Our food out of the ſea God doth command; 1
A New Compass for Seamen: Or, Andhe no fooner ſpeaks, but all is till, The ſtorm is over, and the mind tranquil.
There goes a pow'r, with his majestic voice, Tohuth thedreadful ſtorm, and ſtill its noife.
Whowould but fear andlovethis glorious Lord, That can rebukeſuch tempeſts withaword ?
CHAP.
Our foodout of the feaGoddothcommand; Yet few therein take notice of hishand.
OBSERVATIΟΝ.
HE providence of God in furnishing uswith fuch plenty T and variety of fish, is not lightly tobe paſt over. We havenotonly ſeveral forts of fiſh in our own ſeas, which are caught in their ſeaſons; but from ſeveral parts, eſpecially the weſtern parts of England, many fail of ſhips are fent yearly to the American parts of the world; as Newfoundland, NewEngland, &c.
Whence everyyear is brought home, not only enough to ſupply our own nation, but many thousand pounds worth.alfoyearlyreturned fromSpain, and other countries ; by which trademany thousand families do fubfift.
APPLICATION .
But now, what returns do we make toheaven for theſe mercies ? Owhat notice is takenof the good handof Providence, which thus ſupplies and feeds us with the bleſſings of the fea?
I fear there are but few that own, or act in fubmiffion toit, and are careful to return, according to received benefit. Men do not confider, "That their works are in thehand of God,"
Eccl . ix. 1. And even those that havethe moſtimmediatedependence upon Providence, as merchants and ſeamen, yet are very prone to undertake deſigns in the confidence of theirownwifdom and induſtry ; not looking higher for the bleſſing, Jam. iv.
13.
They often " facrifice totheir own net, andburn incenfe " to their drag, becauſeby them theirportion is fat, and their
66 meat plenteous," Hab. i. 16. viz.
They attribute what is due toGod unto thecreature : now this is a ſinhighlyprovoking to the Lord ; for look in what degree the heartcleaves to the ſecond cauſe, inthe ſame degree itdeparts from the living
God, Jer. x. 5.
Andhowdo you think the bleſſedGod will take it, to fee himtelf thus debaſed, and the creature thus exalted into his place; to fee you carry yourſelves to the creature as to aGod, and to the bleſſed God as to a creature.
Surely, it is agreat
Navigation Spiritualized.
andcommon evil, and ſuch as willblaſt all, ifnottimelydifcovered and lamented.
If wemake flesh our arm, it is just with God to wither anddry up the arm. Do we not, my brethren, lookupon ſecond cauſes, as if they had themain ſtroke in ourbuſineſs ? Andwithaneglective eyepaſs byGod, as ifhecame inbut collaterally, andonthe bye, into it ? But, certainly, all endeavours willbe unſanctified, ifnotſucceſsleſs, in whichGod isnot eyedand engaged.
" It is invain foryou to rifeup early, and fit up late, and " eatthe breadofforrows ; for ſo he givethhis beloved ſleep,"
Pfalm cxxvii. 2. (i. e.) It is to no purpoſe for men to beat their brains, tiretheir ſpirits, andracktheir confciences for an eſtate.
Thetrue wayofacquiring and enjoying the creature, is by fubmittingquietly tothewill ofGod, in a prudent and diligent, yet moderate uſe of lawful means: Nothing can thrivewith us till then..
REFLECTION.
Why then ſhouldIdiſquiet myſelfin vain; and rob myſelfof my peace, bytheſe unbelieving cares anddiſtractions ?
Othishathbeen myfin! Ihave acted, as ifmycondition had beenatmyowndiſpoſe ; I have eyed creatures andmeans too much, andGodtoo little. How havemyhands hangeddown withdiſcouragement,whenfecondcauſes havediſappeared, or wrought croſs to mydeſigns inthe world, readytotransfer the fault on this thing, or that ! And again, how apt am I to be vainly liftedup incarnal confidence, whenI see myſelfcompetently furnished with creature munitionand proviſion ? Oh, whataGod-provokingwickedneſs is this ! How oft hath providence checked my carnal preſumption, anddaſhed many hopeful projects ? Yet have I not owned it, as I ought, and
ſubmitted to it. Oh,it is a wonder this hath not cloſedthe hand ofprovidence against me, and pulled down acurſe upon all !
