An Epiſtle to every Seaman failing Heaven-ward,
( 232 ) To every SEAMAN failing Heaven-ward.
Ingenious Seaman, T THE art ofnavigation,bywhich iflands eſpeciallyare elriched,andpreferved infafetyfrom foreign invafions; and thewonderfulworks ofGod inthegreat deep, and foreignnations,are mostdelightfullyandfullybeheld, &c. is an artof exquifite excellency, ingenuity, rarity, and mirability: butthe art ofspiritual navigation isthe artof arts. It isa gallant thingtobe able to carry aſhip richly laden round the world; but it ismuch moregallantto carrya foul (that rich loading, apearl ofmoreworth thanallthe merchandize ofthe world) inabody(that is as liabletoleaks andbruiſes as any ſhip is) through the sea of this world (which is as unſtable as water, and hath the fame briniſh taſte and falt guft which thewaters ofthefea have)fafe toheaven(the beſt háven)ſoas toavoid ſplitting upon any foul-finking rocks, or ſtrikinguponanyfoul-drowningfands. The artofnatural navigation is averygreat mystery; butthe art ofſpiritual navigationis bymuch a greater mystery. Human wisdom may teach ustocarry afhip tothe Indies; butthe wisdom only that is from above can teach us to ſteer our courſe aright tothehaven of happiness.
This art is purely ofdivine revelation.
The truth is, divinity(the doctrine ofliving toGod) isnothingelſe butthe art offoul-navigation, revealed from heaven. Amere mancancarrya ſhip to any defiredport in all the world,but nomeremancan carrya foul toheaven. He must be a faint, hemust be adivine (ſo all faints are)thatcanbe apilot to carry afoul to thefair haven in Emanuel's land.
The art ofnatural navigation iswonderfully improved fince the coming ofChrift, before whichtime (ifthere be truth in hiftory) the use of the loadstonewas never known inthe world; and before the vir tueofthat was revealed unto the mariner, it is unſpeakable withwhatuncertainwanderings ſeamenfloatedhere and there, rather thanfailedthe right anddirect way. Sure I am, the art offpiritual navigation is wonderfullyimproved fince the coming of Chrift ; it oweth its clearest and fulleſtdiſcovery tothe coming ofChriſt.
This art ofarts is now perfectlyrevealed in thefcriptures ofthe old and newteftament ; but therules thereofare difperſed up and down therein. The collecting andmethodizing ofthe fame cannotbut be a work very useful unto fouls : though, when allis done,thereis anabſoluteneceſſityof
An Epistleto Seamenfailing Heaven-ward.
theteachings ofthe Spirit, and ofthe anointing that is from above, tomake ſoulsartists in ſailing heaven-ward.
The ingenious author ofthe Chriftian's Compass, or the Mariner's Companion,makes three parts ofthis art (as the ſchoolmen doofdivinity) viz. ſpeculative, practical, andaffectionate.
The principalthings neceffary tobe known by a fpiritualfeaman, inorder to the ſteering rightlyand fafely to theport ofhappineſs,he reduceth to four heads, anſwerabletothe fourgeneral points ofthe compaſs; making God our north ; Christ out east ; holinefsourfouth ; and death our west points .
ConcerningGod, we must know, (1.) That he is, Heb. xi. 6. and that there is but oneGod, 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6.(2.) That thisGod is that fupreme good, in the enjoyment ofwhom all true happiness lies, Pfal. iv. 6, 7. Mat. v. 8.----xviii. 20. (3.) That (life eternal lying in God,andhebeing incomprehenfible and unconceivable in efſence, as being a Spirit) our bestway toeye him is in his attributes, Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6, 7. and works,Rom.i. 20. andeſpeciallyinhisSon, 2Cor.iv. 6. (4.)ThatasGod is a Spirit, ſoour chiefeſt, yea, only way ofknowing, enjoying, ferving, and walkingwithhim, isinthe Spiritlikewife, Job iv. 24. Concerning Chrift,we must know, (1.) That he is thetrue Sunwhich arifethupontheworld,by which all are enlightened, John i.9.
Mal. iii. 2. Luke i. 78, 79. (2.) ThatGod alone is in him, reconcilinghimselftothe world, 2Cor.v. 19. 1 Cor. i. 30. John xiv. 6. (3.) That Jeſus Chriſt is only made ours by the union andindwelling ofhimselfin us through the Spirit, 1 Cor. ii. 9,
10. and vi. 17. John xvi. 8, 9. 1 Cor. xii. 3, 13. (4.) That the way ofthe Spirit'suniting us to Chriſt, is by anact ofpower on his part, andby an act offaith on our parts, John iii. 16, 36. andv. 29. Eph. iii. 17. Concerningholiness, we mustknow,
(1.) Thatwhoever is inChriſtis anew creature, 2 Cor. v. 17.
