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
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
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
â—a true emblem of mans restless state â—ce he by sinning did degenerate Ship for aptness as it doth excell â— is it anciently approved well â—ot only for its rareness of invention â—t for its plainness to our apprehension â—ere be but few if any that 's so low â—d shallow of Conceit but see and know â—at as it 's with a Ship whose Costly prize â—he Rich Lading of some Merchandize â—ating at Sea when Dark and Silent Night â—s Stain'd the Heaven and obscur'd the Light â—thout its Card Compass and likewise â—t knowing where its Port or Haven lies Nor how to steer or bend his Course thereto Being be-wildred in the dark Just so It is with Man since his unhappy fall Without a guid can find no path at all Mans body is the Ship his Soul likewise Is that unvaluable Merchandize A Pearl whose worth exceedes both weight anâ— measureâ— Its price is far above all earthly treasure He that shall lose his Soul although he gain The world with all its wealth he will sustain A loss far greater than can be esteem'd By earthly man or by the worth redeem'd Of all the treasures that is under heaven Nought for the Soul can in exchange be give This World 's the Sea and as by Nature weâ— Come into it we neither know nor see Our Haven unto which we ought to bend And steer our Course nor can we apprehend The usual means by which we are directed In this our Voyage till it be perfected Heaven is our proper Haven 't is the end Of all our Labours thither we ought to bend And steer our Course that we the better mighâ— With hope of happy issue steer aright To be our perfect Rule God doth afford The blessed Counsel of his Holy Word And to his Holy Word he adds beside His Holy Spirit for our perfect Guid. Lo thus as with a Compass night and day We are directed to find out our way Sail by this Compass and we shall be sure Whatever Storms and Tempest we endure Our Voyage will be crown'd with good success We shall not miss our Port of Happiness 'T is an unerring Rule but yet alass By Nature we are blind the time we pass Upon this Earth as in a Sea of Trouble Till Death dissolve our Bodies and this bubble â—f we compare it with the splendid light Of everlasting day it s but a night A night of darkness rather than a day Of perfect light we cannot find our way Without our Compass whence this may be learn'd That as a Merchant thinks himself concern'd To use his best endeavours to secure â—is floating Vessel that he may insure â—is Merchandizes So he that bears the prize â—f his Immortal Soul 's concern'd likewise â—bove all things to use his best endeavour â—o save his Soul which lost is lost for ever A Christian in the Gospel is compar'd â—o Merchants that do seek no less reward â—han precious Pearls which that he may find out â—oth compass Sea and Land whirls round about â—he Massy Globe through many a stormy blast â—nd thinks himself well satisfied at last â— obtains the treasure that he craves â—hough he indures the fury of the Waves â—n he but bring his Vessel safe to Shore â— his desired Port he seeks no more Man is the Merchant and his Port doth lie Within the Confines of Eternity This World 's well term'd a Sea and if we eye It as a place of Waters we may spy The same unconstant and unstable motion As men behold within the restless Ocean The various changes that this World affords With Neptune's often changes well accords The tossing to and fro of its affairs Filling mens hearts with daily fears and cares Is like the raging waves resistless might Which often puts the Seaman to a fright Threatning to rend his crasie Vessel and Intomb his Câ—rcass in the restless Land The fear'd evil and the hop'd for good In worldly things is like the ebbe and flood They go and come their flux and reflux we To turn and return like the Tide we see Sometimes this world doth promise present goâ— And then it seems like to the Sea and flood And when we think we shall some good obtaiâ— Is like the Tide returneth back again Nothing so certain as uncertainty Earthly enjoyments make them wings and 〈◊〉 And as the waters of the Seas retains A brinish taste the same Salt just remains In earthly things in great or lesser measure Abates the sweetness of all earthly pleasure Sometimes the waves mounts up our Ship on As if its Top-mast-head would pierce the Skiâ— And presently its tumbl'd down again â—s if in Hell it now were to remain â— such a case a Saint that 's in this world â—ost to and fro in such a fury hurld â— made Sea sick and nothing now is more â— Saints desire than Heaven its happy Shore â— Saint sometimes may have a present gale â—he Waters smooth the Wind fills out his fail â—he Wind stands fair the Raging Seas likewise â—re all at peace and now the Seamen lies â—nd quickly comes to his desired shore â—hen others that perhaps set out before â—eeting with Tempest at the Sea was driven â—uite from their Port