Ah Lord, let me now learn " to acquaint myſelf with thee, " then ſhall I decree a thing, and it ſhallbe eſtabliſhed," Job xxii. 28.
The POEM.
Nall the gifts ofGodwe should advance His glorious name ; not ſay, itcamebychance.
Orto the idol of our prudence pay Thetribute of ourpraiſe, andgo our way.
Thewaves doclap theirhands, and in theirkind AcknowledgeGod; andwhat, are theymoreblind
VOL. VI.
ANew Compass for Seamen : Ory That floatuponthem ? Yea, forwhat theyget They offer facrifices to their net.
This is your manner, thus towork you go :
Confefs the naked truth ; is't not ſo?
This netwas wiſely caft, 'tis full, 'tis full:
Owell done mates, this is a gallant pull.
Thuswhat is due toGod,you do apply Unto yourſelves moſt ſacrilegiouſly.
Icannotwonder fuch come empty home, That are ſo full offelf and fir : Yet fome I hope look higher, and onGod reflect Duepraiſe. A bleſſing ſuchmay well expect.
J CHAP XXII.
Whilst thou by art the filly fifb dost hill, Perchance the devil's hookſticks in thy gill.
OBSERVATIO Ν.,
HERE is ſkill in fiſhing ;theythatgoto fea ina fithing TH voyage, ufe to go providedwith their craft (asthey very fitly call it) withoutwhich they can do nothing. They have their lines, hooks ofſeveral fizes, and their bait. They care fullyobſervetheir ſeaſons;when the fiſhfall in, thenthey piy their buſineſs day andnight.
APPLICATION.
Buthow much more ſkilful and induſtrious is Satan to enſnare and destroy fouls ? The devil makes a voyage as well as you ; he hath his baits for you, as you have for the fith: He hath his devices andwiles to catch fouls,2 Cor. ii. 1. Ephef. vi. 11. He is a ferpent, an oldferpent, Rev. xii.9. Too crafryfor man in his perfection, much more inhiscollapſed and degenerated ſtate, hisunderstanding being crackedbythe fall, and allhis facultiespoifoned, andperverted.
Divines obferve four ſteps, ordegrees of Satan's tempting power :
First, He can find out the conſtitution-evils of men ; he knowsto what ſin their natures are more eſpecially prone, and inclinable.
Secondly, Hecan propoundſuitable objects to thoſe lufts, he can exactly and fully hit every man's humour ; asAgrippina mixedher poiſon in thatmeat herhusband loved beſt.
Thirdly, He can injectand caft motions intothe mind, to
Navigation Spiritualized.
cloſewith thoſe tempting objects ; as it is ſaid ofJudas, John xiii. 2. " The devil put it into his heart."
Fourthly, He can follicit, irritate, and provoke the heart, andby thoſecontinual reſtleſs ſollicitations weary it; and herebyhe oftendraws mento commit ſuch things as ſtartledthem in the firſtmotion.
All this he can do, ifhe finds the work ſticks, and meets with rubs and difficulties ;yetdoth he not act to the utmost of his ſkill and power, atall times, andwith allperſons ; neither indeed need he do ſo, the very propounding ofan object is enough to ſome, without any further follicitation ; the devil makes an eaſy conquest of them.
And, beſide all this, his policy much appearsinthe election of place, time, and inſtruments to tempt by: And thus are poor fouls caught, " as fishes in an evil net," Ecclef. ix. 12.