1 Cor. vi. 11. (2.) Holiness is the ſoul's highest luſtre, Exod.
XV. 11. when we come toperfection inholineſs, then is our fun at theheight in us. (3.) Holiness, is Chriſt filling the foul ;
Chrift our Sun is atthe highest in our hearts, when they are moſt holy. (4.) This holiness is that which is directly oppofite to fin; ſineclipſes holineſs,andholineſs ſcatters fin, Heb. vii.
26. Phil. ii. 15. 2 Pet. iii. 11. Concerning death, we must know,(1.)Death is certain; thefunofour life willſetindeath ; when ourdayscome about to this western point, it will be night,Heb. ix. 27. Pfal. xlix. 7, 9. (2.) Ifwe die in our fus out ofChriſt, we are undone for ever, Job viii. 24. Phil. i.
21. (3.) Itisourbenighting todie,butitis notour annihilating, VOL. VI.
23:4
AnEpistle to Seamen failing Heaven-ward.
1 Cor. xv. Rev. xx. 12. (4. ) After death comesjudgment ; all thatdie ſhall arife to bejudged, eitherfor life or death, the ſecond time, Heb. ix. 27. Mat. xxv. Heb. vi. 2. Theſe fous heads, and the particulars underthem, are as neceſſary to be knownin ſpiritual navigation,as the four points ofthe compaſs areinnatural navigation. The thingswhichwe ought todo in order to our arrival to our happiness,our author makes as many as therebepoints in the compaſs. And for an help to memory,we maybegin every particularwith initial known let-
ters, onthe points ofthe compaſs.
(1.)N. Never ftir or ſteer any courſe,butby light fromGod,Pfalm exix. 105. Ha. viii.
10. (2.) N. and byE. Neverenter upon anydeſign, but fuch as tendstowards Chriſt, Acts x. 43.
(3.) Ν. Ν. E. Note nothing envioufly, which thrives withoutGod,Pfalm Ixxiii. 12,
F3, (4.) N. E. and byN. Never enterprize not-warrantable courſes, toprocureany ofthe moſt prized orconceitedadvantages, 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10.
(5.) N..E.Now entertainthe facred commands ofGod, ifhereafter thou expect the ſovereign confolations ofGod,Pfal. exix. 48. (6.) N.E. andbyE. Never efteem Egypt's treaſures ſo much, as for them to forfake the people ofGod,Heb. xi.26. (7.) E. N.. E. Errnot; eſpecially in foulaffairs, Jam. i. 16.1Tim.ü.19, 20. 2 Tim. ii. 18. (8.)
E.andby N. Eſchew nothing but fin, r Pet. iii. 11. Job i. 7, 8,-31, 34. (9.) E. Eſtabliſh thy heart with grace,Heb. xiii.
9. (10.) E. andby S..Eye fanctityin every action, 1 Pet. i.
15. Zech. xiv. 29. (11.) E. S. E. Ever strive earnestly to live under, andtoimprovethe means ofgrace. (12.) S. E. andbyE.
Suffer every evil ofpunishment offorrow, ratherthan leave the ways ofChriſt andgrace. (13.) S. E. Sigh earnestlyfor more enjoyments ofChrist.
(14.) S. E. andbyS. Seek evermore fome evidences of Chriſt in you the hope ofglory.. (15.) S.
S. E. Still fet eternitybeforeyou, in regard ofenjoying Jeſus Chriſt, John xvii. 24. (16.) S. andbyE..Settle it ever inyour foul, asa principlewhichyouwillnever depart from,,ThathoLineſs,and true happineſs are inChriſt, andby Chrift, (17.) S.
Set thyſelfalways as beforethe Lord,Pfal. xvi.8.Acts ii. 25.
(18.) S. and byW. See weakness haſtningtheetodeath,even whenthou art at thehighestpitch or point. (19.) S. S. W.. See finwhich is the ſting ofdeath, as taken away by Chrift, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56. (20.) S. W. and by S. Storeup wiſelyfome proviſions every day for your dying day. (21.) S. W. Set worldly things under your feet, before death come to lookyou in the face. (22.) S. W. and by W. Stillweigh and watchwith loins girded,and lamps trimmed, Luke xii. 35, 36, 370 (23 )
An Epistle to Seamenfailing Heaven-ward.
