shadows of the night Doth put the Suns fair pleasant beams to flight â—o where true holiness doth take possession â—here's no allowance for the least transgression Nor is there any place for holiness Where sins usurping power doth possess Sometimes we see the Sun appears so bright As if no darkness now could stain its light But presently we see a Cloud arise And then the Sun is hidden from our eyes Just thus it 's with a Saint a little folly O how it stains him that 's reputed holy If once a Christian do contract a blot His former holiness is quite forgot A Saint whose conversation is upright 'T will put whole legions of his sins to flight Let Christ our blessed Eastern Star shine clear Within thy soul and sin will disappear Thus have we given thee a brief relation Of three first Points of Sacred Speculation Of North of South of East the next must be Our Western Point which take with brevetie God is our North and Christ our Morning Sun Holiness our South at West our day is done As Moses councell'd Israel so do I First learn to live and yet prepare to die That faithful servant of the Lord whose breath Propounds to Israel both life and death I have saith Moses set before your eyes This day both life and death may I advise Or give you council how to make your choice Could I perswade you to obey my voice You should not die saith he for I would givâ— You counsel to obey Gods Word and live â—th life is but a momentary space â—f times most fwift yet most uncertain race â—nd that as certain as you draw your breath â—th open air so certain is your death â—nd yet your death no other but a sleep â—our Grave no other than a place to keep â—he broken pieces of your brittle clay â—hich are reserved till the judgment day â—hen your dead corps shall live again and never â—hall be dissolved but remain for ever â—hen do the thing saith Moses that may be â—f soul concernment to eternity Death is our Western Point by death we pass â—ut of this world return to what we was â—o dust again Sentence of death was given â—hen men transgress'd the sacred will of Heaven The certain wages disobedience brings â—â— death our night of silence whence four things â—â— to be noted needful to be known â—y spiritual Seamen which I thus lay down First Death is certain every soul must taste â—f death or else be changed first or last â—he stroke of death can never be avoided â—owever some may vainly be perswaded â—ur lives our days our Suns resplendant light â—ill set in death will terminate in night â—herefore in vain some foolishly assay â—o flatter death and send it far away â—rom youth to manhood and from thence to age â—or death must act its part upon this Stage Though man would flatter death it never stays Death strikes the child the aged man betrayâ— The hopeful young man even in his prime And gives him not sometimes a minutes time Uncertain when but certain death will strike Respecting Kings and Beggers all alike But in the sccond place it is as plain Our Sun that sets i' th West will rise again From God we pass to Christ and Christ doth bless That serious soul brings it to holiness Which fits man for his Western Point from whence By death he 's brought to God his N. from thence He 's brought unto his Eastern Point again He 's rais'd by God through Christ and doth remain Now in a state of perfect holiness Which he shall then eternally possess His Southern Sun is always now at height 'T is always noon and never will be night No Clouds shall now his perfect glory stain His day is perfect and shall so remain No Western Point no dying any more No setting of our Sun as heretofore No shadows nor eclipses shall obscure This glorious day it always shall endure Sin and temptations which now interpose Between the glorious Face of God and those Which from some present glimpses of his Grace Like Moses longs to see his glorious Face Shall now like Clouds disperse and flie away By reason of the glory of the day Those sighs sorrows and those clouds of fears Which sin now raises those soul-melting tears Which sin now causes for which Saints complain They shall be all disper'd and none remain No Satan then the tempter now remains â—n darkness and in everlasting chains O happy he thrice happy he I say That doth arrive at this so glorious day He now is freed from sorrow and distress From thirst and hunger cold and nakedness From all his persecutors he 's set free He 's with the Lord and evermore shall be The glory that his eyes shall then behold One thousand part thereof cannot be told 'T is not in man that lives upon the earth To find out words to set his glory forth But that some glimpses Christians may behold Scriptures compares it with refined gold To precious Pearls whose excellence and worth Exceeds all other treasures in the earth When John that Evangelical Divine By Heavens high appointment did design To leave the Saints a copy of their joy The Lord presents it to his Servants eye Who in a Vision did behold such glory That faith must help