lost Some go to heaven â—s with a prosperous wind is quickly hurld â—ut of the trouble of this evil world â—nd of such sort young infants be whose stay â—on this Sea sometimes is not a day â—hildren also that leave this world before â—ey have committed sin comes to the shore â— a short time and meets with never a storm â—ey neither do nor think of any harm â—ay we believe record that is given â—ese are undoubtedly the heirs of heaven â—eed from all sorrows tempestuous weather â—rist as their Pilot doth conduct them thither â—hilâ—st men and women being more mature â— these tempestuous Seas great storms indure â—hich gives them cause sufficient to desire â— leave these troubled Seas for fear they tire In length of time and upon Rocks be driven And split themselves lose their way to heaven 2. And in the second place our bodies may Be fitly term'd a Ship because as they When floating on the Seas do spring a leak So 't fares with man so frail he is and weak As through a leak the Sea doth make its way Forcing the weary Seaman night and day To ply the Pump least if his strength should faiâ— The waters should so mightily prevail To sink his richly laden Vessel and Bury both Ship and Lading in the sand The Seaman therefore spareth not his pain Till he his long'd for Haven do obtain So 't is with Christians Nature being weak While in this world are liable to leak And if a Christian in his labour fail The waters of this world will so prevail That Ship and Lading will undoubtedly Indanger sinking to Eternity The leaks are these the Saints that shall inheriâ— Eternal life is flesh as well as spirit The world presents thee with its golden pleasuâ—
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
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
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
God commend The Holy Scripture to us to the end That man might search them and in searching find What 's there revealed of the fathers mind And do the same that so they may obtain Eternal peace when they shall rise again â— erre not here in faith and that thou may Scape Shipwrack here observe what I say Search but the word of God and thou wilt find The Apostles did foresee vain man inclin'd â—o much to Atheism there would arise â—ain men that would Gods sacred Word despise â—aving of Scripture man might live without them â—ea venture to deny the Lord that bought them Which mock at Heaven and without regard Of God or Christ do scoff at Saints reward Who of the Resurrection say in vain Do men that die hope to rise again These be the men of which th' Apostle saith Th' are turned aside and as concerning Faith Have err'd here let thy Faith be sound For want of care here thou mayst run aground And split thy Ship and sink into that Lake Of everlasting Fire and partake With damned Spirits in eternal woe Where fearful and where unbelievers go Thirdly remember this aâ—d understand That thou art to obey to â—â—rists command It is not Moses nor Elias neither Nor Holy Angels take them altogether That God hath made thy Leader to be brief Christ is thy Leader and Commander in chief If I or Angels saith St. Paul do bring Another Gospel teach another thing Believe it not whatever men shall say See how 't agrees with Christ ere you obey Inquire if Christ command it first of all In Person or by Apostolical Decree If neither of them do command God never will require it at thy hand Wherefore be sound in Faith in all these three Forenamed particulars as thou shall be Directed by Gods Word to which I 'll leave thee As to a guid that never will deceive thee And this be sure if thou dost not steer Drectly on this Point bur errest here In matters of thy faith thou makes a poor And slender Voyage though thou comes safe to shore But that I may these errors yet explain In this short breviate read them once again A man may erre in faith in three respects All which produce most dangerous effects In not believing universal love It is a dangerous error and may prove The ruin of thy soul but secondly He errs in faith that doth presumptuously Deny the use of holy Scripture and Presumes to say that men may understand Gods mind without them from a light within This is an error and a dangerous sin Denying use of Scripture is the ground Of all the erors that do now abound Men erre in Faith that do not understand That they are wholly under Christs command But run to Moses Law to be directed In Gods true worship as if Christ neglected To leave his Gospel Churches a supply Of Laws to rule and Rules to worship by East by North. The next Point unto this thou art to learn Is North by East a Point of high concern As Christ for man by Gods degree was slain So Christ by God is rais'd to life again And as Chist by his Death did reconcile Man who by sinning did himself defile Unto his maker and hath now appeas'd Gods wrath who justly might have been displeas'd With man for ever but now reconcil'd He doth in Christ adopt man as his Child And make him heir with Christ in that