The sea-mans direction in time of storm Delivered in a sermon upon occasion of…The sea-mans direction in time of storme Delivered in a sermon upon occasion of…

3. Let us upon this labour to purge §3our hearts, and keep them cleansed from guilt, that the terrors of God, in this and other of his works, may not overwhelm them and sink them. It is a blessed thing to be able to look upon God in these his glorious works with comfort and peace, if there were no guilt within in our hearts (although they would be moved with reverence of God in his great works) yet all the tempests in the World could not shake them with any such terror, as to hinder their comfort, peace, their sweet rest and repose in God, yea they would rather rejoice the heart, they would raise it to bless it self in this God, as the God of its comfort, and of all its good: were it not for vapours, for Wind got into the earth, all storms and tempestuous Winds without, would never make an earthquake were our spirits clear within: whatsoever comes without, would never cause any slavish despairing, ⟨p. 44⟩sinking heartquake in us. Pliny saith, that the Eagle is not afraid of Thunder, the greatest tempests of Thunder do not affright her, whereas other fowls shake and tremble at it, and the beasts of the field get into their shelters: thus spiritual hearts who converse much with God, and keep themselves up on high, they are not terrified with such things as fill the hearts of others with amazing terrors: hearts that are heavenly are like the air above the middle Region, free from tempests and storms. It is very observable that which we read of David, Psal. 18. he there sets out the glory of God in the Earthquake and dreadful Tempests; The earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the hills moved and were shaken because he was wroth: there went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured, he did fly upon the wings of the wind, his thick clouds passed, hail-stones and coals of fire. The Lord thundered in the Heavens, and the highest gave his voice, &c. Yet observe, vers. 16. David draws comfort out ⟨p. 45⟩of all this, He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. These grievous Tempests, these dreadful storms were not to over-whelme me, to sink me in the waters, but the Lord took me, that God who appeared thus dreadful in these storms and tempests, yet this God took me, and drew me out of many waters, and vers. 19. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.