a man to read the story The glory of this vision was so great As that the highest pitch of mans conceit Can hardly reach the strength of mans desire Can scarcely reach so high but never higher He sees a City that to ' th Saints is given Made by the wisdom of the God of Heaven Nay furthermore our Author adds beside The City was adorn'd and beautifi'd Like to a Bride in splendant rich aray Deckt for her Husband on her wedding day Strong is that place glorious that habitation Where God Almighty lays the first foundation Great must the splendor of that glory be Where Gods most soveraign blessed Majestie Improves his sacred wisdom in adorning Bright is that day that hath so clear a morning Blessed is he that feels this warm reflection In the clear morning of his resurrection Eye hath not seen nor can mans heart conceiveâ— This sacred glory yet we may receive Some glimpses of this glory if with care Spiritual with temporal things we do compare Suppose that all the worlds united power Should as one man attempt to build a Tower Whose Heaven aspiring top should reach so high As men might make their dwelling in the Sky Should all the wisdom that the Lord hath given To all the world residing under Heaven Be now improved with united power To beautifie as well as build this Tower With sparkling Diamonds and burnisht Gold Rich for their value glorious to behold With precious Jewels beautifi'd all over While pure Gold the Streets thereof did cover How fair and beautiful with splendor clear Would such a glorious place as this appear That famous Temple Herod once erected â— fair Jerusalem how it affected
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
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-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
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
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
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
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
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
they sin their very Lives away But that they cannot For God did create Man in a pure good and perfect State And God who of Man's Life was the first Giver Appointed means that Man might live for ever And gave to him the Tree of Life to eat A sacred Fruit a Life-preserving Meat Man did procure his Death at second-hand By wilful breaking of the Lords Command But God not willing to cast Man away Prepared for his Life another Day Christ by the Name o' th' Woman's Seed waâ— giveâ— That Man who dy'd on Earth might live in Heaven If after this Man stubbornly Rebell Though Man shall live yet it shall be in Hell A Place prepar'd for Satan's Punishment Yet must Rebellious Disobedient Be sharers with him live in endless Woe His Life being purchased it must be so Wherefore mind this Point well that so yoâ— may Steering by Compass rightly find your Way West South-West Beholding Death as it at first came in As the deserved Wages of our sin It hath a dreadfull Sting that none can bear The Approach of Death doth fill Men's Heart with feaâ— 'T is call'd The King of Terrors well it may And therefore Man from Death would fly away It is the Holy sanctified Man Yea such a One it is that only can Say unto Death Where is thy Sting O Grave Where is that Victory thou' rt wont to have True Sanctity is such a precious thing Makes Death all Honey takes away the Stingâ— 'T is not devouring Monsters of the Seas Nor Sword nor Fire by Land 't is none of these Nor Hell inraged Cruel tortures can Make Death be stinging to a Holy Man Death only stings with Poison such as give Way to their Lust and do corruptly live â—hat Man that lives and dyes in wickedness Death stings his Soul with Horror and Distress â—o live in hatred of thy sins is best Which brings us very near unto West West by South And that thou might the better be directed â—o learn this Point let nothing be neglected That may informe thee how to stear aright â—et Earthly things seem empty in thy sight â—'s the vain Pleasures of this World intices â—o frown on Vertue and to smile on Vices 'T was Acan's Golden wedges Beauty did â—tice him to do that he was forbid â— was his Babylonish Garment gay â—hat made both Eyes Heart Hand to stray â—et not the World delude thee with its pleasure And thereby rob thee of Eternal Treasure When Men's affections are so strongly plac't On Earthly things which is but for a blast â—nd Death comes suddainly to call him hence How bitter is it Man would not dispence With Death's sharp Summons but with might and main â—trive to make Death call back his stroke again How loath to bid those present things good Night Which are so sweet and pleasant in thy sight Gardens and Orchards with rich Treasure anâ— Fair sumptuous Houses joyning to the Land When Death the tydeings of departing brings O saith that Man that loves these present things Shall I now close mine Eyes and lose the sight Of these Enjoyments wherein I delight And sleep in Dust