possession Whose endless glory is without expression So Christ doth by his glorious Resurrection Raise man from death to life his imperfection Is Chang'd into a pure perfect state Which once begun will never terminate Mortal shall put on immortality And man thus rais'd to life shall never die Christ by the Word of God he overcame Satan that was the cause of sin and shame And that a Saint may do 't God doth afford Every Child of his the self same sword He that thus Conquered Satan by his breath Hath by his Resurection conquered Death Mans fatal enemy that first anoy'd The Sons of Adam is at last destroy'd The Son of God is Captain King and Head And is the first that riseth from the dead Whence we a certain testimony have That we should be redeemed from the grave The grave yields up her dead so must the deep The Trump must sound and all must wake from sleep Some unto dismal Darkness woe and sorrow Some to eternal light and joyful moâ—â—ow Sin causes Death both temporal and eternal Then fly from sin as from a foe infernal The Second Death is a perpetual dying Attended with Sorrow and continual Crying Whoever then would wisely undertake A prosperous Voiage for his soul to make And scape the second Death sin doth procure And all the sorrows sinners shall indure And would arrive at heaven fear no weather Storms is no hindrance in your Voiage thither Fear naught but sin there 's nothing else can harm You may get good advantage by a Storm Eschew but sin and storms will drive you faster To your desired Port there 's no disaster That thou canst meet with in this restless ocean Fly but from sin resist it in its motion And do not fear for thou art safe enough Thou 'lt find thy crasie Vessel weather proof 'T is neither whisling Mast nor ratling Pum The noise of storms or tempests that may come T is neither leaking Vessel or Lee shore Nor sinking Ship all these and many more Like seeming dangers that will lose thy prize Or hurt or hazard thy souls merchandize There 's nought but sin I say that can deceive us Of our souls trafique sin will quite bereave us He that doth fear and fly from sin shall never Perish in sinking no nor sink for ever Although his body sink his precious store His soul I mean shall surely come to shore Then fly from sin as from a Serpent least Sin sink thy soul which brings us to the East To Christ I mean whose precious blood was spilt To save thy soul and free thee from the guilt Of all thy sins if thou wilt but obey His precious voice now while it is too day East Next is our Eastern point that equal space Twixt North and South stablish thy heart with grace Grace is the only balast thou canst have It is by grace that God will sinners save Not of our selves so saith his servant Paul Christ is the gift of God given for all Stablish thy heart with grace not with notion Which fills the head and not the heart with motion 'T is neither gifts nor high expressions can Upon right grounds establish any man Grace is that balast makes thy Ship go steady But high aspiring notions makes men heady How many floating and unwary Souls Wanting this balast is tost about and rouls Now here now there no place of rest they find Are tost and turn'd about with every wind And almost overset with every wave And can no solid satisfaction have Sometimes their curious
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
We cannot think a happy Voyage to make Observe that good St. Paul and you shall find That Faithful Pilot in the self-same Mind His Compass he upon his Conscience layes In all things he makes Conscience of his Wayes Both towards God Man thou alwayes must Make Conscience of thy Wayes 'T is in vain to trust To any written Rule though ne'r so good And never so well known and understood If thou dost make no Conscience of the same Thy Compass serves for nothing but the Name Upon a painted Compass Men may look Or read the Rule that 's written in a Book A Compass fairly painted on a VVall Though pleasing to the Eye serves not at all To stear a Ship by That must be effected By such a Compass as must be erected And set upon a Needle where it moves By this erected Compass Seamen proves Their written Rule By this the Ship is guided And through the raging Seas her way 's divided Remember therefore if thou dost intend Thy former Compass shall obtain its End And thou at last may be secur'd from blame Be sure that thou make Conscience of the same That out of Conscience unto God thou never Neglect thy former Compass but endeavour To stear according to it Fix thine Eye On God who is thy North and come as nigh Unto thy Rule as possible thou may And out of Conscience unto God obey His VVill in every thing with true Affection As from thy Compass thou meets with Directionâ— So shalt thou be made Happy in thy Choyce And from true ground of Comfort may rejoyce Having within thee that which will indure The Testimony of a Conscience pure That from thy Dove-like Innocence thy Conversation Has been in truth without Dissimulation According to the Rule