The carnalman is ledbyſenſe, as the beast; andSatanhandles and fits him accordingly. Heuſeth allforts ofmotives,not only internal and intellective;but external and fenfitive alſo ; as the ſparkling ofthe wine,when itgives its colourin theglaſs; theharlot's beauty, whoſe eye-lids areſnares, hiding always thehook, and concealing the iſſue from them. He promiſes them gain andprofit, pleafure and delight, and all that is tempting, with affurance offecreſy:Bytheſehe faſtens thefatalhook intheirjaws, andthusthey are led captive byhim at hiswill.
REFLECTION.
And is Satan ſo ſubtil and induſtrious to entice ſouls to fin?
Doth he thus caſt out his golden baits, and allure fouls with pleaſure totheir ruin ? Thenhowdoth itbehove thee, O-my foul, tobe jealous and wary ! how strict a guard ſhould I fet upon every ſenſe ! Ah, let me not so much regard how fin comes towards mein the temptation, ashow itgoes off at last.
Thedayinwhich Sodom wasdestroyed, began with a pleaſant fun-thine,butendedin fire andbrimſtone. I maypromiſemyfelfmuch content in the fatisfaction ofmy luſts : But O how certainlywill it end in my ruin ? Ahab doubtleſs promiſed himſelfmuch content inthe vineyardofNaboth, buthis blood paid for it in the portion of Jezreel. The harlot's bed was perfumed, to entice the ſimple young man, Prov. vii. 17.
But thoſe chambers of delight proved the chambers ofdeath , andher houſethe way to hell. Ah ! with what a ſmiling face doth fin comeon towards me in its temptations ? how doth it tickle the carnal fancy, and pleaſe the deceived heart ? But Ppz \
A New Compass for Seamen : Oг, what adreadful catastrophe and upshot hath it ? The delight is quicklygone ; but the guilt thereofremains to amaze and terrifythe foulwith ghaſtly forms, anddreadful repreſentationsofthewrath ofGod. As finhath its delights attending it to enterandfaſtenit,ſoithath its horrors and ſtings to torment andwound : And as certainly as I see thoſe gobefore it ta make a way, ſo certainly ſhall I find theſe follow after, and treadupon its heels. No sooner isthe confcience awakened, but allthoſedelights vaniſh as a night-viſion, or as adream whenoneawakes; andthen I shall cry, here is thehook, but where isthebait? Here is the guilt and horror, but where thedelight that Iwas promiſed ? And I, whither ſhall I now go?Ah, mydeceitful lufts ! you have enticed and left me in themidst of all miferies.
T The POEM:
Here's ſkill in fiſhing, that the devil knows ; Forwhen for fouls Satan a fishinggoes, Heangles cunningly; he knows he must Exactly fit the bait unto the luft.
He ſtudies conſtitution, placeandtime, Hegueſſes what is his delight, whatthine:
And ſo accordingly prepares the bait, Whilst he himself lies cloſely hid, towait
When thou wilt nibble at it.
Doſt incline Todrunkenmeetings ? thenhe baits with wine :
Is this the way ? If into this he'll ſmell, He'll ſhortly pledge a cup of wrath inhell.
To pride or luft is thyvile nature bent ?
An object ſuitable he will preſent.
Othink on this ! when you caſt in the hook, Say, Thus for my poor fouldoth SatanJook.
Oplay not with temptations, do not ſwallow The fugar'dbait, confider what will follow.
If once he hitch thee, then away he draws Thy captive foul cloſe pris'ner in his paws.
CHAP.
XXIII.
Doth trading fail, andvoyagesprove bad?
Ifyou cannotdifcern the caufe, 'tisfad.
OBSERVATΙΟΝ.
THERE aremany fad complaints abroad (and, Ithink, not without cauſe) that trade fails, nothing turns to
Navigation Spiritualized.
account. Andthough all countries areopen and free for traffic, a general peace withall nations, yet there ſeems to be a dearth, a ſecretcurſeupon trading. You run from country to country, andcome loſers home. Men canhardly render a reaſonof it; few hittheright cauſe of thisjudgment.
