in so small a Measure And small 's the Substance of all earthly Treasure 'T is not unlike the pearled Dew of May Whose Morning-Substance quickly â—ades away Like Jonah's Gourd that sprang up in a Night And in another vanisht out of sight Exactly like a Shadow in the Water Which seems a Substance but is no such matter Which if a Man puts forth his Hand to take it Finds it a Shaddow and doth streight forsake it Or like a Man that dreams he doth possess Great Substance but awakes finds nothing less Could Man with Alexander say My hand Hath made the Earth subject to my Command And to my Pleasure I the World confine And all the Treasures oâ— the Earth is mine He that
We cannot think a happy Voyage to make Observe that good St. Paul and you shall find That Faithful Pilot in the self-same Mind His Compass he upon his Conscience layes In all things he makes Conscience of his Wayes Both towards God Man thou alwayes must Make Conscience of thy Wayes 'T is in vain to trust To any written Rule though ne'r so good And never so well known and understood If thou dost make no Conscience of the same Thy Compass serves for nothing but the Name Upon a painted Compass Men may look Or read the Rule that 's written in a Book A Compass fairly painted on a VVall Though pleasing to the Eye serves not at all To stear a Ship by That must be effected By such a Compass as must be erected And set upon a Needle where it moves By this erected Compass Seamen proves Their written Rule By this the Ship is guided And through the raging Seas her way 's divided Remember therefore if thou dost intend Thy former Compass shall obtain its End And thou at last may be secur'd from blame Be sure that thou make Conscience of the same That out of Conscience unto God thou never Neglect thy former Compass but endeavour To stear according to it Fix thine Eye On God who is thy North and come as nigh Unto thy Rule as possible thou may And out of Conscience unto God obey His VVill in every thing with true Affection As from thy Compass thou meets with Directionâ— So shalt thou be made Happy in thy Choyce And from true ground of Comfort may rejoyce Having within thee that which will indure The Testimony of a Conscience pure That from thy Dove-like Innocence thy Conversation Has been in truth without Dissimulation According to the Rule unfeignedly Serving the Lord in pure Simplicity And true Sincerity where I shall leave thee As with a Rule that never will deceive thee A Good Memory A Seaman that compleatly is supply'd Must with his Compass have a Box beside To place his Compass with security The Box is therefore a good Memory There let thy Rules be kept like sacred Treasure That thou may look them over at thy Pleasure These Rules are few these Few are very plain â—ot over numerous for thee to retain â— thou dost get these Rules into thy Head â— time of need they will thee stand in stead VVhen thy occasions have remov'd thee far â—nd Storms and Tempests at the Sea debar â—hee from the good Appointments of the Lord â—he sacred Preaching of God's holy Word â—his being kept in Memory lyes by thee â—hat in a time of want it may supply thee I will not say That thou wilt need no more â— in thy Head thou layest them up in store â—ut this I dare adventure to assert â—hy Head instructed well informs thy Heart â—nd if thou knows these Rules dost endeavor â—o do the same Happy art thou for ever â— such a State thou never canst miscarry â—ho Seas be rough Winds be quite contrary â—ut safely shalt obtain that happy Shore VVhere Pleasures do abound for ever more â—hen wilt thou find no Reason to repent thee â—hat for a time thou hadst this Compass lent thee CHAP. IX The Third Part now of sacred Navigation It is the Affections lively Meditation Affectionate Divinity we find Is principally seated in the Mind DIvine Affection is a lively Motion O'th'Soul to God-ward stirring up Devâ—tion And this Affection thus Divinely seated By Meditations is both warm and heated So that through Heat it now doth opperate And sets the Affections in a working-state Affections is the Soul 's quick Motion and Sweet Meditations also doth command The Soul's Affections and doth strongly move And melts th' Affections in a Flame of Love VVhere holy Meditations is but small Th' Affection 's cold and scarcely moves at all That therefore I shall further treat upon Relating to Divine Affection I shall endeavour to reduce them all Into some certain Rules that 's Practicall Practical Rules I mean of Meditation VVhereby the Soul can make sweet Applicatioâ— Of God's sweet Promises in Scripture found And that upon the best and safest Ground â—or Meditations when 't is sweetly felt â—s like a Limbeck that doth Heat and melt â—uch pleasant Flowers as are put into it â—aking sweet Drops of VVater issue fro it Those Meditations that I now intend â—o lay before my Sea-devoted Friend â—hey're of two sorts on which mine Eye is fixt â—ome purely Simple other some are Mixt. â—uch Meditations as most properly â—Ve here call Simple Meditations I â—raw from such Places of God's VVord as are â—especting