unfeignedly Serving the Lord in pure Simplicity And true Sincerity where I shall leave thee As with a Rule that never will deceive thee A Good Memory A Seaman that compleatly is supply'd Must with his Compass have a Box beside To place his Compass with security The Box is therefore a good Memory There let thy Rules be kept like sacred Treasure That thou may look them over at thy Pleasure These Rules are few these Few are very plain â—ot over numerous for thee to retain â— thou dost get these Rules into thy Head â— time of need they will thee stand in stead VVhen thy occasions have remov'd thee far â—nd Storms and Tempests at the Sea debar â—hee from the good Appointments of the Lord â—he sacred Preaching of God's holy Word â—his being kept in Memory lyes by thee â—hat in a time of want it may supply thee I will not say That thou wilt need no more â— in thy Head thou layest them up in store â—ut this I dare adventure to assert â—hy Head instructed well informs thy Heart â—nd if thou knows these Rules dost endeavor â—o do the same Happy art thou for ever â— such a State thou never canst miscarry â—ho Seas be rough Winds be quite contrary â—ut safely shalt obtain that happy Shore VVhere Pleasures do abound for ever more â—hen wilt thou find no Reason to repent thee â—hat for a time thou hadst this Compass lent thee CHAP. IX The Third Part now of sacred Navigation It is the Affections lively Meditation Affectionate Divinity we find Is principally seated in the Mind DIvine Affection is a lively Motion O'th'Soul to God-ward stirring up Devâ—tion And this Affection thus Divinely seated By Meditations is both warm and heated So that through Heat it now doth opperate And sets the Affections in a working-state Affections is the Soul 's quick Motion and Sweet Meditations also doth command The Soul's Affections and doth strongly move And melts th' Affections in a Flame of Love VVhere holy Meditations is but small Th' Affection 's cold and scarcely moves at all That therefore I shall further treat upon Relating to Divine Affection I shall endeavour to reduce them all Into some certain Rules that 's Practicall Practical Rules I mean of Meditation VVhereby the Soul can make sweet Applicatioâ— Of God's sweet Promises in Scripture found And that upon the best and safest Ground â—or Meditations when 't is sweetly felt â—s like a Limbeck that doth Heat and melt â—uch pleasant Flowers as are put into it â—aking sweet Drops of VVater issue fro it Those Meditations that I now intend â—o lay before my Sea-devoted Friend â—hey're of two sorts on which mine Eye is fixt â—ome purely Simple other some are Mixt. â—uch Meditations as most properly â—Ve here call Simple Meditations I â—raw from such Places of God's VVord as are â—especting Seamen in particular â—wo Scriptures for that purpose I have chose â—Vhich Holy David did before expose â—o publick veiw that such as fear the Lord â—ight be instructed from his Holy VVord In Psalm the Seventy-seven Nineteen Verse â—here David doth that sacred VVord rehearse â—hy Wayes O Lord are in the Seas saith he â—hy Paths upon the mighty Waters be â—â— from this VVord thou bend thy Meditation â—o make a Spiritual use and Application â—his VVord which here the Holy Prophet says â—ay well refer unto his sacred VVayes â—elating to the VVorld that restless Ocean â—r to the Saints But if thou take this Notion â—ccording to the literal Explication â— Seaman then may make this Application 1. If it be so that God-Almighty please â—o make his Foot-steps in the raging Seas If God do walk upon the Waves indeed And tread upon the Waters then what need Have I to fear at Sea more than at Land For God-Almighty doth them both command Or why should I at Sea be less in fear Of sinning than at Land for God is there No no God rules the raging Waves can stiâ— Their Fury and restrain it when he will Though Neptunes prouder Billows do out-braâ— And threaten still to make her Womb my Graâ— Tho every moment Death come prancing by â—â— I 'le fear no Evil for the Lord is nigh me And yet I 'le fear to sin though Mortal Eye Cannot discover for the Lord is nigh I 'le dread his holy Name that doth command The swelling Waves and bounds them with tâ— Sanâ— I 'le fear his Holy Name whose soveraign Powâ— Commands the Sea that it shall not devour Their Neighboring Earth again doth restraâ— Their Fury making them turn back again I 'le reverence his Name whose piercing Eye Sees all the World at once His Majesty I will adore and ever seek to please VVho rules the Earth and walks upon the Seâ— I 'le stand in awe at Sea as well as Land Of him whose power doth them both commanâ— 2. But Secondly Upon this same Relation Thou mayest rightly form this Meditation â—ay to thy Soul My Soul thus stands the Case â—hese mighty VVaters is God's dwelling Place Here is God's Temple O my Soul adore him â—all down worship God kneel before him â—ay not within thy self O I may live â—o come to Shore again and
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