until I rise again And know not whether into Joy or Pain O Death forbear to strike me now and give Me time t' enjoy these Pleasures here and live Thus bitter's Death to those that are in Love With Earthly things and not with things above If therefore on this Point thou wouldst steaâ— righâ— Then let thy Heart by Earthly things set light Love not this World in which thou must noâ— stay But love that Treasure that abides alway So wilt thou be with holy Paul resolv'd 'T is better be with Christ and be dissolv'd Than live on Earth where Sorrows never cease So shalt thou go unto thy Grave with Peace West Three Quarters of our Christian Compass past It now remains that we unfold the Last We are past the North the East the South anâ— noâ— We 're come to West our Sun grows very low The Evening of our pleasant Day is come Our Sun is set and we are hasting Home â—nto the Grave the Earth from whence we came â—or Dust we are and must return to th' same â—arth is our Home our very Home indeed â—ecause from Earth at first we did proceed â—nd though we there a season do remain â—et from the Earth we must return again â—om West to North From Death we go to God â—nd there takes up our Everlasting Bode â—he Body being dead the Earth must have it â—he Spirit doth return to God that gave it â—arth is our Home but not our longest Home â—o Earth we be yet first from God we come â—d thither 't is we must return again â—nd from that time unchangeable remain â—ter the Judgment 's past and Sentence given â—ur constant Home must be in Hell or Heaven From North to East Again we now must pass â—om God to Christ who now appointed is â— be our Judge who will uprightly deal â—d from his Judgment there is no appeal â— Righteous Judgment he will have regard â— give to every one a just Reward â— those that in well-doing seek for Glory â—ernal Joy in Heaven 's prepared for ye â—t unto those that stubbornly Rebell â—ernal Wrath with damned Souls in Hell â—thing but anguish trouble grief and sorrow â—hose dismal Night will never find a Morrow But forasmuch as now we 're come to th' Weâ— We will divide this Quarter like the rest Into eight several Points which we 'll lay dowâ— All very necessary to be known And forasmuch as now we understand We sail by West unto the Holy Land From the first minute that we draw our Breath We 're sailing towards West draws on to Deaâ— Let 's mind each Point in this last Quarter wâ— That in our Knowledge we may there excell It is of absolute necessity For spiritual Seamen that they learn to dyâ— This needful Lesson Balam understood He knew it was both excellent and good To learn this Lesson O saith he that I Were like thâ— Righteous when I am to dye O that my later End like his might be Such Good in dying well did Balam see To learn this Lesson well this Rule I 'le giâ— If thou would learne to dye first learn to live Then take Directions from this sacred Truth Remember thy Creatour in thy Youth Begin betimes the Morning of thy Dayes Is the fit Season to reform thy Wayes Give God thy strength serve him whilst thoâ— youâ— Thy Senses quick thy Understanding strong Defer not thy Repentance untill Night Or Evening of thy Dayes but with Delighâ— Let Child-hood learn to live and Youth likewâ— So wilt thou find sweet Comfort when thou dâ— â—od calls betimes and if thou dost delay â—o hearken to his Voyce while it is day â—n unexpected Storm may suddainly â—end thee away unto Eternity â—ithout th' advantage of another Season â—onsult then with Flesh or fleshly Reason â—hy Flesh will tell thee that thou
this Tempest some beloved Lust Afflictions come but not out of the Dust Storms do not come by chance VVhile Jonah sleeps His sin at Land-makes Tempests in the Deeps The very Heathen did conclude no less Therefore cast Lots to see who did transgress God raises Tempests to correct our Crimes And for the trial of our Faith sometimes What ever 't is my Soul some Cause is given What e're 's the Cause the Remedy's in Heaven Is Sin the Cause O then my Soul Repent God hears the humble Soul and penitent Cry unto God who only can appease This dreadful Tempest and can calm the Seas Hold all thy Sails my Soul with fervent sighs â—and all thy Cords with secret Pray'rs likewise Let Faith be mixt with Payer Faith will prevail Cast Anchor O my Soul within the Vail And when thy hand 's at Helm thenlet thine Eye Look up to Heaven from whence must come supply Rouse up from Sleep my Soul for that intent Perhaps this Tempest was from Heaven sent To rouse thy drowsie Soul Awake awake Who sleeps in Sin shall fall into the Lake 2. Be not Fool-hardy of an Atheist's mind That scoffs at Tempests and doth scorn the Wind Laughing at Death presumptiously out-braves As if his Courage could withstand the Waves But be thou humble O my Soul and know 'T is God that makes the stormy Winds to blow 'T is He alone that makes the Seas to rage And none but He their Fury can asswage Be not too foolish in thy Confidence The next strong Gust that comes