Seamen in particular â—wo Scriptures for that purpose I have chose â—Vhich Holy David did before expose â—o publick veiw that such as fear the Lord â—ight be instructed from his Holy VVord In Psalm the Seventy-seven Nineteen Verse â—here David doth that sacred VVord rehearse â—hy Wayes O Lord are in the Seas saith he â—hy Paths upon the mighty Waters be â—â— from this VVord thou bend thy Meditation â—o make a Spiritual use and Application â—his VVord which here the Holy Prophet says â—ay well refer unto his sacred VVayes â—elating to the VVorld that restless Ocean â—r to the Saints But if thou take this Notion â—ccording to the literal Explication â— Seaman then may make this Application 1. If it be so that God-Almighty please â—o make his Foot-steps in the raging Seas If God do walk upon the Waves indeed And tread upon the Waters then what need Have I to fear at Sea more than at Land For God-Almighty doth them both command Or why should I at Sea be less in fear Of sinning than at Land for God is there No no God rules the raging Waves can stiâ— Their Fury and restrain it when he will Though Neptunes prouder Billows do out-braâ— And threaten still to make her Womb my Graâ— Tho every moment Death come prancing by â—â— I 'le fear no Evil for the Lord is nigh me And yet I 'le fear to sin though Mortal Eye Cannot discover for the Lord is nigh I 'le dread his holy Name that doth command The swelling Waves and bounds them with tâ— Sanâ— I 'le fear his Holy Name whose soveraign Powâ— Commands the Sea that it shall not devour Their Neighboring Earth again doth restraâ— Their Fury making them turn back again I 'le reverence his Name whose piercing Eye Sees all the World at once His Majesty I will adore and ever seek to please VVho rules the Earth and walks upon the Seâ— I 'le stand in awe at Sea as well as Land Of him whose power doth them both commanâ— 2. But Secondly Upon this same Relation Thou mayest rightly form this Meditation â—ay to thy Soul My Soul thus stands the Case â—hese mighty VVaters is God's dwelling Place Here is God's Temple O my Soul adore him â—all down worship God kneel before him â—ay not within thy self O I may live â—o come to Shore again and
then I 'le give Him my Devotions Say God's House is here â—le worship Him at Sea He 's every where Where is the Place in which a Man may hide Himself from God Behold He doth abide â— Heaven above where Angels hear his Voyce â—nd in his Presence constantly rejoyce And on the Earth O Lord thou also art With those that are of pure and perfect Heart If in the Deep saith David I should hover Behold God's there His Presence is all over He rides upon the VVinds He 's in the Clouds There is no Place my Soul where Man may shroud Himself from God His watchful Eye ne'r sleeps â—le worship God like Jonah in the Deeps Though my Relations dear be all on Shore And I alone at Sea I am before The Lord my Maker here as well as they â—le worship God whom Winds VVaves obey 3. And as thou see God rules both VVind and VVaves Know this my Soul it is the Lord that saves This slender Vessel that may in one Minute Sink down into the Depth with all tâ—at's in it 'T is God who was and is and will be ever That gives Man VVisdom blesses his Endeavor VVhereby poor Man is made an Instrument To save himself from Danger and prevent Himself from Ruine Did mine Eyes but see Into the Depth of this great Mystery Doubtless I should behold great streams of Lovâ— To fall like plenteous Showers from above Upon poor Man that brittle lump of Clay That hâ—re has but a little time to stay For if the Lord do let his Love run out Towards our Bodies then there is no doubt But that his Love doth very much exceed Unto our Souls that did from him proceed For what 's our Bodies any more than Dust Made of our Mother-Earth whether we must Shortly return We live a while and dye And in our Morther's VVomb again must lye Till God from Heaven once again do give His great Command saying Arise and Liveâ— And Dye no more All this exactly proves That Man 's the Creature only that God loves And gives Man VVisdom to prolong his Dayes On Earth that so he might amend his wayes In order to his Life Eternally That Man might live in true Felicity Behold My Soul this Mystery Divine How God preserving of this Life of thine Chiefly intends thy future Preservation Preserves thy Body for its Exaltation Wilt thou improve that Wisdom God hath given To save thy natural Life And is not Heaven Worth all thy pains O use thy best Endeavor To save thy Soul which lost is lost for ever Th' art sailing O my Soul to Canaans Land There 's many a churlish Rock dangerous Sand. Improve that Understanding God hath given Be careful O my Soul thou be not driven On Rocks and Sands Observe when Danger 's nigh thee And then be sure to have thy Compass by thee Then tho thou be at Sea with Tempest tost And meets with many a Storm and bitter Blast Remember then my Soul the Lord is nigh thee And with sweet calms of Comfort will supply thee Thus if thy Meditations do run out Upon the sacred Word of God no doubt 'T will bring