The Author to the Reader,
The Author to the Reader. fear,obey,and trust inyour SaviourandDeliverer. Ihave read thatthe enthralled Greeks were ſo affected with their liberty, procuredbyFlaminiustheRomangeneral,thattheirthrillacclamations of Σωτηρ,Σωτηρ, a Saviour, a Saviour, made thevery birdsfalldown from the heavens aftoniſhed. O how should feamenbe affected with theirfea-deliverances! many that have beendeliveredfrom Turkiſhſlavery,have vowed to be ſervants to their redeemersall thedays oftheir lives. Ah ! Sirs, will not you bemorethan ordinarily God's ſervants allthe days of yourlives, ſeeingyou havebeen ſooft, ſowonderfullyredeemed fromdeath itſelfbyhim ? Verily, do whatyou can, you will die inGod's debt. " As for me,God forbid that Ishould fin
" againstthe Lordin eeaſing topray foryou," I Sam. xii. 23, 24. Thatbytheperuſal ofthis ſhortand ſweettreatife, wherein thejudicious and ingenious authorhath wellmixed utile dulci, profitand pleaſure, you may learn the good and right way, evento fear the Lord, and ſervehim in truth, with all your hearts, confidering how great things hehath done for you.
*This is the hearty prayer of Your cordialfriend, earnestlydesirous ofa prosperous voyage
T. M. foryourprecious and immortalfouls, The AUTHOR to the READER.
WHEN dewy-cheek'd Aurora dothdiſplay Her curtains, to let inthe new-bornday, Her heav'nly face looks red, as if it were
Dy'd with amodest blush, 'twixt ſhame and fear.
Sol makes herblush,ſuſpecting that he will Scorch ſome too much, and others leave too chill.
With ſuchabluſh, my little new-bornbook Goesoutofhand, ſuſpecting ſomemay look Upon itwith contempt, while others raife
Someanapiece toohigh,by flatt'ring praife, Itsbeautycannot make its fatherdote ; 'Tis a poorbabe, cladina fea-greencoat.
X It's gonefromme tooyoung, and now is run To fea, amongthe tribe ofZebulun.
Go, littlebook,thoumanyfriends wilt find Amongthat tribe, who will be verykind; Andmanyofthemcare ofthee willtake, Both forthyown, andfor thy father's fake.
A New Compass for Seamen: &c.
Heav'n ſave it fromthe dang'rous ſtorms andguſts Thatwill be rais'd againſt it by men's luſt s.
Guiltmakes men angry, anger is a ſtorm; But facred truth's thy ſhelter, fear noharm .
On times, or perfons, no reflection's found !
Though with reflections few books more abound:
Go, littlebook, I have much more to ſay, But ſeamen call for thee, thou must away.
Yet e're you have it, grant me one requeſt, Praydo not keep it pris'ner in your cheſt.
NEW COMPASS
FOR SEAMEN OR
NAVIGATION SPIRITUALİZED.
CHAP.
The launching of a ship plainly fets forth Ourdoubleftate, by first and second birth.
OBSERVATION.
TO ſooner is a ſhipbuilt, launched,rigged, victualled,and ocean, where ſhe is never at reſt, but continually fluctuating, toffing, and labouring, until ſhebe either overwhelmed, and wrecked in the ſea, orthrough age, knocks, and bruiſes, grows leaky, andunſerviceable; and ſo ishaled up,and ript abroad.
APPLICATION.
No fooner come we into the world asmen, of as Chriſtians, bya natural or fupernatural birth,but thus we aretoffedupon afea oftroubles.
Job v. 7. "Yet man is born to trouble, as
VOL . VI.
ANew Compass for Seamen: Or, " the ſparks flyupwards."
The ſpark no ſooner comes outof the fire, but it flies up naturally ; it needs not any external force, help, or guidance, but afcends from aprinciple in itſelf; fo naturally, fo easilydoth trouble riſe outoffin.
There isradically all the miſery, anguish, and trouble in the world in our corrupt natures.
As the ſpark lies cloſe hid in the coals, fo doth mifery in ſin ; every tindraws a rod after it. And theſe forrows and troubles fall notonlyonthe body, in thoſe breaches, flaws, deformities, pains, aches, diſeaſes, to which it is fubject, which are but the groans of dying nature, and its crumbling, by degrees,intoduftagain; buton allour employnfents and callings alſo,Gen. iii. 17, 18, 19. Theſe are full of pain, trouble, and disappointment, Hag. i. 6.
We earn wages, and put it into abag withholes,anddiſquiet ourſelves invain; all our relations fullof trouble. The apoftle ſpeakingto thoſe that marry, faith, 1 Cor. vii. 28. " Such ſhallhave
" trouble inthe fleſh." Upon which words one gloffeth thus :
Fleſh and trouble are marriedtogether,whether we marry or no ; but they that are married, marry with, andmatch intonewtrouSee Mr. Whateley's Care-cloth. bles:All relations have their burdens, aswell as their comforts : It were endless to enumerate the forrows ofthiskind, andyetthe troubles ofthe body are but the body of our troubles; the ſpirit of the curſe fallsupon the ſpiritual and nobleſt part ofman.
The foul and body, like toEzekiel's roll, are written full with forrows, both within and without.
Sothatwemake the fame report ofour lives,whenwe cometo die, that old Jacob madebeforePharaoh,Gen. xlvli. 9. "Few
" and evil have thedaysofthe years of our lives been." Eccl. ii . 22, 23. " Forwhat hath man ofall hislabour, andofthevex- " ation ofhis heart,whereinhe hath laboured underthe fun ?
" For all his days are forrows, and his travel grief, yea, his " hearttakethnoreftinthenight: This isalfovanity."
Neither doth our newbirth freeus from troubles, though then they be fanctified, ſweetned, and turned into bleſſings to ns. Weputnotoffthehuman,whenwe puton thedivinenature ; nor arewe thenfreed from the ſenſe,though we aredelivered from theſtingandcurſe ofthem. Gracedoth notprefentlypluckout allthoſearrows that ſinhath ſhot intothe fides ofnature. 2Cor. vii. 5. "When we were come into Mace- "donia, our fleſh had no reſt, butwe were troubledonevery
" fide: Withoutwerefightings, andwithinwere fears." Rev. vii. 14. " Theſe arethey that comeout ofgreat tribulations."
The first cry ofthenew-born Chriſtian (fays one) gives hell'an
Navigation Spiritualized."
alarm, andawakens the rage bothofdevils andmen againsthim.
HencePaul and Barnabas acquainted thoſenew converts, Acts xiv. 22. " That through much tribulation theymust enter in- " to the kingdom of God."
And we find the ſtate ofthe church, inthis world, ſet out (Ifa. liv. 11.) bythe fimilitude ofadiſtreffed ſhip at fea: "O thou afflicted [and toffed] with " tempefts, andnotcomforted." [Toffſed] asJonah's ſhip was ; for the fameword is theirufed, Jonah i. 11, 13. as a veffel atfea, ftormed, and violently driven without rudder, maft, fail, or tacklings.