W. S. W. Weigh ſoul-works, and all in the balance of the fanctuary. (24.) W. and by S. Walk inſweetcommunionwith
Chriſt here, and ſothou mayeſt dieinpeace, Luke ii. 29. (25.) W. Whatsoeverthy conditionbeinthisworld,eyeGodasthe diſpoſerof it, and thereinbe contented, Phil.iv. 11. (26.)W. and by N. Walk not according tothe course ofthe moſt, but after the exampleofthebeſt. (27.) W. N. W. Weigh notwhat menſpeakorthink ofthee,ſoGod approve thee,2Chron. x. 18.
Rom. ii. 28, 29. (28.) N. W. and by W. Never wink at, but watch againſt ſmall fins, nor neglect little duties, Eph. v. 15.
(29.) N. W. Never with rafhlyfor death, nor love life too in-
ordinately, Jobiii. 4. (30.) N. W .. andbyN.Nowworknimblyere nightcome, Jobxii. 35, 36. Ecclef. ix. 10. (31.) Ν. Ν.
W. Name nothingwhenthou pleadeft withGod for thy foul, but Chrift and free-grace, Dan. ix. 17. (32.) N..and by W.
NowwelcomeChrift, ifatdeath thou wouldst bewelcomedby Chriſt. Atender,quick, enlivenedandenlightened confcience, is theonlypointuponwhichwemuſt erecttheſepractical rules ofour Chriſtian compafs, Heb.xii. 1. 2Cor. i. 12. Our memory, that is the box in which this compaſs must be kept, in whichtheſe rules muſt be treafured, thatwe may be as ready andexpert in them, as the mariner is in his fea-compafs. So much for the ſpeculative and practical parts ofthe art offoulſpiritual-navigation. The affectionate partdoth principally lie inthe ſecretmotions or movings ofthe foul towardsGod in the affections, which are raiſed and warmed, and eſpecially appear activeinmeditation ; meditationbeing, as itwere,the limbec, or ſtill, inwhich the affections heat and melt, and, as itwere, drop ſweet ſpiritual waters.
The affectionate author of the Christian'sCompays doth indeed, inthe third and laſt part of hisundertaking, hint at ſeveral meditations whichthe ſpiritual ſeaman istobe acquaintedwith, untowhich thou hast an excellent ſupplement inthisNewCompassfor Seamen.
Thiscollection is prefixed, that at once thoumayestview allthe compaſſes (both ſpeculative, practical, and affectionate) by which thou muſt ſteer heaven-ward. What further ſhallbe addedbyway ofpreface, is nottocommendthis new compaſs, whichindeed
(2 Cor. iii. 1.) needs no συςατικων επιςολων, letters ofcommendation, or anypanegyrick to uſher it into anyhoneſt heart ; but to ftirup al!, eſpecially ſeamen, to make confcience ofuſing ſuch choice helps forthe promoting the ſanctification and ſal wationof their fouls, for the making ofthem asdexterous in Gg2
An Epistle to Seamen failing Heaven-ward. theartof ſpiritual navigation, as any ofthem are in the art of natural navigation.
Confider therefore, 1. What rich merchandize thysoul is.
Chriſt aſſures us, onefoul ismore worth than all the world.
The Lord Jesus doth, as itwere, putthe wholeworld into one ſcale, and one foulinthe other, and the world is found too light, Matth. xvi,
26. Shouldſt thou by ſkillin natural navigation carry fafe all the treasures oftheIndies into thine own port, yea, gainthe wholeworld, and for want of ſkill in ſpiritual navigation lofe thy foul, thou wouldeft be the greatest loſer inthe world. So farwilt thou be from profiting by any of thy fea-voyages.
There is a plain μειωσιςinthoſe words of Chriſt, " What is a " man profited ifhe ſhall gainthewhole world, and loſehis
" own foul ? Or what ſhall aman give in exchange for his " foul ?" More ismeant than is ſpoken. *
Thesmallestpore is aleak 2. What a leaking veffel thybowide enough to let in dyis, inwhich this unspeakable, inconceivable rich treasure, thy soul, is death,andfinkthy veffel. embarked themanydifcafesand diſtempers in the humours and paffions thatthybodyis ſubject to ! It isabove 2000years ago, that there have been reckoned up300 namesofdiſeaſes;andtherebe manyunder one name, andmany nameless, which poſe the phyſicians not only how to cure them, but how to call them.
