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
a soul-consuming flame More bright than Phebus in the Southern skies Like to devouring fire in his eyes His voice is like a soul amazing thunder That fills the massie earth with dread and wonder But now I think I hear some make reply If thus I do behold his Face I die His terror frights me O I am undone I am unclean O whether shall I run If Holy Angels be not pure how then Can I be sav'd that am a sinful man If God be Holy thou must be no less Thou must behold Gods Face in Righteousness Then I 'll assure thee when thou dost awake His Image will full satisfaction make By wake I mean thy being rais'd from Grave When thou a full and perfect sight shalt have Of that great glory Moses could not see With which thou then shalt satisfied be And that thou may his Beauty then behold With joy remember that thou hast been told He is a Holy Spirit wherefore he In Spirit and in Truth must worshipt be By that pure Light that in the Soul doth shine Proceeding from the Spirit of God Divine And by the strength and vigor of thine own Must thy unfeigned Love to God be shown Alas say some this is but fruitless talk For that no man can thus unspotted walk Shew me the man that never doth transgress Or him who thus sees God in righteousness â—f none but man thus holy can enjoy This blessed state Gods presence will destroy The universe the best of men do not Live without sin none is without his spot To this I say the God of Earth and Heaven Considering mans weakness hath given His Son his onely Son whom he hath set To be our Surety and to pay our debt Christ is our Eastern Point he is that Light Whose morning brightness doth expel the Night All you that sail for Heaven be sure you learn To know this Eastern Point 't is your concern And first remember Christ hath quit that score That Adam left to pay it shall no more Be reckon'd for for he hath paid that debt Which on our score for Adams sin was set Behold the Lamb of God behold I say That blessed Lamb that took our sins away That holy Lamb of God the King of Kings That did arise with healing in his Wings He pleads the cause of such as do transgress And willingly he is our righteousness 'T is Christ alone 't is he alone I say That by his glorious rising made a day Till this bright Eastern Morning Star did rise All the whole world in dismal darkness lies He like the glorious Morning Sun came forth And visited all corners of the Earth How dismal is the dark and silent night How comfortable is the morning light Here is thy comfort soul do what you can Christ is that pure perfect holy man He ' as done exactly what thou shouldst have done And God accepts thy doing in his Son Know for thy comfort God is reconcil'd To sinful man by Christ that holy Child A body was prepar'd him for thy sake For nothing else could reconcilement make Thy weakness in Christ is all suppli'd By him alone thou must be justifi'd â—hrist doth not only fill the world with light â—ut as a way-mark guids thy steps aright â—nto the Father tells thee there is none â—omes to the Father but by him alone The third thing in this Point thou art to learn â—nd make thy chief concernment to discern â—â— is that ownness and sweet unity â—hat is between the Soul and Christ whereby â—hrist and thy Soul is made intirely one â—y the indwelling of the Spirit alone â—â— is the Spirit alone that doth unite â—hee unto Christ the spirit gives thee light â—â— fills thy soul with light thy heart with praise â—y which thou mayst behold those golden raies â—hich darts into thy soul gives thee a glance â—f thy adoption and assurance â—hus knowing North and East the South doth follow â—ext to be known it is the spirit doth hallow â—nd sanctifie the soul and change the nature Converts the man and makes him a new creature â—enewed in himself he 's born anew â—o all unholiness he bids adiew â—e that doth put on Christ will surely find â—o great an alteration in his mind â—here's nothing now with which he 's so delighted As holiness which he before had slighted The love of Christ casts such a warm reflection â—pon the soul it stirs up his affection â—his Soul like Mary's melted into tears â—ith which she washt Christs feet thought not her hairs Although her ornament too good to foul To dry his Feet his love so melts her soul Her sins were many made her love abound Because so vile a wretch had mercy found What I saith such a soul who no eye piti'd Defild with sin and are my sins remitted Shall I be guilty of so great a folly That 's washt from sin and shall I be unholy He whose dear love did take away my sin Will hate and loath me if I sin again When Christ did clear that sinful womans score He gave charge she should sin no more How miserable was thy state when he At first had thoughts of pity upon thee Polluted in thy Blood he passes by Beheld thee and did cast a gracious eye Of Pity Did both grace and mercy give Said to thy loathed soul