Nor are we to expect freedom from thoſe troubles, untilharboured in heaven ; fee 2 Theff. i. 7. O what large catalogues ofexperiences do the faints carry to heavenwith them, fortheirvarious exerciſes,dangers, trials,and marvellous preſervations anddeliverances out ofall ! and yet all theſe troubleswithout, are nothing to thoſe within them; from temptations, corruptions, defertions, by paſſion and compaffion :
Befides their own, there comes daily upon thein the troubles ofothers ; manyrivulets fall into this channel and brim, yea, often overflow the banks. Pfalm xxxiv. 19. "Many are the " afflictions ofthe righteous."
REFLECTION.
Hence ſhouldthe graceless heart thus reficct upon itſelf,O my foul ! into whata fea oftroubles art thou lanched forth! and what a ſad caſe artthou in ! full oftrouble, and full of ſin; and theſe do mutually produce each other.
And that which is the moſt dreadful confideration ofall, is, thatI cannot fee the endof them. As for the faints, they ſuffer in the world, as well asI ; but it is but for a while, I Pet. v. 10. and then they ſuffer no more, 2 Theff. i. 7. " But all tears
" ſhallbewiped awayfromtheir eyes," Rev. vii. 17. Butmy troubles look with along viſage, ah ! they are but the begining of forrows, but a parboiling before I be roafted in the flames ofGod's eternal wrath.
IfI continue as I am, I ſhall but deceivemyself, ifI conclude I ſhall be happy in the other world, becauſe I have met with ſo much forrow in this :
For Iread, Jude, ver. 7. that the inhabitants of Sodom andGomorrah,though confumed to aſhes,with alltheir eſtates and relations, (a forer temporal judgment than ever yet befel me) do, notwithstandingthat, continue ſtill in" everlasting chains,
" underdarkness,in whichthey are reſervedunto thejudgment " ofthe great day."
Theſe troubles ofthe faints are fanctified to them, but mine are fruits ofthe curſe.
Theyhave fpiritual confolations to balance them, which flow into their fouls in Hh2 ::
ANew Compassfor Seamen : Or, thefameheight, anddegree, as troublesdoupontheirbodies,
2Cor. i. 5. But Iamaſtrangertotheir comforts, and" inter- " meddle not with theirjoys," Prov. xiv. 10. Iftheir hearts be ſurcharged withtrouble, theyhave aGod to go to; and whentheyhave openedtheir cauſebefore him,theyare eafed, return with comfort, and their "countenance isno more
" fad," 1 Sam. i. 18. Whentheir belly is as bottles,fullof newwine, they cangive it ventbypouring outoftheir fouls into their Father's boſom: but I have no intereſt in, nor acquaintancewith thisGod, norcanIprayunto himinthe Spirit.
Mygriefs are ſhut up like fire inmyboſon.,whichpreys upon my ſpirit.
This is my forrow, and I alonemuſt bear it. O myfoul, lookround about thee ! whata miferable cafeart thou in? Reſt no longer ſatisfied in it, but look out for a Chrift alfo. What though I am a vile, unworthy wretch ? yet he promiſeth to lovefreely, Hof. xiv. 4. and invites ſuch as are heavyladento him, Mat. xi. 28.
Hencealſo ſhould the gracious foul reflect ſweetlyupon itſelfafter this manner: And is the world fo full oftrouble ? O my foul! what cauſe haft thou to ſtand admiring atthe indulgenceandgoodness ofGod to thee ? Thou hast hitherto had a ſmooth paſſage, comparatively to what others have had.
Howhath divinewisdom ordered my condition, and caft my lot ? Have I beenchaſtiſed with whips ? others withfcorpions.
Have I had no peace without? ſome have neither had peace without norwithin, but terrors round about.
Or have I felt trouble inmy fleſh and ſpirit at once ? yet have theynotbeen extreme, either for time or meaſure. And hath the world beena Sodom, an Egypt to thee ? Whythen doſt thou thus linger in it, and hanker after it ? Why do I not long to be gone, and figh more heartily fordeliverance ? Why are the thoughts of my Lord's coming no ſweeter to me, and theday ofmy fulldeliverancenomore panted for ?AndwhyamIno more careful tomaintain peace within, ſince there is ſomuch trouble without ? Is not this it thatputs weight into all outwardtroubles, and makes them ſinking,thatthey fall uponme whenmyſpirit isdark, or wounded ?
The POEM.
My foul, art thou beſieged With troubles round about ?
Ifthou be wife, take this advice, Tokeep theſe troubles out.
Wifemenwillkeep their confcienceas their eyes ; For in their confcience their best treaſure lies.
Navigation Spiritualized.
Seeyou be tender ofyour inward peace, That ſhipwreck'd, then your mirth andjoymuſt ceaſe :
IfGod fromyou your outward comforts rend, You'll find what need you have offuch a friend.
Ifthisbe not by fin deſtroy'd and loſt, You need notfear, yourpeacewillquit your coſt.
Ifyou'dknow how to ſweeten any grief, Tho' ne'er ſogreat, or to procure relief Against th' afflictions, which, like deadly darts,
Moſt fatal areto men of carnal hearts; Reject not that which confcience bids you chuſe ;
And chuſe notyou what confcience faith, refuſe.
Iffin you must, or miſery under lie, Reſolve to bear, and chuſe the mifery.
CHAP.
II.
In thevast oceanſpiritual eyes defcry God's boundless mercy, and eternity .
OBSERVATION.
HE ocean is ofa vaſt extent anddepth,thoughſuppoſedman.
Itcompatieth aboutthe whole earth, which, in the account ofGeographers, is twenty-one thousandand fix hundred miles in
compaſs ; yet the ocean environs it on every fide, Pfalm civ.
35. and Jobxi. 9. Suitable to which is that ofthe poet. * " He fpread the ſeas,which then hedid command,
" To ſwell with winds,and compaſs roundthe land."
And for its depth, who can discover it ?The ſea inScripture iscalledthe deep, Job xxxviii. 30. the great deep, Gen. vii.
11. thegathering together of the waters into one place, Gen. i. 9. Ifthe vaſteſt mountain werecaſt into it, it would appear no more thanthe headofapin in atun ofwater.
APPLICATIO Ν.
This, in a lively manner, ſhadows forth the infinite and incomprehenfible mercy of ourGod, whoſe mercy is ſaidtobe over all his works, Pfal. cxlv. 9. In how many ſweet notions is the mercy ofGod repreſented tous in the Scripture ? He is faid tobe plenteous, Pfalm ciii. 8. abundant, 1 Pet. i. 3. rich inmercy, Ephef. ii. 4. then, that his mercies are unſearchable,
Ephef. iii. 8. " High as the heavens above the earth,"
* Tumfreta diffudit rapidiſque tumefcereventis Juffit, & ambitaecircumdare littora terrae.