may fetch thee hence Say to thy Soul the next proud Wave that comes May swallow this poor Vessel and intomb Both It and Thee within the restless Ocean Let Storms and Tempests stir up thy Devotion In Prayer to God who if he say Be still Both Wind and Waves and Seas obey his Will 3. But in the third place Are thy Sorrows past And hath the Lord deliver'd thee at last Doth frothy Neptunes raging Fury cease And are the VVinds and VVaves and Seas at peace And is thy trembling Heart set free from fears Thy Hands from labor and thine Eyes from tears O then my Soul forget not Him whose Hand Hath given Rest Praise him by Sea and Land Forget not God that helpt you in Distress Let not his Mercies make thee love him less Was Sin the cause that made the Seas to rore Forsake thy sins my Soul and sin no more Or was 't to try thy Faith God sent this Storm Let this Deliverance then thy Faith confirm How did it fill your Hearts with joy peace When first the Tempest did begin to cease Its first appearance was like precious Balm So welcome was the tydings of a Calm How was your Hearts refreshed as with Wine Your Souls revived as if some Divine Or holy Angel had some Cordial given Which God to chear your Souls had sent from Heaven You were as one now raised from the Grave Such Soul-refreshments did you then receive Your Breaches were built up and all repair'd Wherefore dear Souls do not now disregard God's Goodness on the Seas now you 're on Shore But magnifie the Lord for ever more And for his Goodness do not prove unkind Let not Sea-Mercies slip out of thy Mind Tremble when ever you do entertain A Thought into your Hearts to sin again Or when you do forget the Lord whose Hand Spar'd you at Sea brought you safe to Land Now Courteous Reader for whose sake I have Expos'd these Lines to view I only crave This at your Hands That if these Meditations Be over brief for your large expectations That you would use Industry and enlarge Upon the Premises and so discharge Your Christian Duty in this Exercise And then what 's writ may very well suffice For Simple Meditations from this Text Mixt Meditations now shall be the next CHAP. X. Wherein you have a brief but plain Relation What Seas and Ships afford for Meditation Which is in twelve Particulars laid down Pleasant and profitable to be known AND first consider well how near thou art Unto thy Death 't is but a Board doth part 'Twixt Thee Death if that Board chance to hit Upon some churlish Rock so be split Thou sinks into the raging Ocean and Thy Burying-place must be the restless Sand Thou needs no Sexton there to dig thy Grave The Sand is all the Burying-place thou 'lt have Thy Body through the Waters make its way And there must lye until the Judgment-Day 2. But Secondly Consider with what care The Pilot to his Compass doth repair Because from thence he is to take Direction And with what careful Head Circumspection He doth observe his Land-Marks and likewise See how the Stears-man at the Helm applyes Himself to hearken with all diligence Unto the Pilot's Voyce because from thence He 's to receive Directions how to stear But Oh! How careless doth poor man appear That is concerned in Soul-Navigation Although it do respect his own Salvation Although we hear the Pilot call and cry What little heed takes Man to stear thereby Oh how industrious is Seamen here To scape from Ship-wrack while we void of fear Hazard the Shipwrack of our Souls and trust All will be well though we obey our Lusts Oh what 's the matter Souls what doth condence Our Hearts and why are we so void of Sense To value less the shipwrack of our Souls Than of our Ships that carries in their Holds â—othing at best but what is transitory â—hose full Enjoyment's but a fading Glory Now let the Seaman's Diligence and Care â—o save his Ship provoke thee to beware â—hou dost not lose thy Soul through negligence â—or loss of which there is no Recompence 3. With what a strong unsatisfy'd Desire â—o all the Ships crew after Land enquire â—Vhen he at Top-masts Head at last doth spy â—and tho far off How welcome is his Cry â— of good Chear dear Sirs and faint no more â—onder's our Harbor I discover Shore â—e're past the worst our Danger now is over â—ear up dear Hearts Chear up I do discover Our wisht-for Port from whence our hop't-foâ— Gaiâ— Will recompence us for our toyl pain Doth Seamen thus desire to des-cry Their Ports at Sea O then my Soul say Whâ— Thou art so lazy and dost not look out Alas my Soul I fear I am in doubt Th' art too secure Dost not understand The Excellency of that Holy Land Methinks thou shouldest much desire to hear The Watch-man tell thee That thou draweneâ— That happy Port of fair Emmanuel Whose boundless-endless-Treasures do excel Seamen have their prospective Glasses by them By which things at a distance is drawn ny theâ— Faith is that true Prospective Glass whereby Things at a distance is drawn very nigh Abram looks thorow his Prospective-Glass And saw Christ's Day long time before it was Through this Prospective-Glass thou may bâ—hoâ— Jerusalem whose Streets is pure Gold Whose Walls is precious Stones whos 's