APPLICATION.
That profperity and ſucceſs in trade is from thebleffing of God, I ſuppoſe few are ſo atheistical, asonceto deny, or queftion. Thedevil himſelfacknowledges it, Jobi. 10. " Thou hast
" bleffed the work ofhishands,and his ſubſtance is increaſed " in the land." It is not inthepowerofany man togetriches,
Deut. viii. 18. " Thou shaltremember the LordthyGod, for " it is hethat giveth thee power toget wealth."
It is his bleſſingthat makes goodmenrich, and his permiffion that makes wicked men rich. That maxim came from hell, Quifquefortunefuaefaber : Everymanisthecontriver of hisown condition.
Certainly, " The good ofman is not inhis own " hand," Job xxi. 16. " Promotion cometh not from the eaft
" or the weſt," Pfalmlxxvi.6, 7.
This being acknowledged, it is evident, thatinalldiſappointments, andwantofſucceſs inourcallings, we ought not to ſtick in ſecond cauſes, but to look higher, even to the handanddiſpoſal of God : Forwhoſe it is to give the bleſſing. his alſo it isto with-hold it. And this is as clear in ſcripture, astheother : It is the Lordthat takes away the fishes of the ſea, Hof. iv. 3. Zeph. i. 3. " It is he that curſeth our blef- " ſings," Mal. ii. 3.
ThisGoddoth asapunishment for fin, and the abuse of mercies ; andtherefore infuch caſes we ought not toreſtingeneralcomplaints to, orof one another, but fearch what thofe fins are that provoke the Lord to inflict ſuch judgments.
Andhere Imust requeſt your patience, to bear a plain, and cloſewordofconviction. My brethren, I am perfuaded theſe are the ſins, among many others, that provoke the Lord to blaſt all your employments.
1. Ourundertakingdeſigns without prayer. Alas ! how few ofusbeginwithGod! interest him inourdealings, and aſk counſel and direction at his mouth. Prayer is thatwhich ſanetifies all employments andenjoyments, 1 Tim. iv. 5. The very heathen could ſay, AJove principium, They must begin with God. Othatwe had moreprayers, andfewer oaths !.
2. Injustice andfraudin ourdealings. Afin to which merchants are prone, as appears by that expreffion, Hof. xii. 7.
This isthatwhich willblast all our enjoyments.
A New Compass for Seamen : Or, 3. An over-earneſt endeavour after the world. Men make this their buſineſs, they will be rich : andhence it is,they are not only unmerciful to themſelves, in wearing and waſting theirown ſpirits with carking cares, but to fuch alſo as they employ; neither regarding the ſouls orbodiesofmen: ſcarce affordingthem the liberty ofthe Lord'sday, (ashath been too common in our Newfoundland employments) or iftheyhave it, yet they are ſo worn out with inceſſant labours, that that precious time isſpent either inſleep or idleneſs. It isnowonderGod gives you more reſt than you would have, fince that dayof reſt hath beenno better improved.
This over-doing hath notbeentheleastcauſe ofour undoing.
Laſtly, Our abuſe ofproſperity,whenGod gave it, making God'smercies the food andfuel ofour luſts. When we had an affluence and confluence of outward bleſſings, "this made
" us kick against God," as, Deut. xxxiii. 15. " forgetGod,"
Deut. iv. 14. yea, grow grow proud of our ſtrength and riches, Ezek. xvi. 13. and Jer. ii. 31. Ah !howfewofus inthedays of our profperity, behaved ourſelves as good Jehofaphat did?
2 Chron. xvii. 5, 6. " He had filver and gold in abundance, " and his heartwas lifted in the way of God's command- " ments ;" not inpride and infolence.
REFLECTION .
Aretheſe the fins that blaſt our bleſſings, and wither our mercies ? O then let me ceaſe to wonder it is no better, and rather admire thatit is noworſe with me ; thatmy neglect of prayer, injustice indealings, earthly-mindedness, and abufe offormer mercies, havenot provokedGod to ſtrip me naked ofall myenjoyments. Let mehumbly accept from the Lord the punishment of my iniquities, and lay my handuponmy mouth .