thy Heart into a melting Frame 'T will heat thy Soul with Zeal and so enflame All thy Affections till at last it prove A servent Fire of Faith and Zeal and Love 2. The second sacred Scripture that I mind Relating unto Seamen you may find In Psalm one Hundred seven there read on From Verse the Twenty third to Thirty-one Which sacred Scriptures as it doth relate Only to Seamen they may Meditate On these choise Sayings and with great content Wisely improve each strange Experiment To help thy Meditations these two things If carefully observ'd great profit brings And first observe as I did say before These Words relates to Sea-men Furthermore Consider to what end these Words are spoken 'T is that they might behold each wondrous token Of God's great Power at Sea so as to raise Up their Affections fill their Mouths with praise To him that walks upon the Waves from whence They may store up each Dayes Experience Such Men saith David as in Ships go down Into the Seas to such the Lord makes known His mighty Wonders while within the Deep They do their Business There the Lord doth keep A Court Imperial even in the Seas There he commands the Tempests who obeys His All-commanding Voyce There they advance Their prouder Waves their threatning Billows dance Whose raging Fury strikes all Hearts with fear They cry in their distress and God doth hear That 't is the Seamans Duty is most plain 1. To eye God in his Wonders And again To eye him in each Tempest as indeed He is the Author From him Storms proceed 2. But Secondly Seamen are ne'rtheless To know that He 's their Helper in distress 3. Thirdly In every Storm thy are to eye The greatness of their Danger and how nigh They are to Death 4thly Seamen must know likewise Their way to future Joy through Danger lies On these four Heads now let thy Contemplations Run out on these or such like Meditations Say to thy Soul My Soul Let not mistrust Perplex thy Mind at Sea thy VVay is Just God made the Seas and doth their Waves command He prospers Sea-affairs as well as Land Is my Employ at Sea I 'le not forsake it For there 's no wickedness unless I make it God's Hand his Eye his Power is all o're I am as safe on Sea as on the Shore Great Dangers is at Sea it is confest And on the Shore how many are distrest How many Men we see upon the Shore Leaves their Relations never sees them more Wild Beasts the Winds the Flood the flames of Fire All these and many more Man's Death conspire Dangers surround us upon every Hand And Sin 's the cause of Death by Sea and Land Wherefore my Soul if thou would be secure From danger at the Seas thou must be sure Thou carry not thy Sins to Sea Bethink thee The Seas are dangerous and thy Sins will sink thee It was a Righteous Noah that first did float Upon the Seas God sav'd him in his Boat When all the sinful World was lost beside This righteous Person rules both Wind Tide One Sin presumptiously allow'd may be The sinking here and to Eternity The Ship indeed may bear it knows not what Because it hath no Sense but thou art not To be so sensless Thou must understand That thou cannot possess that Holy Land Fraught with thy sins Sinners must not come thither Sin raises Storms and makes tempestuous Weather 2. But in the second Place Doth Fear surprize Thy Soul because a Tempest doth arise Remember then whether thou art to flye 'T is God must help Lift up thy Voice and cry To God for Help who only can command The stormy Winds make the Waves to stand But when the Tempest doth at first begin Reflect upon thy self Perhaps some Sin Has rais'd
prevail â—â— was his Flesh that in bred Enemy â—hat now against poor Job doth make reply â—Vhence doth it come saith Flesh to Job that thou â—rt of a sâ—ddain tumbled down so low â—nd what 's the cause that thou art thus tormented â—nd why art thou so patient contented â—Vhat is thy Righteousness no more regarded â—nd must thy Innocence be thus rewarded â—Vas it but now that thou was so precise â—o offer for thy Sons a Sacrifice â—hat for thy Sons thou might make Intercession â—â— case they had bin found in some Transgression â—nd is this all th' acceptance thou must find â—o have thy Sons slain with a mighty VVind â—Vas't not enough to cast thee from thy Throne â—here like a Prince thou wast accepted on â—ut that thy Flesh must tortured be at last â—nd thou thy self upon the Dung-hill cast If Pious Persons be rewarded thus In vain poor Job hast thou been Righteous Cease to be Righteous Job thou can but dye crying What 's the Reward of thine Integrity 'T is worse than Death Thou sees thy constaâ— saith Bespeaks no less than a continual Dying But now observe what this brave Champioâ— See how he wealds the sacred Shield of Faith What now my Flesh saith he art thou affraid To serve the Lord â—mnipotent that made The Heavens the Earth Sun Moon Stars And all because there doth remain some Scars Vpon thy Body What tho Torments fill me I 'le fear the Lord my Maker tho he kill me I know saith Job that my Redeemer lives Who tho he do afflict my Body gives Me full Assurance that these Eyes of mine Shall yet behold