Ovid
A New Compassfor Seamen: Ог Pfalm. x. 4. which areſo high and vaſt, that the whole earth is but a ſmallpoint tothem; yea,they are not only compar ed to the heavens,but,to comehome to the metaphor, tothe depths of the ſea, Mic. vii. 19. which can fwallow up mountains, as well as mole-hills ; and inthisfeaGodhathdrowned fins ofa dreadful height and aggravation,even,ſcarlet, crimson,
(i. e.) deep-dyedwith many intenſive aggravations, Ifa. i. 18.
Inthis ſeawas the fin ofManaffehdrowned,and ofwhat magnitude thatwas, maybe ſeen, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 3. yea, in this ocean of mercy, did the Lord drown and cover the fins of Paul, though a blafphemer, a perfecutor, injurious, 1 Tim. i. 13. " None (faithAuguſtine) more fiercethan Paul among " the perfecutors, and therefore nonegreater among finners:"
To which himselfwillinglyſubſcribes, 1Tim. i. 15. yet pardoned. How hath mercy rode intriumph, and beenglorified uponthe vileſt ofmen! How hath it stopped the ſlanderous mouths ofmen anddevils ! Ithathyearnedupon" Fornicators,
" idolarers, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, " extortioners ;" toſuch havetheſceptreofmercybeen ſtretched forth, upon their unfeigned repentance and fubmiffion,
1Cor. vi. 9. What doth the Spirit ofGod aim at, in ſuch a large accumulationof names ofmercy? but toconvince poor finners of the abundant fulneſs and riches of it, if theywill butſubmit tothe terms on which itis tendered to them.
In the vaſtneſs ofthe ocean, wehave alſo alively emblem of eternity. Who can comprehend or meaſurethe ocean, but God ? Andwho cancomprehend eternity, buthe that is faid to inhabit it ? Ifa. lvii. 15.
Though shallow rivers may be drained and dried up, yet the ocean cannot. And tho' theſe tranſitory days, months, andyears will at laſtexpire and determine ; yet eternity ſhall not. O! it is a long word! and amazing matter ! what is eternity,but a conſtantpermanency ofperſons and things, inone andthe ſame ſtate and condition for ever ; putting them beyondall poffibility ofchange? The heathens werewont to ſhadowit by a circle, or afuake twisted round.
It will be to all ofus, either aperpetual day or night, whichwillnotbe measuredby watches, hours, minutes. And asit cannotbe meaſured,ſo neithercan itever be diminished.
When thousands ofyears are gone, there is not aminute leſs to come.
Gerhard and Drexelius doboth illuſtrate it by this krown fimilitude : Suppoſe a bird were to come once in a thoufand years to fome vaſt mountain offand,and carry away inherbill one fand ina thousand years ; O what a vaſt tine would itbe, e'er thatimmortalbird, after that rate, ſhouldcarry
Navigation Spiritualized.
offthe mountain! andyet intime,this might bedone. For therewouldbe ſtill ſome diminution; butineternitytherecan benone. There be three things intime,which are not competent to.eternity: Intimethere is afucceffion, one generation, year, anddaypaſſeth, and another comes ; but eternity is a fixed [now.] In time there is a diminution andwaſting, the more is paſt, the leſs is tocome. But itis not fo in eternity.
Intime there is an alteration of condition and ſtates : A man maybepoor to-day, and rich to-morrow ; fickly and diſeaſed this week, and well the next; now incontempt, and anon in honour: But no changes pafs upon us in eternity. As the tree falls at death andjudgment, ſo it lies for ever.
Ifinheaven, there thou art a pillar, and ſhalt go forth no more, Rev. iii. 12. Ifin hell,noredemption thence,but the fmoak oftheir torments afcendeth for ever and ever, Rev. xix. 3.
REFLECTION.
Andis the mercy ofGodlike thegreat deeps, anocean that none can fathom ? What unspeakable comfort isthis to me? maythe pardonedfoul fay. Did Ifraelfing afong,when the Lordhad overwhelmed their corporeal enemies inthe feas ?
And ſhallnot Ibreakforth into his praiſes,who hath drowned all my fins inthe depth ofmercy ? O my foul, bleſs thou the Lord,and lethis high praiſes ever be inthy mouth.
Mayest thounotſay,that hehathgoneto ashighan extent anddegree of mercy in pardoning thee, as everhe did inany ? O my
God, who islike untothee ! thatpardoneth iniquity,tranfgref- ! fion and fin.
What mercy,but the mercy ofaGod, could cover fuch abominations asmine?
But O ! what terrible reflections will confcience make from hence, upon alldeſpiſers ofmercy,whenthe finner's eyes cone tobe opened toolate for mercy, todo them good ! We have heard indeed, that theking ofheavenwas amerciful king, but wewould make no addreſs to him,whilst that fceptre was ſtretched out. Weheardofbalm inGilead, and a phyſician there, that was able and willing to cure allour wounds, but wewould not commit ourſelves tohim.
We read, that the arms ofChriſt were open to embrace and receive us, but we would not.
Cunparalleled folly! O foul-destroying madnefs! Nowthe womb of mercy is ſhut up, and thall bring forthnomoremercies tome for ever. Nowthegates ofgrace are ſhut, and nocriescanopen them.
Mercy acted its part, and is gone offthe stage; andnow juſtice enters theſcene, andwillbe glorified for everuponme.
How oftendidIhearthe bowels of compaffion founding in
ANew Compass for Seamen : Or, thegoſpelfor me? Butmy hard and impenitentheart could not relent; andnow, if itcould, it is too late.
I am now paft out ofthe ocean of mercy, into the ocean of eternity, whereIam fixed inthe midstof endless miſery,andſhallnever hearthe voiceofmercymore.
Odreadful eternity ! O foul-confoundingword ! An ocean indeed, towhich this oceanis but as adrop; for inthee nơ foul ſhall fee either bankor bottom.
IfI lie but one night under ſtrong pains ofbody,how tedious doththat night ſeem!
Andhow do I tellthe clock,andwish for day! In the world Imighthave had life, and would not. And now,how fain would I have death, but cannot ? How quick weremy fins in execution? Andhow long is their punishmentinduration?
O! how shallI dwell with everlasting burnings ? Oh thatGod would but vouchſafe one treatymorewith me1 But alas, all tenders and treaties are now at an end with me. On earth peace,Luke ii. 13. but none in hell. Omy foul ! confider theſethings ; come, letus debatethis matter ſeriouſly,before we launchout into this ocean.
The POEM.
HO from ſome high-rais'd tower views the ground, WH His heart doth tremble, and his headgoes round ;
Even ſo my foul,whilst itdoth view and think Onthis eternity, uponwhoſe brink Itborders, ſtands amazed, and doth cry, Oboundless ! bottomleſs eternity !
The ſcourge ofhell, whoſe very laſh doth rend The damned fouls in twain : What ! never end ?
The more thereonthey ponder, think, andpore, The more, poor wretches, ſtillthey howl and roar.