And, O that theſe diſappointments might convince meofthe creature's vanity, and cauſe me todrive on another trade for heaven ! then ſhall I adorethywisdominrending from me thoſe idolizedenjoyments. Ah, Lord! When I hadthem, myheart was a perpetualdrudge tothem : howdidI then forgetGod, neglect my duty, and notmindmyeternal concernments ! Oh, if theſehad notperiſhed, in allprobability I had periſhed. MyGod, letmyfoulproſper, andthena ſmallportion oftheſethings ſhall afford me morecomfort than ever I hadin theirgreatest abundance. " A little thata righteous man hath,
" is betterthanthe riches ofmany wicked," Pfal. xxxvii. 16..
T The POEM.
HERE's great complaint abroadthattrading's bad, You ſhakeyourhead, and cry, "Tis ſad, 'tis ſad.
Navigation Spiritualized.
Merchants lay out their ſtock, feamentheir pains, And in their eyetheybothmay put their gains.
Your fishingfails, you wonder why 'tis ſo, Tis this (faith one) orthat; but I fay no ;
Twill ne'er be well,tillyou confefs and ſay, It isour fin thatfrights the fish away.
Nowonderallgoes into bags with holes, Since ſo thegoſpel hath been in your fouls.
Wekick'dlike Jeſurun,whenthe flowingtide Ofwealth cametumbling in, this nouriſh'dpride.
"Twixt foul andbody, now Iwish itmay Fare, as betwixtthe Jews and usthisday.
Othatour outwardwant andloſs may be To us a foul-enriching poverty!
Ifdiſappointments here advance the trade Forheaven,then complain not; you havemade
'The richest voyage, and your empty ſhips Returndeep laden with foul-benefits.
CHAP.
XXIV.
Infeasthegreaterfish the less devour :
Sofomemen crush all those within theirpow'r.
OBSERVATION.
Here are fiſhes ofprey inthefea, as well as birds and beaſts ofprey on the land.
Our ſeamen tell us, how thedevouringwhales, ſharks, dolphins, and other fishes, fol-lowthe caplein, and other ſmaller fiſh, anddevour multitudes ofthem.
It is frequentwith us, inour own ſeas, to find ſeveral ſmaller fiſhes inthe belliesofthe greaterones, yea, I have oftenheardfeamenſay, thatthepoor little fry, when pursued,
! are ſoſenſibleof thedanger, that theyhave fometimes ſeen multitudes ofthemcaft themſelves upon the ſhore, and periſh there, to avoid thedangerofbeingdevoured bythem.
APPLICATION.
Thus cruel, merciless, and oppreffive, are wicked men, whoſe " tender mercies are cruelty," Prov xxii. 10. We fee the like cruelty inour extortioners, and over-reaching ſharks ashore,whogrind the faces of the poor, and regard not the criesofthe fatherleſs and widows,but fill their houſes with thegainofoppreſſion.
'Theſeare,bytheholyGhost, compared tothe fiſhes of the ſea,Hab. i. 13, 14. This is acrying fin,yea, itſendsupaloud cry toheaven for vengeance,Exod.
A New Compassfor Seamen : Or, xxii. 23. " Ifthou afflictthe widowandthe fatherleſs,andthey
" cry unto me, I will furely hear their cry." And ver. 27.
" I will hear his cry, for I am gracious."
Nay, God willnot only hear their cry, but avenge their quarrel.
That is a remarkable text, Theſ. iv. 6. "Thatnoman go beyond " and defraud his brother in any matter, becauſe thatthe Lord
" is the [avenger] ofall ſuch."
This word * avenger, isbut oncemoreuſed inthe New Testament, Rom. xiii. 4. and there it isapplied to the civil magiftrate, who is to fee execution done upon offenders. But now this is a fin that ſometimes maybe out ofthe reach of man's justice, and thereforeGod hinſelfwill be their avenger.