And for the affections andpaffions of the mind, thediſtempers of them are no lefs deadly to ſome,than the diſeaſes ofthebody; butbeſides theſe internal cauſes, there are manyexternal cauſes ofleaks inthis veffel, as † poiſonous malignities, wrathful hoftilities, and caſual mishaps ; very ſmall matters may be of great momentto the ſinking ofthis veſſel. The least gnat in the air may choak one, as it did Adrian, a pope of Rome ; a little hair in milk may ſtrangleone, as itdida counsellor in Rome ; a little stone ofa raiſinmay ſtop one'sbreath, as itdid thepoetical poetAnacreon. Thus you feewhataleaking veſfel you fail in. Now themore leakyany ſhip is, the more needthere is ofſkill to ſteerwifely.
3. Confiderwhat adangerous ſeatheworldis, inwhich thy foul is to fail inthe leaking ſhip ofthybody. As there are not more changes inthe ſea,than are inthe world, theworldbe
* Eraſmi chiliad.p. 229.
+ In Ethiopia there isa certain poifonwhereofthe tento partof onegrain will kill a man, and for onegrain tenmen. Dan, Sens mert. Hypom. Phys. cap. 2.2.47
An Epistle to Seamenfailing Heaven-ward.
ingonlyconſtant ininconſtancy, " The fashion ofthisworld " paffeth away," 1 Cor. vii. 31. Sothere arenotmoredangers inthefeafor ſhips,than there are in the world for fouls.
In thisworldfouls meet with rocks andfands, ſyrens and pyrates; worldly temptations,worldly lusts, andworldlycompany-cauſe manyto"drownthemſelves inperdition," 1 Tim. vi. 9. The verythings ofthis world endanger your ſouls. Byworldly ob jectswe foongrow worldly. Itis hard totouch pitch, and not bedefiled. The lufts ofthis world ſtain all our glory, andthe menofthisworld pollute alltheyconverſe with. A manthat keeps companywith the men ofthis world, is like him that walkethinthefun, tannedinſenſibly.
Thus I have hinted to you,thedangerouſneſs ofthe seawhereinyou are to fail. Now themoredangerous the ſea is, the more requifite it is the failorbeanartiſt,
4. Confider, what ifthrough want of ſkill intheheavenly artofſpiritualnavigation,thou ſhouldſt not ſteerthy cou ſe aright! I will inſtance only in two confequents thereof. v.
Thouwilt never arrive at the haven of happineſs.
2. Thou ſhalt bedrowned in the ocean ofGod's wrath. As true as the word ofGod is true, as fure as the heavens are overthy head, and the earth under thy feet; as fure as thou yet liveft, and breatheſt in this air ; ſo trueand certain it is, thou shalt never enter intoheaven, but fink into the deep of the bottomleſs pit.
AmInotherein ameſſenger of the ſaddest tidings that ever yet thyearsdid hear ? Poflibly now thou makeſt a light mat teroftheſethings, becauſethou doſt not know what it is to miſs ofheaven, what it is for ever to lie under the wrath of God; buthereafter thou wilt know fully what it is tohave thyfoul loft eternally, ſo loft, as that God's mercies, and allthe good there is in Chriſt, ſhall never ſave it ; and as Godhath fetand ordered things,cannever ſave it. Hereafter thouwiltbeperfectly ſenſible ofthe good that thou mighteſt havehad, andofthe evil that ſhallbe uponthee (this is God's peculiar prerogative, tomake a creature as ſenſibleofmiſery as hepleaſeth) then thou wilthave other thoughts oftheſe things thanthou now haſt. Thenthe thoughts of thy mind ſhall be bufiedabout thy loſtcondition, both asto thepainof lofs, and thepainofſenſfe *, ſo thatthou shalt not be able to take any eaſe onemoment; then, thatthy torments maybe increaſed, they acknowledge the truth of thy apprehenfions, yea, the ſtrength ofthem ſhallbe increaſed; thou shalt have the true
*The flames ofhell ſhall ſhine about thedamned, to letthem feehowtheyare tormented. Infid. on the chiefgood. book.2.
An Epistle to SeamenJailing Heaven-ward. and deep apprehenſions of the greatneſs of that good that thou shalt miſs of, and of that evil which thou shalt procure unto thyself; andthenthou shalt notbeableto chuſe, but to applyall thy loſs, allthy miſeryto thyself, which will force thee to roarout, O my loſs ! O mymifery ! O my inconceivable, irrecoverable loſs and miſery! yea, for the increaſing of thy torments, thy affections and memory ſhallbe enlarged.