O sinner live Upon thy head he puts a crown of gold And makes thee fair and lovely to hehold Then doth present thee as a Virgin clear Before the Father doth espouse thee there Thou must be holy now and sanctifi'd Laying thy former sins and lusts aside You heaven born souls think and remembeâ— how Unsuitable it is how much below A Saint it is to sin whose holy dress Like to a sacred garment must express Whose Spouse thou art O do not give consenâ— To live in sin sin stains thy ornament â—o'iness is Saints lustre makes them shine â—â— tells thine enemies thou art divine â—ow high is Christ advanc'd in Christians when â—n mortifi'd doth make them holy men â—hrist's like the glory of the Southern Sun â—t height in Christians when this work is done â— Christian now is in a line direct â—o God the Father may have full aspect â—ook from the South the North is just before ye â—o Saints in holiness may see Gods glory â—nd hence it was that Abraham did discover â—he glory of the Lord From hence moreover Moses that holy man of God contemns â—ll Egypts glory counterfeiting Jems Moses by faith sees holiness rewarded â—hinks Egypts glory not to be regarded â—e did esteem of Israels distess Above the glory that he might possess â—n Pharoahs Court his faith bore evidence â—nto that Heaven promis'd recompence But secondly consider as the light â—s contrary to darkness day to night â—o sin and holiness do hate each other â—nd in one place they cannot dwell together â—ut as the Sun when shining bright and clear Doth make nights sable shadows disappear And as the gloomy
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
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
real ground to exercise their faith That all the world as holy Scripture saith Might look up unto him and saved be By faith in Christ whose blood was shed for the If thou be careless here and do'st not learn To know this Point thou hardly wilt discern The pleasant Banks of blessed Canaans shore Which if thou miss th' art lost for ever more North East Now learn thy fourth Point 'twixt N. and Eaâ— For in thy Compass so thou'lt find them plac't Man 's saved by the Word of God indeed Which Word of God is that same promis'd seâ— In Gods appointed time this Word became Flesh in our form St. John affirms the same He took not on him Blessed Angels nature But Abraham's seed the shape of humane Creâ—tuâ— A sinless man into the world did come Not by the will of man but from the Womb Of a chaste Virgin came he to fulfil What was decreed in the Fathers will That he might purchase mans eternal good By no less price than his most precious blood This is that Lamb of God to whom is given All soveraign power both in earth and heaven â—gels in heaven are at his Command â—d earthly Potentates shall not withstand â—s mighty power to him all knees shall bow â—gels above and Mortals here below â—om this Point therefore thou may'st understand â—at God the Father doth by Christ command â—ee to submit unto his easie yoke â— else thou must submit unto the stroke â— God 's offended Justice which be sure â—hether thou wilt or no thou must endure â—ey Christ as thy Leader O neglect â—ot this Command if e'r thou do'st expect â—at heavenly consolation from above â—t Christ and not thy Lust command thy love â—rve not thy lusts which leaves thee at thy grave â—t serve the Lord thy Saviour that can save â—y precious soul and if thou dost rebel â—n cast both soul and body into Hell stretch not forth thy hand be not so bold â— take a Comfort touch not take not hold â—on a Gospel Promise in no case â—til a Gospel Precept thou embrace â—bserve the word that holy David spake â—e'll not adventure nor presume to take â—ld of a Promise till he stretch his hand â—rth to take up a Precept and Command â—y hand saith David while his heart consents â—e lifted up to thy Commandements vain men cry for mercy and expect â—r help in storms that do in calms neglect To yield obedience to that Sacred Word Of him whom God hath made our Sovereigâ— Lorâ— God by his holy Prophets spake his mind Once to the Fathers but hath now confin'd The world to hear his Son no other voice Is man to make the object of his choice Therefore observe this Fourth Point with heeâ— And to the Fifth Point we will next proceed North East and by East North East and by East this doth next ensue All you that sail for Heaven take a view Of God and Christ see how they both agree In ones eye how unanimous they be In seeking after mans eternal good God freely sends his Son that by his blood Poor man might be redeem'd from Death likewisâ— Christ freely did become a Sacrifice How wilingly did Christ lay down his life That he might put a period to the strife That sin had made 'twixt God and his Creation That freely brought about poor mans Salvation If God and Christ with such a joynt consent Sought thus to free man from the punishment Of Death eternal and that man might live For ever happy