Ah! though moreyears intorments we should lie, Than fands are on the ſhores, or in the ſky
Are twinkling ſtars ; yetthis gives ſome relief!
The hope of ending. Ah! buthere's the grief!
Athousand years in torments past andgone, Tenthousandmore afreſh are coming on ; And when theſe thousands alltheir courſehave run ,
The end's no more thanwhen it firſtbegun.
Comethen,myfoul,let us diſcourſe together This weighty point, and tell me plainly whether
You for theſe ſhort-liv'djoys, that comeand go, Will plunge yourſelfandme inendleſs woe.
Reſolve the question quickly,do not dream More time away.
Lo, in an hafty ſtream
Navigation Spiritualized.
We fwiftly pafs, and ſhortlywe ſhall be Ingulphed both inthiseternity.
CHAP .
II.
Within these smoothfac'dfeas strange creatures crawl; But inman'sheart farstranger than them all.
OBSERVATION .
IT was an unadviſed ſaying of Plato, Mare nil memorabile producit: the fea producethnothing memorable.
But furelythere is much of the wisdom, power, and goodness ofGod manifeſted in thoſe inhabitantsof the watery region : notwithſtanding theſea's azure and ſmiling face, ſtrange creatures are bred in itswomb.
" O Lord, (faith David) how manifoldare " thy works : In wisdom hast thou made them all ; the earth
" is fullof thy riches.
So is this great andwide ſea, where- " in are things creeping innumerable, both ſmall and great
" beasts," Pial. civ. 24, 25. And we read, Lam. iv. 3. of Sea-monsters, which draw out their breasts to their young.
Pliny and Purchas tell incredible ſtories about them.
About the tropic of Capricorn, our feamen meet with flying fithes, thathavewings like a rere-mouſe, but of a ſilver colour ; they fly in flocks like ſtares.
There are creatures of very ſtrange forms and properties ; ſome resembling a cow, called by the Spaniards, manates, by ſome ſuppoſed to be the ſea-monster ſpoken of by Jeremy.
In the rivers of Guinea, Purchas faith, there are tithes that have four eyes, bearing two above, and two beneath thewater, when theyſwim : both reſembling a toad, and very poitonous. How ſtrange, both in ſhape and property, is the ſword-fish and threſher, that fight with the whale : Even our own feas produce creatures of ſtrange ſhapes, butthe commonneſs takes off the wonder.
APPLICATION.
Thus doth the heart of man naturally fwarm and abound with ſtrange and monſtrous luſtsand abominations, Rom. i. 29.
30, 31. "Being filled with all unrighteouſneſs, fornication, " wickedneſs, covetouſneſs, maliciouſneſs, full of envy, mur- " der, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, deſpiteful, proud, boaſters, inventors of evil
" things, diſobedient to parents,without underſtanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmer- " ciful." Owhat a fwarm is here ! and yet there are multitudes more, in thedepths of theheart! And itisno wonder,
Vot. VI.
New Compass for Seamen : Or, confidering thatwith this nature, we receivedthe ſpawn ofthe blackeſt and vileſt abominations.
This original luft is productive of them all, Jam. i. 14, 15. which lutt, though it be in everyman, numerically, different from that of others, yet it is one andthe fame ſpecifically, for fort andkind, in all the children of Adam ; even as the reasonable ſoul, though every man hath his own foul, viz. a foul individuallydiſtinct from another man's, yet it isthe lame for kind in all men.
So that whatever abominations are in the hearts and lives of the vileſt Sodomites, and moſt profligate wretches under heaven; there is the fame matter in thy heart out of which they were ſhaped andformed.
In the depths of the heart they are conceived, andthence they crawl out of the eyes, hands, lips, and all the members, Matth . xv. 18, 19. " Those things (faith Chrift)
"which proceed outof the mouth, come forth from the heart, " and defile a man. For out of theheart proceed evil thoughts,
" murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falte witness, blaf- " phemies : even ſuch monſters, as would make a gracious heart tremble to behold.
• What are my lufts Puller'sMedi- (faith one)but ſo many toads fpitting of vetations, p. 1F.'nom, and ſpawning of poison ; croaking in my judgment, creeping inmy will, and crawling
•into my affections ?" The apoſlle in 1 Cor. v. F. tells us of afin, not to be named;" for monstrous, that nature itſelf Martlesat it: evenfuch monsters are generated in thedepths of the heart.
Whence come evils ? was a queſtion that much puzzled the philoſophers of old. Now hereyou mayfeewhence theycome, andwhere they arebegotten.
FLECTION.
And are there ſuch ſtrange abominations in the heart ofman ?
Then how is he degenerated from his primitive perfection and glory!
His ſtreams wereonce as clear as cryſtal, andthe fountain of then pure, there was no unclean creature moving in them.
What a flately fabric was the foul at firſt ! And what holyinhabitants poſſeſſedthe ſeveral rooms thereof ! But now, asGod ſpeaks of Idumea, Ha. xxxiv. 11. "The line of con- " fufion is ftretchedout upon it, and the stones of emptiness.
" The cormorantandbittern poſſeſs it; the owl and the raven "dwell in it."
Yea, as Ifa. xiii. 21, 22. "The wild beafts of " the defart lie there; it is full of doleful creatures, the fa-
" tyrs dance in it, anddragons cry in thoſe fometimes pleaſant places." Ofadchange ! how fadlymay we look back towards our firſt ſtate! and take up the words of Job, "Othat
"Iwereas inmonthspaft, as inthe daysof myyouth; when
Navigation Spiritualized.
the Almighty was yet with me, when I put on righteouf neſs, and it cloathedme, when my glory was freſh inme,
Job. xxix. 2,4, 5.
Again, think, O my foul, what a miferable condition the unregenerate abide in ! Thus ſwarmedand over runwith helliſhluſts, under thedominion and vaſſalage of divers luſts, Tit. iii. 3. What a tumultuous ſea is ſuch afoul : howdo theſe lufts
ragewithin them! how do they conteſt and ſcuffle for the throne! anduſually take it by turns : for as all diſeaſes are contrary to health, yet ſome contrary to each other, ſo are lufts.
Hence poor creatures are hurriedon to different kinds of ſevitude, according tothe nature of that imperious luſt that is inthethrone; and, like the lunatic, Matth. xvii. are ſometimes caſt intothewater, and ſometimes into the fire.
Well might the prophet ſay, " The wicked is like a troubled ſea thatcannot " reſt," Ifa. vii. 20.
They have no peace now in the ſervice of fin, and'leſs ſhalltheyhave hereafter, when they receive the wagesof fin. " There is no peace to the wicked, faith my
God." Theyindeed cry Peace,peace; but myGoddothnot ſay fo.
The laſt iſſue and reſult of this is eternal death ; no fooner it is delivered of itsdeceitful pleaſures, but preſently it falls in travail again, and brings forth death, Jam. i. 15.
Once more : and is the heart ſuch a ſea, abounding with monstrous abominations ?