Othat, toprevent that loſs andmiſery, theſe things maynow beknown, and laid toheart ! O that a blind understanding, aſtupidjudgment, abribed confcience, ahard heart, a bad memory, mayno longer make heaven andhell to feem but trifles tothee 1 thou wiltthen easily be perfuaded to make it thymainbuſineſs here, to become an artist infpiritual navigation. Butto ſhut up this preface, I ſhall briefly acquaint
Seamen, whythyſhould, ofall others, bemenof fingularpie-
tyandheavenlinefs, and therefore more thanordinarily ſtudy the heavenly art of spiritual navigation. O thatSeamen wouldthenconſider, 1. How nigh theyborder uponthe confines ofdeath and eternityeverymoment;there is but a ſtep, but an inch or two betweenthem andtheirgraves,continually: the nextguſtmay over-ſet them, the nextwavemay fwallow them up.
In one place lie lurkingdangerous rocks, in another perilous ſands, andevery where ſtormywinds, readytodestroythem. +Well maythefeamen cry out,Ego craftinum non habui ; I have not hadamorrow in my hands theſe many years.
Should not theythenbe extraordinary ſerious andheavenly, continually!
Certainly(as the reverendauthor ofthis new compass well obſerves)nothing morecompoſeth the heartto fucha frame, than the lively apprehenſions ofeternitydo ; and none havegreater external advantages for that, than Jeamenhave.
2. Conſider (feamen)whatextraordinary help you haveby thebook of the creatures ; " The whole creation is God's
" voice; it is God's excellent † hand-writing, or the ſacred *" ſcriptures ofthe moſt High," to teach us much ofGod, and what reaſons we havetobewail our rebellion againstGod, and tomakeconfcience ofobeying God only, naturally, andcontinually.
The heavens, the earth, the waters, are the three great leaves ofthis book ofGod, and all the creatures are ſo many lines in thoſe leaves. All that learnnot to fear and ferve
† Terrorubiquetremor,timor undeque,&undique terror. Ovid.
†Mundicreatio eft Scriptura Dei. Clemens. Univerfus mundus eft Deus explicutus.
An Epiftle to Seamen failing Heaven-ward.
Godby the help ofthis book, will be left inexcuſable,Rom. ic20. How inexcuſable thenwill ignorant and ungodlyfeamenbe! Seamen ſhould, inthis reſpect,be the beſt ſcholars in the Lord's ſchool, ſeeing theydo, morethan others, ſee the works ofthe Lord, andhis wonders inthe great deep,Pfal. cvii. 24.
3. Confiderhowoftenyou are nearerheaventhan anypeopleintheworld. " They mount uptoheaven," Pfal. cvii. 26.
Ithas been faidofanungodly miniſter, thatcontradicted his preaching inhislife andconverſation,that itwaspity he ſhould evercome outofthe pulpit,becauſe he was there as nearheaven as ever he wouldbe.
Shall it be faid ofyou, uponthe ſame account, that it isapityyou shouldcomedown fromthe high toweringwavesofthe ſea ? Should not feamen that in -ſtormy weather have their feet (as itwere) upon thebattle-
ments ofheaven, look down upon allearthly happineſs in this worldbut as baſe, wateriſh, andworthless? Thegreat cities of Campaniaſeem but ſmall cottages to them that ſtand on the Alps.
Should notfeamen, that ſo oft mountup to heaven, make it theirmainbuſineſs here,once at lastto get intoheaven?
What (feamen) fhall you onlygo toheavenagainst your wills ?
WhenSeamen mount up toheavenin astorm, thepsalmist tells us, That" their fouls are meltedbecauſe oftrouble." O that you werecontinuallyasunwillingtogotohell, as you are in a storm to go to heaven !
4. And lastly, Confiderwhat engagements lieupon youto be fingularlyholy, from your fingulardeliverances andfalvations.
They thatgo down to the fea inſhips, are ſometimes inthevalleyofthe shadow ofdeath, by reasonof theſpringingofperilous leaks ; and yetmiraculouſlydelivered, eitherby fome wonderful ſtopping of the leak, or by God's ſending ſome ſhip within their fight,whenthey have been far out of fight ofany land;orbyhis bringing their near-periſhing ſhip fafe toſhore.
Sometimes theyhavebeeninverygreatdanger ofbeing takenbypyrates,yet wonderfully preſerved, eitherby
God'scalming ofthe winds inthat partofthe ſeawhere the pyrateshave failed,orbygivingthe poor purfuedſhip a ſtrong gale ofwind to run awayfromtheir purfuers, or by finking the pyrates, &c.
Sometimes their ſhipshavebeen caſtaway, andyet theythemselves wonderfully got fafeto ſhore upon planks, yards, maſts, &c.
I might be endleſs inenummeratingtheirdeliverances from drowning, fromburning, from ſlavery, &c.
Sure (jeamen)your extraordinary ſalvations lay morethan ordinary engagements upon you, topraiſe, love,