Gloâ— brigâ— Is Christ the Son of God that gives it Light Whose Beauty when thou sees it will deligâ— theâ— Whose Riches is sufficient to invite thee To venture all the Loss thou may sustain That thou that sacred Country may obtain Abram did see 't far off and did rejoyce Moses beheld it also and made choyce â—'endure Storms abide tempestuous Weather And Happy Moses if he gets but thither Is not this Country worth thy observation Or settest thou so lightly by Salvation â—ook out dear Souls and hear the Watch-man's voyce â—ehold the Glorious Country and rejoyce â—hat you can see the Country tho not nigh â—bserve your Compass well and stear thereby â—ill thou arrives at Canan's sacred Shore â—here Pleasures will attend thee ever more 4. But in the Fourth place Thou mayst there observe â—hat Care the Seaman taketh to preserve â—ch Rope and Cable that it may hold fast â—e Anchor that the Ship may not be cast â— Rocks or Sands or forc't in any sort â— Storms or Tempests from their wished Port. Hope is the Anchor of the Soul No Storm â—here Faith to Hope 's united can do harm â—ith is the Cable and if so be thou find â—ith not sufficient to resist the Wind â— strong Temptations mark what Scripture saith â—y Hope is strengthened when thou adds to Faith â—mptations like a Tempest raises strife â—d but the Vertues of a Holy Life â—to thy Faith thy Hope will never fail â— then thy Anchor 's cast within the Vail â—ere will thy Anchor hold both firm and sure â—d this thy Anchor keeps thy Soul secure 5. How doth the Seamen when the Wind 's contrary Wait with Desire and with patience tarry Till the unconstant Wind do change no less Doth want of Winds bring Seamen to distress Calms cross Winds do both alike presage The ill success of an unprosperous V'age A Spiritual Seaman's thus becalm'd when â—eacâ— Has this Effects to make his Lusts increase Ephraim had Peace allow'd him as a faâ—or But its Effects was that an evil savor Made Ephraim to stink Wherefore the Lord His own Inheritance hath oft abhorr'd Good David in a Calm did suffer more Than he had done in all his Life before When God gave David Peace instead of Strife Then Lusted he after Vriah's VVife When Israel was at Peace on every side This was the time that they did most backslide Thus Calms we see have done us many harms As ever did cross Winds or hasty Storms Then pray with Seamen that you may be neitheâ— Harmed by Calms cross VVinds or stormâ— VVeather When thou art over-mastred by Corruptions They are like cross Winds making Interruptions Observe these cross VVinds and use Diligence Seamen sometimes can with cross Winds dispence They 'll work against the Wind so must thou But yet observe when the VVinds do blow VVith a fair Course observe these gentle Gales And then be sure thou spread out all thy Sails By fair VVinds here I would be understood To mean the Holy Ghost that promis't Good VVhich breaths into thy Soul gently moves To every Good and every Sin reproves VVhen ever thou perceives that sacred VVind To breath into thy Soul be sure thou mind â—ts holy Breathing If it do invite thee To Holyness let Holyness delight thee â—f it reproves at any time for Sin Be sure thou takest no Delight therein VVhen Spirit 's Breathing calls for thy Affections â—nto the Scriptures follow its Directions Thus if each sacred Gale of VVind thou eye And close with every Opportunity And let no fair VVind slip in any sort T will hasten thee to thy desired Port. 6 VVhat Pains a Seaman taketh in a Storm To keep his Vessel and himself from harm Some tend the Sails while other some do stand By this and th' other Rope There 's not a Hand At such an hour find a time to cease But as the storm their labours do increase â—ome ply the Pump while others stand to sound And all to keep themselves from being drown'd Why then poor soul do'st thou securely sleep Till thou with Jonah perish in the deep How many a Storm poor soul hast thou been iâ— Yet not so much as wakened with thy Sin How do the Waves like mighty Armies comâ— Threatning to send thee to thy longest home How oft hath that pale Messenger of Death Been threatning to take away thy breath And sleeps thou yet poor soul O hear the noiâ— Of God in Judgment whose tempestuous Voyâ— Once shook the Earth If thou 'lt not now awakâ— E're long he will both Earth and Heaven shake Then will it be Tempestuous round about him Then woe to them that now do live without hiâ— This Tempest now is sounding in thine Ears And canst thou sleep with Jonah free from fears Awake poor drowsie Soul at last bethink theâ— Or else thine own Iniquity will sink thee Rouse up rouse up ply thy Pump my Souâ— My Vessel leaks waters has fill'd it Hould Empty thy self my soul of all vain pleasure If ever thou intend to save that treasure Thy precious soul I mean that is more worth Than all the fading Treasures of the Earth Sea-men in Storms