Then ſtand astonished, O my foul, atthat free-gracewhich hath deliveredthee from ſo ſada condition; O falldown, and kiſs the feet of mercy that moved fo freelyand ſeaſonably to thy reſcue?
Let myheart be enlarged abundantly here.
Lord, what am 1, that I should be taken, andothers left ?
Reflect, O my foul, upon the conceptions and births of luſts in the days of vanity, which thou now blushest to own. Owhat black imaginations, helliſh defires, vile affections, are lodged there ! Who made me to differ ? or, how camel tobe thus wonderfully ſeparated ?
Surely, it is by thy free grace, and nothingelse, that Iam what lam; and by thatgrace I have eſcaped (to mine own astonishment) the corruption that is inthe world through luſt. O that ever the holyGod ſhould ſet his eyes onſuch anone ; or caſt a look oflove towards
⚫me, inwhom were legionsof unclean luſts and abominations.
The POEM.
MY foul's the fea, wherein, fromday today, Sins like Leviathans do ſport and play.
Great maſter luſts, with all the leſſer fry, Therein increaſe, andſtrangely multiply. liz
A New Compassfor Seamen : Or, Yet ſtrange it isnot, ſin ſo faſt ſhould breed, Since with this nature I receiv'd the feed
And ſpawn of ev'ry ſpecies, which was ſhed Intoits caverns firſt, then nourished By its own native warmth; which like the ſua
Hathquickened them, and now abroad they come; And like the frogs of Egypt creep and crawl
Intothe cloſeſt rooms withinmyfoul.
My fancy ſwarms, for there they frisk and play, Indreams by night, and foolish toys by day.
My judgments clouded bythem, and my will Perverted, every corner theydo fill.
As locuſts ſeize on all that's freſh andgreen, Uncloath the beauteous ſpring, and make it feem
Like drooping autumn; ſo my foul, that firſt As Edenſeem'd, now's like a ground that's curſt.
Lord purge my ſtreams, and kill thoſe lufts that lie....
Within them ; if theydo not, 1 muſtdie.
CHAP .
IV.
Seaspurgethemselves, and caft their filth afbore, But graceless fouls retain, andfuck in more.
OBSERVATIΟΝ.
SEAS are in a continual motion and agitation, theyhave their flux and reflux, by which they are kept from putrefaction: like a fountain itcleanſes itſelf, Iſa.Ivii. 20. "Itcan- " notrelt,butcaſts up mire anddirt;" whereas lakesandponds, whoſe waters are ſtanding, and dead, corrupt and ſlink. And it is obſerved by ſeamen, that in the fouthern parts of the world, where the tea is more calm and ſettled, it is more corrupt and unfit foruſe; to is the fea of Sodom called, the deadsea.
APPLICATION .
Thus do regenerate ſouls purify themselves, and work out corruption thatdefiles them, theycannot fuffer itto fettlethere,
1 John iii. 3. " He purifieth himſelf, even as he is pure.
" Keepeth himself, that the wicked one toucheth him not,"
1 Johnv. 18. feil. tanto qualitativo, with aqualitativetouch, asthe loadſtone toucheth iron, leaving animpreffionof itsna ture behind it. They are doves delighting in cleanneſs, Ha. xxxii. 15. " He deſpiſeth the gain ofoppreffion,he ſhakethhis
" hands trem holding of bribes, ſtoppeth his ears from hearing blood, and ſhutteth his eyes from tecing evil."
See how ail
Navigation Spiritualized.
ſenſesand members are guardedagainſt ſin: but it is quite contrarywith thewicked; there isnoprincipleof holiueis inthem, to oppoſe or expel corruption Itlies in their hearts as mud in alake or well, which ſettles and corrupts more andmore. Hence
Ezek. xlvii. 11. their hearts are compared to miry or marſhy places, which cannotbe healed,but are given tofalt : themeaning is, that the pureſt ſtreams of the gospel, which cleanteothers, make them worse than before, as abundance of rain will amiry place.
The reason is, becauſe it meets with anobſtacle intheir fouls ; to that itcannot run through them and be giorified, as itdoth in gracious fouls.
Allthe means and endea vours uſed to cleanſe them are in vain; all the grace of God they receive in vain, "they hold faſt deceit, they refuse to let
" it go," Jer. viii. 5.
Sin is not in them as floatingweedsupon the ſea, which it ſtrives to expel andpurge out, but as ſpots inthe leopard's skin, Jer. xiii. 21. or letters faſhioned and engravenin the very ſubſtance of marble or braſs, with apen of iron, and point of a diamond, Jer. xvii . 1. Or as ivy in an oldwall, that hath gottenroot into its very entrails. " Wicked- " neſs is ſweet totheir mouths, they roll itunder theirtongues,"
Job xx. 12. No'threats nor promiſes can divorce them from it.
REFLECTION.
Lord ! this is the very frame of myheart, maythe graceleſs foul ſay. Mycorruptions quietlyſettle in me, my heart labours not against it :
I am a ſtranger tothat conflict which isdaily maintained in allthe facultiesof the regeneratefoul.
Glorified fouls have nofuch conflict, becauſegrace in them ſlands alone, and is perfectly triumphant over all its oppoſites ; and graceleſs ſouls canhave no fuch conflict, becauſe inthem corruption ſtands alone, and hath noother principle to make oppofition to it.
And this is my cafe, O Lord ! I am full of vainhopes indeed, buthad I a living and wellgrounded hope todwell for ever with ſo holy a God, I could not but be daily purifying myself.
ButO! what will the end of this be ? I have cauſe to tremble atthat laſt anddreadfullest curſein thebook ofGod,
Rev. xxii. 11. " Let him that is filthy befilthy ſtill."
Is itnot asmuch as ifGod ſhould ſay, Letthem alone, I will spend no morerodsuponthem, no moremeans ſhallbe uſed aboutthem ; but I willreckon with them for all together inanother world ?
Omy foul ! what a diſmal reckoning will that be!
Ponder with thyself in the mean while, thoſe terrible and awakening texts, that, if poſſible, this fatal iſſue maybe prevented.
See Ifa. i. 5. Hof. iv. 14. Jer. vi. 29, 30. Heb. vi.8.
A New Compass for Seamen : Or, M The POEM .
Y heart's no fountain, but aſtanding lake Of putrid waters ;; if therein I rake, By ferious ſearch, O ! what a noiſome ſmell,
Like exhalationsriſing out of hell ; The ſtinking waters pump'd up from the hold,
Are as perfumes to ſeamen: but my foul Upon the ſame account that they are glad,
(Itslongcontinuance there) is therefore ſad.
The ſcripture faith, " No foulGod's face ſhall ſee,"
Till from ſuch filthy luſts it cleanſedbe.
Yetthough unclean, it maythatway be rid, AsHerculus the Augean ſtabledid.
Lordturn into my foul thatcleanſing blood, Which from my Saviour's ſide flow'd as a flood.
Flow, ſacredfountain, brim my banks ; and flow Till you have made my foul as white as ſnow.