him Gloriously Divine And tho my Flesh be tortured with Pain I know my Flesh shall be restor'd again I will not part with my Integrity Nor lose my Righteousness untill I dye The Grave within a little space receives me And then my Tortures must be forc'd to leave me Then cease my Flesh to tempt me any more For while I live my Maker I 'le adore Thus Job being arm'd with Helmet Sword Shielâ— Did force his Enemies to quit the Field Job like a skillful Seaman was so wise He carries Weapons to secure his Prize then my Soul be thou so wise to arm thee â—nd Satan that grand Pyrat shall not harm thee 12. But in the last place Let thy Meditation â—metimes be fixt on this Consideration â—ust by the Helm thou sees the Compass stand â—o sooner doth the Seaman lay his Hand â—pon the Helm but that immediately â—nto his Compass he directs his Eye â—ee with what Strength he holds the Helm when he Would stear upon some Point This ought to be The care of every Spiritual Seaman here As up and down these trouble Seas they stere As thou art stearing up and down this World Where many times thou' rt in a Fury hurl'd Into strange Countries and sometimes is driven On churlish Rocks and Sands What strength is given Improve it to the utmost of thy Skill Hold fast the Helm but eye thy Compass still This World 's the Sea thy Body is likewise The floating Ship thy Soul 's the Merchandize Th' Affections is the Sails and also mind The Spirit 's Breathings is that sacred Wind That fills thy Soul and gives it lively Motion Unto thy Vessel on this restless Ocean Well-grounded Hope 's the Anchor makes thee able T' endure the worst of Storms True Faith 's the Cable That holds the Anchor fast it cannot slip Thy Tongue 's the Helm saith James that guâ— the Sâ— When David would prevent his doing wrong With force might saith he I 'le keep my Tong With that we bless and curse and â—o be plaiâ— The Tongue unguided makes Religion vain Be carefull what thou utterest therefore and Before thou speaks observe how it will stand Agreeing to the Compass Rule and Guide Men by their Words saith James are justify'd And by their Words Mâ—n are condemn'd saith he To Rule thy Tongue well is a good Degree He that hath gain'd the Conquest of his Tonguâ— He is both skillful valiant wise and strong Three things observe in guiding of thy Tongue And first observe that it do's speak no wrong Of God the Father charge Him not foolishly If He afflicts thy Soul But rather cry With David Search my Heart purge out froâ— thenâ— What Sin so ere may stain my Innocence But in the second place I say again In guiding of thy Tongue thou must reâ—rain From idle Words Vain Jesting saith St. Paul Is not convenient doth no sute at all With Heaven-expecting Souls Vain Words defilâ— The best of Men. Let not thy Tongue revile Altho thou be reviled Do not render Railing for Railing evil Words ingender â— multitude of Sin doth purchase blame And terminates in Everlasting Shame Thirdly In guiding of thy Tongue thou must Be sure to speak the thing that 's Right and Just Speak no unsavoury Word in any Case Let all thy Words be seasoned with Grace That from thy Lips such gracious words may fall That may be of sweet benefit to All That Sinners may be drawn from Wickedness And Saints may persevere in Holyness These three things if thou dost observe them well â—n guiding of thy Tongue thou wilt excell And to conclude our sacred Navigation There is sufficient for thy Meditation â—n every thing that to the Ship pertains Or to the Sea It only now remains That Ship Sea Sand Rocks Wind With Heavenly Contemplations fill thy Mind Thus having briefly run through every Part Of this Soul-saving Navigable-Art I 'le leave it with thee now and say no more But shall desire as I have done before That all these Rules as I have here laid down May be as fully practised as known That in this sacred Art thou may excell Which He desires that bids thee now Fare-well FINIS A Catalogue of some Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Harris at the Stationers-â—rms in Sweetings-Rents in Cornhil near the Royal-Exchange A Confession of Faith put forth by the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations of Christians Baptized upon Profession of their Faith in London and the Country newly Published Price bound One shilling War with the Devil Or The Young Man's Conflict with the Powers of Darkness In a Dialogue Discovering the Corruption and Vanity of Youth the Horrible Nature of Sin and deplorable Condition of Fallen-Man Also a Definition Power and Rule of Conscience and the Nature of true Conversion To which is added An Appendix containing a Dialogue between an Old Apostate and a Young Professâ—r Worthy the perusal of All but chiefly intended for the Instruction of the Yonger sort The Fifth Imâ—â—ession By Benj. Keach To which is now added a Second Part Price bound Onâ— shilling Eight pence The Causes and Cure of sad Disconsolate Thoughts in Christians By William Traughton Price bound Eight pence The Seamans Spiritual Companion Or Navigation Spirituallized Price bound One shiling