they must be sure to mind Their Sails or else some cross contrary wind May sink and over-set they may be driven On Rocks or Sands so you that sail for Heaveâ— filâ— Mind your Affections labor to be skill'd In these your Sails and know with what they â— with vain Pleasures thy affections be â—ill'd full they 'l sink thee to Eternity â—ut if with holy breathings then no Storm â—an be so strong to do thee any harm â—torms drive thee faster to thy wished Shore â—here thou shalt never meet with Tempest more 7. How doth each Marriner while he takes care â—or the preserving of his own affair â—mprove his pains alike for all the Crew â—he safety of the whole is in his view â—f that provision any person makes â—o save his private Cabbin all partakes â—ach one's concern is so with others mixt â—hat it doth make a harmony betwixt â—hat little Common-wealth O then what cause â—ast thou my Soul to slight the Sacred Laws â—hich God hath in his Holy word made known â—hat is to make anothers case thine own When thou art seeking for thy own Salvation â—emember O my Soul the whole Creation â—od hath to man an Universal Love â—nd would have none to Perish Let this move â—y heart to pitty every one that I â—e walking in their own Iniquity â—et me in using of my best indeavour â—o save my soul from perishing for ever â—hink with thy self my soul 't will not suffice â—hat thou art sav'd alone thou must likewise By Life and Doctrin or what-ever may Seek to put others also in the way To save themselves My Soul thou canst not bâ— Rightly indeavouring thy self to free From Death's eternal Soul-amazing snare But others of thy labours will have share When wicked men behold thy good behaviour It makes
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
impression leaves a pleasant savor Makes them in love with goodness lets them seâ— The foolish madness of Impiety Men truly brought unto a sight of sins Soon sees the danger of it and begins To take up resolutions to forsake it Hear now this Counsel O my Soul take it Be like the Sea-man who while he make sure To save himself doth all the rest secure Yet by the way this one thing must be knovvn While thou seeks others good slight not thinâ— ownâ— 8. From these unconstant various mutations Which Sea-men daily see these Meditations Which under this eighth circumstance doth sheâ— It self is here presented to our view How do calm Evenings many times deceive The too secure Sea-men who believe Perhaps because they see no present Storm Before the Sun goes down there will no harm Suprise their quiet rest but that they may Lye down in safety sleep till brake of day But now behold before the Night is spent A sudden Tempest is from Heaven sent That doth awake them they are dispossest All of a sunden of their quiet rest Their Evening's Calm's turn'd to a Night of sorrow In great distress they cry out for the Morrow Hoping the Day when come will bring Relief But Day Alas doth still increase their Grief O sad disastrous Accident most strange O great Mutation unexpected Change Who would have thought but some few Hours past Those Calms would usher in so great a Blast The Day is come but yet no Hope remains They call and cry but yet their fruitless pains Goes unrewarded till the dismal Night Comes on puts their slender Hopes to flight Their Hope is at an end their Day is done Their sable Night has now obscur'd the Sun And now they are expecting every Minit Their Ship should sink with every thing that 's in it But of a suddain as the Night came on The Tempest ceases all their Fears are gone They that were now with fear of Death possest Can now dispose themselves to quiet Rest They whose perplexed Thoughts the Storms did fright Who were in dread of a Tempestuous Night Can now lye down in safety sleep secure These strange Mutations Seamen do endure Thus stands the Case my Soul The same Mutation Dayly attends upon Soul-Navigation How calm sometimes an Evening doth appear The Soul goes on in sin and doth not fear He sins and sins again without relenting And not so much as dreams of his Repenting While others fear the losing of their Souls He sins and meets with nothing that controuls Can laugh at Vices and can play with Sins So great 's the Calm But suddainly begins An unexpected Alteration and He now begins to see and understand That God's an Enemy to Sin and will Not clear the Guilty but in wrath will kill All the Ungodly such as do rebell He will cast down into the Pit of Hell Where Sinners shall be Subjects of his Ire And live Eternally in Flames of Fire O what a Tempest is there now begun His Joy is over and his Peace is done Now every Sin seems like a mighty Wave He now cryes out with Peter O Lord save A miserable Wretch that am undone O may I see the Morning may the Sun Arise and fill my darkned Soul with Light And free me from the Terror of the Night Thus with Soul-melting lamentable crys My soul did long to see the Sun arise But when the Morning came alas my grief Seem'd rather more