CHAP.
Seamen forefee adanger, andprepare :
Yetfew ofgreaterdangers are aware.
OBSERVATIΟΝ.
How watchful and quick fighted are ſeamen, toprevent dangers ! ifthe wind die away, and then freſh upfoutherly; orif they ſee the sky hazy, they provide for a ſtorm : if by the proſpective glaſsthey know a Pyrate at the greateſt diftance, theyclear the gun-room, prepare for fight, and bear up, if able to deal with him ; if not, theykeep cloſeby the wind, make all the fail they can, and bear away.
If they ſuppoſe themſelves, by their reckoning, near land, howoften do they found! And if upon acoaftwith which they are unacquainted, howcareful are they to geta pilot that knows, and is acquaintedwith it?
APPLICATION.
Thus watchful and fufpicious ought we to be in ſpiritual concernments.
We should ſtudy, and be acquainted with Satan's wiles, and policy. The apoſtle takes it for granted, that Chriſtians are notignorantofhis devices. 2Cor. ii. 11. " The " ſerpent's eye (as onefaith) woulddo well in thedove's head."
The devil is a cunning pyrate, he puts out falſe colours, andor. dinarilycomes up to the Chriſtian inthediſguiſe of a friend.
O the manifold depths and ſtratagems of Satan, todeſtroy fouls ! though he haveno wiſdomto dohimself good, yet he
Navigation Spiritualized.
hath policy enough todo us mifchief. He lies in ambushbehind our lawful comforts and employments; yet, for the geneFality of men, how fupine and careleſs are they, ſuſpecting no danger ?
Their ſouls, like Laiſh, dwell carelessly, their ſenſes unguarded : O what an eaſy prize, and conqueſt,doththedevil make of them !
Indeed, if it were with us aswithAdam in innocency, or as it was with Chriſt in thedays ofhis fleſh (who byreafon of that overflowing fullness of grace that dwelt in him, the purityof his perſon, andthe hypoſtatical union, was ſecured from the danger of all temptations) the cafe then were otherwiſe ; but wehave a traitor within, Jam. i. 14, 15. as well as a tempter without. I Pet. v. 8. " Our adverſary the devil goes about as a roaring lion, ſeckingwhomhe maydevour." And, likethe beafts of the foreſts, poor fouls liedown before him, andbecome his prey.
All the ſagacity, wit, policy, and forefight of fome men, is ſummoned in to ferve their bodies, and fecure their fteſhly enjoyments.REFLECTION.
Lord ! howdoth the care, wisdom, and vigilance of menin temporal and external things, condemn my carelessness in the deep, anddear concernments of my precious ſoul ! what care and labour is thereto ſecure a periſhing life, liberty, or treaſure! whenwas I thus folicitous for my foul, though its value be ineſtimable, and its danger far greater ? Self-preſervation is one of the deepest principles in nature. There is not the pooreſt worm, or fly, but will ſhun danger, if it can : yet I amfo far from shunningthoſedangers to which myfoul lies continually expoſed, that I oftenrun it upontemptations, and voluntarily expoſe it to its enemies. I ſee, Lord, how watchful, jealous, and laborious thy people are; what prayers, tears, andgroans, ſearching of heart, mortification of lufts, guarding of ſenſes ; and all accounted too littleby them. Have not Ia foul to ſave or loſe eternally, as well as they ? Yet Icannotdeny one fleſhly luft, nor withſtand one temptaion. O how I am convinced and condemned, not onlyby other's care and vigilance, but my owntoo, inlefferand lower matters ?
The POEM .
Am the ſhip, whoſe bills of lading come To more than man's or angel's art canfum,
Rich fraught with mercies, on theocean, now I I float, thedang'rous ocean I do plow.
Storms rife, rocks threaten, and in ev'ry creek Pyrates and pickeroons their prizes feck.
ANew Compassfor Seamen: Or, My foul ſhouldwatch, look out, anduſe itsglaſs, Prevent ſurpriſals timely; but, alas !
Temptations give it chace, it's grappled ſure, Andboarded, whilst it thinks itſelf ſecure.
Itleeps, like Jonah, in the dreadfull'ſt ſtorm, Altho' it'scafe be dang'rous, and forlorn.
Lord, rouze my drowſy ſoul, left it ſhould knock, And ſplit itſelf upon ſome dangrous rock.
If itof faith and confcience ſhipwreck make, Iam undone for ever; foul, awake !
Till thou arrive in heav'n, watch, and fear; Thou may'ſt not ſay, till then, the coaſt is clear.
CHAP.
VI.
How smalla matter turns a ship about ?
Yet we, against ourconfcience, ſtand it out.
OBSERVATION.
Tis juſt matter of admiration, to fee ſo great a body as a IT Chip is, andwhen under fail too, before afreſh and ſtrong wind, by which it is carried, as the clouds, with marvellous force and ſpeed, yet tobe commanded with eaſe, by ſo ſmall a thing as the helm is. The ſcripture takes notice ofit as amatterworthy of our confideration.
Jam. iii. 4. " Behold alfo " the ſhips, which though theybe great, and driven of fierce
" winds ; yet they are turned about with aſmall helm, whi- " therfoever the governor liſteth."
Yea, * Aristotle himself, that eagle-eyed philoſopher, could not give areaſonof it, but looked upon it as avery marvelious andwonderful thing.
APPLICATION.
To the fame uſe andoffice has God deſigned conſcience in man, which being rectified and regulated bythe word and ſpiritofGod, is to ſteer and order his whole converſation. Con. ſcience is as the oracle of God, thejudge anddeterminer of our actions, whether they be good or evil ? And it lays the ſtrongeft obligations upon the creature to obey its dictates, that is imaginable: for itbinds under the reaſon and confideration of the moſt abfolute and ſovereign will of the greatGod. So that as often as confcience from the word convinceth us of any fin or duty, it lays fuch abond upon us to obey it, as no power underheaven can relax or diſpenſe with. Angels cannotdo it, much less man ; for that would be to exalt themselves above
* Ariftot. Secund. Μηχανικων, C.5.
Navigation Spiritualized.
God. Nowtherefore it is an high anddreadfulwayoffinning, tooppoſeand rebel againstconfcience, when it convinces of fin andduty.
Confcience ſometimes reaſons it out with men, and thewsthem the neceſſityof changing theirwayand courſe ; arguing it from the clearest and moſt allowed maxims of right realon, as wellas from the indifputable ſovereignty ofGod.
As for inſtance: itconvinceth theirvery reason that things of eternalduration are infinitely to be preferred to allmomentary and periſhing things, Rom. viii. 18. Heb. xi. 26. and it is ourdutytochuſe them, and make all fecular and temporary concernments to ſtand aſide, and give place to them.
Yet though men be convincedofthis, theirſtubbornwill ſtands out, andwill not yield up itſelf totheconviction.
Further, It Argues from this acknowledged truth, that all the delightandpleaſures in this world are but a miſerable portion, andthatitis thehighest follyto adventureanimmortal foul for them, Luke ix. 15.