Christ did freely give His Life a ransom was 't the Fathers pleasure At such a rate to purchase endless treasure For mortal man Then suffer not thy lust To hanker after Egipts Golden dust â—ich flies away like chaffe before the wind â—hose place in seeking for thou canst not find 〈◊〉 longest date is but a mortal day â—st Threescore years and ten it will not stay â—d often times it threatens to bereave thee â— heavenly treasure and at last doth leave thee â—member Moses that holy man how he â—spised Egipts wealth thought the degree â— Son in Phraohs Court was much below â—e meanest servant in Gods house to know Crucified Christ's a glorious thing â—mpared with any earthly crowned King â—ath puts an end to Kings and kingly glory â—cause their honours is but transitory â— longer King the body being dead â—ath sets the Crown upon the Christians head Death a Christians Crown begins its date â—ich once begun will never terminate â—is Life is short uncertain and impure â— at Life is certain holy doth endure â—ell let not this Fifth Point neglected be â— not forget that God and Christ agree â— bringing Man unto this life again â—o had himself by his trangression slain â—ristians that sail for heaven do not fear â—e raging Seas for Christ your Pilot's there â— not afraid because thy Vessel 's poor â—ou'rt safer there than if thou wer 't on shore â— stately Palaces with sumptuous Feasts â—ongst thy sins those soul devouring beasts 'T is better go to heaven in foul weather Through many dangers if thou get'st but thitheâ— Than in a pleasant gale to swim to hell Where gentle winds do make th' canvass swell East North East The next Point East North East learn carfully This Seventh Point doth bring thee very nigh To Christ thy East mark what his servant saith Erre not be not mistaken in thy faith Concerninâ— Christ that soul that here mistakes Doth run himself upon a rock and makes The worst of Ship-wracks like to Alexander Who erring from the Christian faith did wander In paths of Darkness let Philotas be A mark of information unto thee That by this Seamark thou mayst understand How nigh thou art the rocks and scape the sand Remember well the greatness of Gods grace Do not forget his love in any case Not to some few but all without exemption God did propound his Son formans redemption No man shall die because God did not give His Son to suffer Death that he might live But for this cause God would have cleansed mans spot In Christs dear blood but man believ'd it not 'T is unbelief that causes man to die That Christ himself doth plainly testifie God loves the World but all will not believe it Christ died for all but some will not receive it This truth shines clearly but some will refuse To walk therein and many rather chuse To walk in Darkness this is condemnation Saith Christ our Lord that purchast mans Salvation That God is real in what he doth say Shines like the Sun it is as clear as day But that the Lord with words makes men believe Christ is there Saviour only to deceive Their understandings Oh that men would see How dreadful dark such apprehensions be He errs in faith that thus forsakes the light He needs must fall that wanders in the night But Secondly a man may erre in faith That make what men not what the Scripture saith Their rule to worship by though
yet intirely one Having his understanding lightned â—o know therefore the Son of God must shed â—is precious blood be made a Sacrifice And that it is the Spirit that sanctifies And fits the soul for Death I say again After a soul this knowledge doth obtain He 's fit for notion these things being known Which must be first yet must not be alone These be the Four Chief Points we must divide Each Quarter into Seven Points besides North. Your First Point being North you must endeavour By Light from God to steer your Course if ever You do intend to steer your course for heaven Steer by this sacred light which God hath given The Holy Scripture let them be thy guide For want of which many hath turned aside Make Gods Commandements thy Compass and Thy light to steer to fair Emanuel's Land We need not wonder why some do miscarry Who lays aside their Compass and contrary Unto the sacred Rule Gods Word lays down Doth steer their Course by fancies of their own Good David steer'd by this thy Word saith he Is both a Light and Lanthorn unto me The Prophet Esay speaking in the name Of great Jehovah doth command the same That from Gods Law they should not turn aside But make his Testimonies all their guide Unto this sacred truth Paul testifies Who saith the Scripture makes men wise Unto Salvation and to this agree The sayings of our Lord O search saith he The holy Scriptures there thou 'lt be directed No safety where this Compass is neglected It is the mischief of our present day And the true Cause why many's cast away Satan that roaring Lyon goes about To shipwrack souls his work it is no doubt To make men question and at last