You may over-power the poor in this world, and it maybe they cannot contend with you at man's bar, thereforeGodwillbring it before hisbar.
Believe it, firs, itis a ſin ſoprovokingtoGod,that hewill not let it eſcape without ſevere punishment, ſooner or later.
The prophet Habbakuk, chap. 1. ver. 13. wondered howthe holyGod could forbearſuch till the generaldayofreckoning, and thathe did not take exemplary vengeance onthem inthis life.
"Thou art ofpurereyes than to behold evil, and canſt " notlook uponiniquity: wherefore then lookeſt thou upon " them that dealtreacherously, and holdeſt thy tongue when
" the wickeddevoureth themanthat is morerighteous than " he?" AndProv. xxiii. 10, 11. " Enter not into thefields of " thefatherless," (i. e.) of the poor andhelpleſs. Butwhyis it moredangerous violentlyto invade theirright, than another's?
The reafon is added, " for their redeemer is mighty, andhe " ſhallpleadtheircauſewith thee."
Itmay be they are not ableto retainacounciltopleadtheir cauſehere; thereforeGod willplead their cauſe forthem.
REFLECTION.
Turn in upon thyself (O my foul) and confider, haſt thou notbeenguilty of this crying fin ? Have I not (when a fervant) over-reached and defraudedothers,and filledmymaſter's houſe with violence and deceit ? and ſo brought myſelfunder that dreadful threatning, Zeph. i. 9. Or finceI came to trade and dealupon mine own account, have notthe balances of deceit been in myhand; I have (itmaybe) keptmany inmy ſerviceandemployment'; have not I uſedtheir labours without reward, andſo am under that woe ? Jer. xxii. 13. ornot giventhemwages proportionable to their work ? Ifa. Iviii. 3 . erbybadpayment, andunjust deductions and allowances,de- * Εκδίκος.
Navigation Spiritualized.
fraudedthemof apart oftheir due? Mal. iii. 5. or at least delayed payment, out of acovetous diſpoſition to gain by it ; whilft their neceflities in the mean time cried aloudfor it ; and fo finned against God's expreſs commands,Deut. xxiv. 14,
15. Lev. xix. 30. orhave I not perfecuted fuch as God hath ſmitten? Pfalm lxix. 26. and rigorously exacted the utmoſt of mydue, though thehand ofGodhathgone out against them, breaking their eftates? O my foul, examine thyselfupon theſe particulars: reſt notquiet, until this guilt be removed by the application ofthebloodof ſprinkling. Hath not the Lord ſaid,
Jam. ii. 13. " That they ſhall havejudgment withoutmercy, " that have ſhewedno mercy ? And is it not a fearful thing to fall into thehands ofthe living God, who hath faid, He
" will take vengeance for theſe things ?"
The POEM .
follow The leffer fry, at one gulp do fwallow Somehundreds ofthem, as our ſeamen ſay :
But we can tell far ſtranger things than they.
For we have ſharks aſhore on ev'ry creek, That to devourpoor mendo hunt and ſeek.
No pity, fenfe, orbowels, in them be, Nay, havethey not put offhumanity ?
Extortioners, and cheaters, whom God hates Havedreadful open mouths, andthro' thoſe gates
Braveperſonswith theirheritages paſs:
ر In fun'ral ſtate, friends crying out, alas !
Ogive me Agur's wiſh, that Imaynever Beſuchmyſelf, or feel the hands ofeither.
Andasfor thoſe that intheir paws are grip'd,
Pity and refcue, Lord, from that fad plight.
When I beholdthe ſqueaking lark, that's borne Infaulcon's talons, crying, bleeding, torn ;
Ipity its fad cafe, and would relieve The prisoner, ifI could, as well as grieve.
Fountain ofpity ! hear the piteous moans Ofallthy captive and oppreſſed ones.
VOL. VI.