Alas ! what remembrance is there of them in hell ?
They are as the waters that pass away. What havethey left, of all their mirth and jollity, but a tormenting ſting ?
It convinceth them clearly, alſo, that in matters of deep concerument itisan high point of wisdom, to apprehend andimprovethe right ſeaſons and opportunitiesof them, Prov.
Χ. 5. "He that gathers in fummer is a wiſe ſon."
Ecclef. viii. 5. " Awife man's heartdifcerns both time and judgment.
" There is aſeaſon toeverypurpoſe," Ecclef. iii. 1. viz. anick oftime, anhappy juncture, when, if aman ſtrikes in, hedoth his work effectually, andwith much facility ſuch ſeaſons conſcience convinceth the foul of, and often whiſpers thus in its ear: Now, foul, ſtrike in, cloſewith this motionof the Spirit, and be happy for ever ; thou mayeſt neverhave ſuch agale for heaven anymore. Now, though theſe be allowed maxims of reaſon, and confcience enforce them ſtrongly on the foul, yet cannot it prevail, the proud, ſtubborn will rebels, and will not be guided by it.
See Eph. ii. 3. Job xxxiv. 37.
Ila. xlvi.
12. Ezek. ii. 4. Jer. xliv. 16....
REFLECTION.
Ah !Lord, ſuch an heart have I had beforethee; thus obſtinate, thus rebellious, touncontroulableby confcience. Many atimehath conscience thuswhiſperedin mine ear, manya time hath it ſtood in myway, asthe angeldid in Balaam's, or the cherubims that kept the way of the tree of life with Aaming ſwords turning everyway. Thus hath it ſtood tooppoſeme inthewayof mylufts. Howoftenhathit calmlydebatedthe
VOL. VI.
K -
New Compassfor Seamen : Or, caſewith mealone ? andhow ſweetly hath itexpoftulatedwith me ? How clearly hath it convinced of fin, danger, duty, with fſtrong demonſtration ? How terrible hath itmenaced my foul, and fet the point of the threatning at my very breaſt?
And yet my head-ftrong affections will notbe remandedby it.
Ihave obeyed the voice of everyluſt and temptation, Tit. iii.
3.butconfciencehath loſt its authoritywith me. Ah Lord! what afad conditionam I in,both inreſpectof ſin andmiſery?
My fin receives dreadful aggravations, for rebellion and preſumption are hereby added to it.
Ihave violatedthe ſtrongest bonds that ever were laid upon acreature. Ifmyconfcience hadnot thus convinced and warned, the ſin had not been fo great and crimfon-coloured, Jam. iv. 17. Ah ! this is to fin with anhighhand, Numb xv. 30. tocome near to the great andunpardonabletranfgreffion, Pfalm xix. 13. Ohow dreadful away of finningis this, with opened eyes ! and as my fin is thus outof meafure ſinful, ſo my punishment will be out of meafure dreadfui, if I perſiſt in this rebellion. Lord ! thou haſt ſaid, Such ſhallbe beatenwith many ſtripes, Luke xii.48. yea, Lord, and if ever my confcience, which by rebellion is nowgrownfilent, ſhouldbe injudgment awakened inthis life;
O! what an hell hould I have within me ! how would it thunderand roar upon me, andfurround me with terrors ?
Thyword affures me, that no length of time can wear out of its memory what Ihavedone, Gen. xlii. 21. no violence or force can fuppreſs it, Mat. xxvii. 4. no greatneſs of power can ſtifle it ; itwilltake the mightiestmonarchby the throat, Exod. x. 16. Dan. v. 6. no muſic, pleafures, ordelights, can charm it, Job. xx. 22. O confcience ! thou art the ſweetest friend, orthe dreadfulleſt enemyinthe world; thyconfolations are in comparably ſweet, andthy terrors inſupportable. Ah ! let me ſtand it out no longer against conſcience; the very ſhip in which I fail, is aconfutationof mymadness, that rush greedily into fin againstboth reaſon and confcience, and will not be commanded by it; furely, O my foul, this willbe bitterness inthe end.
The POEM.
Ship of greatest burthen will obey A The rudder ; he that fits at helm, may ſway
Andguide its motion: If the pilot pleaſe, The ſhip bears up, against both wind and feas.
My foul's the ſhip, affections are its fails, Confciencethe rudder. Ah ! but Lord, what ails
Navigation Spiritualized.
Mynaughty heart, to ſhuffle in and out, When its convictions bid it tack about ?
Temptations blow acounter blaſt, and drive The veſſelwhere they pleaſe, tho' confcience ſtrive.
Andby its strong perfuafions itwould force My stubborn will to ſteer another courſe.
Lord, if Irun this courſe, thy word doth tell How quickly I must needs arrive at hell.
Then rectify myconfcience, change mywill ; Faninthy pleaſant gales, myGod, and fill
All my affections, and letnothing carry My foul from its due courſe, or make it vary ;
Then if the pilot's work thou wouldst perform, I ſhouldbear bravelyup against a ſtorm.
CHAP.
VIH.
Thro' manyfearsanddangersSeamen run, Yetall'sforgotten when theydo return.
OBSERVATION.
E have an elegant and livelydeſcription of their fears W anddangers, Píal. cvii. 25, 26, 27. "Hecommandeth
" and raiſeth the ſtormy winds, which lifteth up the waves " thereof; they mount up toheaven, they go down again to " the depths; their foul is melted becauſe of trouble ; they
" reel toand fro, theyſtagger like adrunken man ; they areat " their wits end."
Or, as it is in the Hebrew, " All wisdom " isswallowedup."
Suitable to which is that of the poet *.
" The Pilot knows not what to chuſe, or flee ; " Art ſtands amaz'd in ambiguity."
Owhat a strange and miraculous deliverancehavemany feamen had? How often have theyyielded themſelves fordead men, and verily thought the next ſeawould have ſwallowed them up? How earnestly then dothey cry for mercy? and, like the Corinthians, can pray in aſtorm, though they regard itnot atothertimes, Pial. cvii. 28. Jonah i. 5, 6.
APPLICATION.
Theſe dreadful ſtorms doat oncediſcover to us the mighty いい * Rector in incerto eft : nec quidfugiatpetat
Invenit; ambiguis ars ſtupet ipsa malis.
Ovid.
A New Compass for Seamen: Or, power ofGodin raiſing them, and the abundant goodness of God inpreſerving poor creatures in thein.
1. The power ofGod is graciously manifeſted in raiſing them; the wind is one of the Lord's wonders, Pfal. cvii. 24,
25. " They that go down to the fea, ſee the works of the " Lord, and his [wonders] in the deep; for he commandeth
" and raiſeth the ſtormy winds."
Yea, ver. 18. God appropropriates itasapeculiar workof his; " Hecauſeth his [wind
" toblow.]"