than less and my relief Seems farther off the Sun did shine so clear That now my sins like Armies do appear I saw Gods Love in Christ indeed most plain And understood that he for Sin was slain Yea furthermore I also understood T was for great Sinners that he shed his Blood But yet withall I also did perceive That such as did the Benefit receive Were real Converts such as did repent But I beheld my self Impenitent â— disobedient Rebell With Delight Have I committed sin both day and night â—or could I see a Reason to expect â—hat which was only due to God's Elect. Thus in the Day the Tempest did increase â—he more I saw the further off from Peace â—he Tempest thus continued till the Light â—as quite obscur'd and a dreadful Night â—ame fast approaching on my Watchful Eye â—ees nothing now but Death Eternally Behold My Sorrow 's now at height extream â—ow all the World for one refreshing Beam â—ut when I thought this dark and dismal Night â—ould sink my Soul I saw by Candle-Light spotless Dove bringing a Branch of Peace â—id to the Seas Be still Their Rage did cease was the sacred Candle of Gods Word â—at did this precious Beam of Light afford â—lainly saw from thence that Christ was sent â— save the sinful disobedient I saw from thence God never past Deaths Sentencâ— On any Man till he refus'd Repentance I saw from thence God never did respect Any Man's Person nor did he reject The worst of Sinners that were but content To leave his sins and truly to repent I saw from thence God's Universal Love To every Man This sacred Light did prove That God loves all Men from his first Creation And from this Light I saw his great Compassioâ— Unto his Creature Man whom he did make In his own Image for which Creature 's sake He made a gracious Promise of Redemption Unto his Creature Man without Exemption I saw my self from thence as one of those That God out of the whole Creation chose To bear his Image hence I knew likewise If any one that bears his Image dies 'T is not because the Lord before hath said This Man whom I have in my Image made Shall dye Eternally he shall not have Sufficient Means allowed him to save His Soul from Death But 't is because he chuâ— To walk in Paths of Darkness and refuses That sacred Path of Light and Life that 's givâ— Wherein all Men may stear their Course for Hâ—vâ— All these bright Beams of glorious Light Diviâ— Forth from the Candle of God's Word did shine Even in the Night the stormy Wind did cease Which fill'd my Heart with Comfort Joy and Peace 9. How beautifull's the Ship when under sail Having th' advantage of a pleasant Gale With how much Pleasure Ease Chearfulness Do Seamen then attend their Business How pleasant is their passage when no Storm Puts them in fear of an approaching Harm When neither Wind nor Weather interpose How well all matters in their Voyage goes How beautiful's the Soul when its Affections Is wholly guided by Divine Directions When holy Breathings makes th' Affections swell With Love and Zeal for God and to excell When sacred Breathings thus possess the Mind He 's like a Ship that runs before the Wind Upon the smooth-fac'd Seas when never a blast Is sent to interpose O then what hast The Soul doth make for Heaven when it's Corruptions Is all subdu'd and makes no Interruptions How pleasant O my Soul and with what ease Thou dost
thy Work on these tempestuous Seas Christ's Yoke's then easie and his burthen light Then wilt thou serve the Lord with all thy might And all thy Labor easie will become Thy Works of Charity not burthensome How lovely Christians are in such a Case Those holy Breathings beautifies the Face When Passengers behold the Waves arise As if they meant to grapple with the Skies Behold the Waters in great fury strive To bury Ship and Seamen all alive The Passenger concludes Seamen unwise That for th' advantage of a slender Prize Will run such Hazards But when they behold Their Vessel laded with Rich Indian-Gold And also fees the Seas affords Delights As well as Terror These things now invites The Passenger to think a Seaman's Life Is worth the seeking after To be brief VVhen such a one as only is a Stranger Unto a Christian's Life beholds the Danger That Christians are expos'd to and also The Danger that they dayly undergo Some times from their Corruptions and sometimeâ— From Men that look at Righteousness a Crime VVhereby they dayly are expos'd to scorn And lookt upon as wretched and forlorn Hated forsaken persecuted and Beset with Sorrows upon every Hand Upon the sight whereof he will suppose 'T is worse than Folly for a Man to chose To live so vile a Life in expectation Only of future Glory and Salvation But if he sees a Christian in his Beauty Free'd from Temptations to perform his Duty To God and Man If ere this Stranger 's Eyes Be so far op'ned as to see the Prize VVith which a Christian is at last rewarded He 'll think these Sorrow 's not to be regarded The VVorth and Value of that sacred Prize Makes him conclude a Christian only VVise