deny The Holy Scriptures just Authority The Holy Scripture is more useful far Unto a Christian than the Northern Star Is to a Seaman who sometimes can steer Some Leagues although his Compass be not there But Christians cannot steer one course aright If not directed by this Sacred Light Which doth proceed from God the mighty Lord And shineth forth from his most Holy Word He that doth throw the Holy Scriptures by Under pretence to steer more certainly By Natures various and uncertain light Instead of steering of his Course aright Is like the man who throws his Compass by That he may steer by the uncertain tide Of his conjectures and when all is done He doth but light a Candle to the Sun The Scripture is that Light whose glorious rays Proceed from God by them direct thy ways North by East North by East the second Point must be Learn this Point well and thou shalt clearly see From that bright beam that from Gods Word doth shine Whose ever-blest Authority's divine When man by breaking Gods Command became The Author of his own rebuke and shame Justly provoking God who gave him breath To lay on him the punishment of Death Man though unworthy so much favour found From God Almighty that he did propound A way to save him who had thus undone Himself by sinning God propounds his Son To free poor man from Deaths eternal stroke And take from off his neck that heavy yoke And to restore lost man to life again That he for ever living might remain In steering to this point it doth behove Thee to remember Gods most precious love In all soul matters now direct thine eye To Gods free promise and on that rely The Sun whose glorious presence fills the earth With its desired light moves from the North So Christ our Rising Sun whose glorious face Makes glad the earth proceeds from Gods freed grace The Suns first differenc'd motion and the least From his full Nothern point is by the East The first appearance of Gods love to man Was in the promis'd seed there first began Gods love to show it self this promis'd seed â—s Christ the Son of God who is indeed Our Rising Sun to him direct thine eye To him do all the Prophets testifie Take Counsel of Gods Word let it advise Gods Word will teach thee to be truly wise When worldly men to get themselves possest Of earthly treasures run from East to West â—rom youth to age until grim Death betrays Them to their graves they pass away their days To search the Holy Scripture let thy mind Launch forth into these deeps and thou shalt find â—uch treasures as on earth thou canst not have â—hough earth set open to thee her golden cave Treasures that will indure after death That will not leave thee when thou leav'st thy breath That man which labours for Earths empty pleasure While he neglects the seeking of that treasure Is like a Merchant that to th' Indies trades Only for pibles while other Merchants lades With Golden Ore like him that trades for sand While others with rich treasures fills the land When thou hast learn'd this point thou mayst proceedâ— And learn the third point with like care and heed Mind this third point as highly thy concern North North East 'T is North North East that thou art next to learn This point is just i' th middle plac'd between The North and North East point as may be seen I' th' Seamans Compass it is five points at least Nearer the Nothern point than 't is the East God in propounding Christ for mans salvation That Act of Grace sprang from his meer Compassionâ— Unto his Creature Man that God I say In making Christ that promis'd seed the way Whereby poor man may be restored again To life eternal ever to remain He 's the Chief Author of mans happiness And Christ the way by which we have access Unto that glory Do not envy then At the prosperity of wicked men All their joy continues but a day â—Tis but a moment and they must away While vainly they imagine all is well They leave their pleasures and go down to hell North East by North. North East by N. this point is one point nigher Our Eastern Point and therefore doth require That care and diligence be daily shown To learn this Point as Scripture lays it down That God 's the Author of our further joy â—n saving him who did himself destroy He did not only thus propound his Son To be mans Saviour but when that was done That man the better might believe the same â—nd be supported while the promise came That this his promise might be kept alive â—n every Age he did the same revive â—els Noah from whence the promis'd seed should spring That unto man should this salvation bring Confirm'd the same to Abraham again â—n terms more full he did himself explain That all the earth should of his love partake â—nd be redeemed for his mercies sake â—ut yet more fully unto Israel â—ho did in Egipt under Pharoah dwell When by his powerful and mighty hand He 'd brought them forth from the Egyptian lanâ— He did present their Saviour to their Eye In Types and Figures that they might thereby Have