Hence he is ſaid, in Scripture, " to bring them " forth out of his treasury," Plal. cxxxvii. 7. there they are locked up, and reserved, not aguft can break forth, till he command and call for it to goand execute his pleaſure :: Yea, he is ſaid to "holdthem in his fiſt," Prov. xxx. 4.
What is more incapable of holding than the wind ? yetGod holds it; although it be a ſtrong and terrible creature, he controuls and rules it: yea, the Scripture ſets forthGod, " as riding upon " the wings of the wind," Pfal. xviii. 10.
It is a borrowed ſpeech from the manner of men, whowhen theywould ſhew their pompandgreatneſs, rideupon ſome ſtately horte, orchariot ; ſo the Lord, to manifeſt the greatness ofhis power, rides uponthe wings of the wind, andwillbe admired in fo terrible acreature.
Andnoleſsofhisglorious power appears in remandingthem, than in raiſing them. The heathens afcribe this power totheir godAeolus, but weknow this is the royalty, and fole prerogativeof the true God, who made heaven and earth; itis he that " makes the ſtorm a calm," Pfal. cvii. 29. and itishethat ſhifts and changes them from pointtopoint, as he pleaſeth; for hehath appointed themtheir circuits, Ecclef. i.6. " Thewind
"goeth towards thefouth, and turneth aboutunto thenorth; it " whirleth about continually, andreturneth againaccordingto
" its circuits."
2. And as we ſhould adore his power in the winds, fo ought we toadmire his goodneſs in preſerving men inthe height of all their fury and violence. O what a marvellous work ofGod ishere ! that men ſhould be kept in a poor weak veſſel, upon the wild and ſtormy ocean, where the wind hath its full ſtroke upon them, andthey are driven before it, as a wreck upon the feas; yet, I ſay, that God ſhouldpreferve you there, is a work of infinite goodness and power. That thoſe winds which do rend the very earth, mountains, and rocks, 1 Kings xix. 11.
" Breaks the cedars, yea, the cedars of Lebanon, thakes the " wilderness, and makes the hinds to calve," Pfal. xxix. 5, 8, 9. which naturalifts ſay bring forthwith greatest difficulty; fure-
Navigation Spiritualized.
lyyour preſervation, in ſuch tempeſts, isanastonishing work of mercy. O how dreadful is this creature, the wind, fometimes toyou ! and how doth it make your hearts ſhake within you ?
If but a plauk ſpring, or aboltgive way, you are all loft.
Sometimes the Lord, for the magnifying of the riches of his goodneſs upon you, drives you to fuch exigencies, that, asPaul ſpeaks, in a like cafe, Acts xxvii. 20. " All hope of " being faved is taken away; " nothing but death before your eyes. The Lord commands a wind out of his treasury, bids itgo and lift up the terrible waves, lock you in upon the ſhore, anddrive you upon the rocks, ſo that no art can fave you ; and then fends you a piece of wreck, or fome other means, tolandyou fafe : And all this togive you anexperiment of hisgoodness and pity, that you may learn to fear thatGod inwhoſe hand your foul and breath are.
And it may be, for the prefent, your hearts are much affected; confcience works ſtrongly, it ſmites you for fins formerly committed, fuch and fuch counsels of miniſters, orrelations flighted. Now, faith confcience, Godiscome inthis ſtorm to reckon with thee for theſe things.
But, alas ! allthis isbut amorningdew; no fooner isthat ſtorm without allayed, but all is quiet within too. How littleof the goodness ofGod abides kindly, and effectually upon the heart?
REFLECTION.
How often hath this glorious power and goodness ofGod paſſedbefore me indreadful ſtorms and tempeſts at fea ? He hath uttered his voice in theſe ſtormy winds, and ſpoken in a terrible manner by then ; yet how little have Ibeen affected with it? " The Lord hath hisway inthewhirlwind, and in " the ſtorm," Nah. i. 3. To fome he hath walked inways of judgmentandwrath, fending themdown in amoment tohell; but tome in away of forbearance and mercy. Ah! how oftenhave I beenupon the very brink of eternity ! hadnotGod ſhifted, or allayed the wind, ina moment, Ihadgonedown into hell.
What workings of confcience were at preſent upon me ? Andwhat terrible apprehenfionshad I thenof myeternal condition ?
What vows did I make in that diſtreſs ? And how earnestlydid I then beg for mercy?
But, Lord, though thy vows are uponme, yethave Ibeen the fame; yea, addedto, and filled up the meaſure of my fios.
Neither thebondsof mercy thou hast laidupon me, nor the ſacred and folemn vows Ihave laid upon myself, could reſtrain me from thoſe ways of iniquity, which then appearedſo dreadful to me.
Ah! Lord, what anheart have I ? What love, pity, and
A New Compass for Seamen: Or, goodneſs, have I finnedagainst ? IfGodhadbut reſpitedjudg ment ſo long, what a mercy were it.
Sure I am, the damned would accountit ſo; but to give me ſuch a ſpace to repent, ah! what an invaluable mercy is this? Anddo I thus requite the Lord, Deut. xxxii. 6. and pervert and abuſe his goodneſs thus ?
Surely, O my foul, if this be the fruitof all thy preſervations, they are rather reſervations to ſome farther and forer judgments. Howdreadfully will justice at laſt avenge thequarrel of abuſed mercy, Joſh. xxiv. 20. How grievouſlydidGod takeit from the Ifraelites, that they provoked him at the fea, avenatthered-fea? Pfal. cvi. 7. whereGodhadwroughttheir deliverance in ſuch amiraculous way.
Even thus have I ſinned afterthe fimilitude of their tranfgreffions ; not only against the laws ofGod, but against the love ofGod. In the laſt ſtorm he ſhot off his warningpiece, in the next, he may diſcharge his murderingpiece against my soul and body. O my foul! hath he given thee " fuchdeliverances as theſe, and dareſt thou
" again break his commandments," Ezra ix. 13, 14. O let me paythevows that my lips have uttered in my diſtreſs, left the Lord recover his gloryfrom me inaway of judgment.
T The POЕМ.
THE ſhip that now fails trim before a wind, E'er the defired port itgains, may find Atedious paſſage; gentle gales a while Do fill its fails, the flatt'ring ſeas do ſmile,
The face of heav'n is bright, on ev'ry fide The wanton purpoice,tumbles on the tide.
Into their cabins now the ſeamen go, Andthenturns out again, with, What chear, ho?
All on a sudden darken'd are the skies, The lamp of heav'n obfcur'd, the winds doth riſe;
Waves ſwell like mountains : Now their courage flags, The maſts are crack'd, the canvas torn to rags.
The vefſſel works for life; anononecries, The main maſt's gone by th' board ; another plies
The pump, until a third does ſtrike them blank, With, Sirs, prepare for death, we've sprung a plank.
Now to theirknees they go, and on this wife They beg for mercy, with their loudeſt cries :
Lord, ſave us but this once, and thou shalt fee What perfons, for the future, we will be :
Our former time's miſ-ſpent, but, with avow, Wewill engage, if thou wiltſave usnow,