Improve thy Intrest use thy utmost Skill â—ntreat the Lord my Soul that he may fill Thy Spiritual Sails with Breathings from Above That being fill'd with fervent Zeal and Love To God and Man thy Beauty may invite Strangers to stear for Heaven with Delight And so thou wilt adorn the Gospel and Make many seek after the Holy Land 10. How useful's every Rope there 's none so small But is of use each Seaman knows them all Can call them by their Names do understand Both when and why each Rope he is to hand And with what Strength with what Dexterity They hand and hale each Rope My Soul apply This to thy self In sacred Navigation There 's not a Rope but thou wilt find occasion To make use of it There is not a VVord But something of benefit it will afford The Promises is all of use we know And every threatning VVord's of use also Every Experience of God's Faithfulness Thou may lay hold on with as great a stress As Seamen do upon the Ropes they hale When they would either keep or force the Saiâ— To bear up Wind that so they may Taking advantage of the VVind make way Every Experience is like a Cord That draws the Soul's Affections to the Lord From whence these sacred Breathings do proceeâ— That fills thy Sails makes thee run with speeâ— Every Work or Act of Providence Mercies Afflictions suddain Accidents Steppings-aside Miscarriages Temptations All these are useful in Soul-Navigation Want of Industry or spiritual Sloth There 's not a Word can slip out of thy Mouth There 's not an Act of Folly can be wrought Nor yet a vain unprofitable Thought All sins of Negligence sins of Omission All these may serve to stir up Heart-Contrition See'st thou thy self in every thing too blame Be drawn thereby into a humble Frame The humble Man the Lord will teach his wayes The Lowly he 'll exalt to sing his Praise By all that 's said it doth appear most plain A spiritual Seaman if well skill'd may gain By every Work and Action in his Life Whether 't be good or evil To be brief As every Rope is useful in its place So nothing's useless in a Christian's Race God's goodness when compar'd with ours maâ— servâ— To let us see how little we deserve â—o see his Wonders both by Sea and Land May let us see the Power of his hand That of a suddain's able to consume Such as do live in wickedness presume 11. As Ships within the Holds do bear the Prize So on the Deck they carry strength likewise So that they may be able to oppose The strong Assaults of their inraged Foes Know also O my Soul thou must provide Weapons of War of which thou'lt be supply'd Out of that sacred Magazen the Lord Has richly furnisht from his holy Word Seamen expect to meet with opposition And Spiritual Seamen's in the same Condition Beset with Pirats round on every side World Flesh and Devil O my Soul provide Thy self with Armor that thou may withstand The Force and Fury of this tripple band Thy Adversaries have both strength and skill Resolv'd they are and over-come they will Unless thou make a very strong resistance Which if thou wilt thou shalt not want assistance God's holy Word 's the Magazen wherefore Go arm thy self out of that sacred Store There 's Weapons suitable for every Foe The Sword the Shield the Helmet and also A sacred Brest-plate Paul esteems no less Than pure Innocence and Râ—ghteousness This piece of Armor will secure the Heart From being pierc'd with Satan's fiery Dart A Breast that that 's arm'd with Righteousness can never Be pierc't with all the Darts in Satan's Quiver 'T is neither Satan nor his Instruments Can with their Malice harm the Innocent Satan improved all his Hellish Power Against poor Job intending to devour That Righteous Person and to that intent That nothing should his Hellish Rage prevent He makes Job's Wife an Instrument to cause Him to offend and break God's sacred Laws Perswading him to curse his God and dye Stirs up his Friends t' accuse him wrongfully But Job being armed well resists them all Their Darts rebound as from a flinty VVall Against themselves as they could do no less He being strongly arm'd with Righteousness He could appeal unto the Lord most High Who knew the Truth of this Integrity That willingly he never did transgress Muchless had he contrived VVickedness Thus Job was arm'd against the force and might Of Satan arm'd with Hell-inraged spight These three pernicious Foes were all consented To ruin Job but they were all prevented Poor Job upon the Dung-hill sits him down Beholds the former-smiling VVorld to frown â—nd of a suddain sees himself bereft â—f all his Temporals and hath nothing left â—ut what doth Righteous Job in this distress â—ow he has nothing left him to possess â—e takes him to his Weapon draws his Sword T is God doth give saith he it is the Lord That when he pleases takes away the same â—od gives and takes and Blessed be his Name Thus with his sacred Sword he puts to flight â—he VVorld with all its Pomp But now in sight â—nother dreadful Foe with Visage pale â—ncounters Job and threatens to