A39673:1229
Navigation spiritualizedNavigation spiritualiz'd
Navigation spiritualized: or, A new compass for seamen consisting of XXXII points of pleasant observations, profitable applications, and serious reflections: all concluded with so many spiritual poems. Whereunto is now added, I. A sober consideration of the sin of drunkenness. II. The harlots face in the Scripture-glass. III. The art of preserving the fruit of the lips. IV. The resurrection of buried mercies and promises. V. The sea-mans catechism. Being an essay toward their much desired reformation from the horrible and detestable [sic] sins of drunkenness, swearing, uncleanness, forgetfulness of mercies, violation of promises, and atheistical contempt of death. Fit to be seriously recommended to their profane relations, whether sea-men or others, by all such as unfeignedly desire their eternal welfare. By John Flavel, minister of the Gospel.Navigation spiritualiz'd: or, A new compass for seamen consisting of XXXII points of pleasant observations, profitable applications, and serious reflections: all concluded with so many spiritual poems. Whereunto is now added, I. A sober consideration of the sin of drunkenness. II. The harlots face in the Scripture-glass. III. The art of preserving the fruit of the lips. IV. The resurrection of buried mercies and promises. V. The sea-mans catechism. Being an essay toward their much desir'd reformation from the horrible and destable [sic] sins of drunkenness, swearing, uncleanness, forgetfulness of mercies, violation of promises, and atheistical contempt of death. Fit to be seriously recommmended to their profane relations, whether sea-men or others, by all such as unfeignedly desire their eternal welfare. By John Flavel, minister of the Gospel.
London: printed for M. Fabian, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A Sober Consideration Of the SIN of DRUNKENNESS. › Caution 1: I. CAUTION.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Arg. 3. It is a Sin by which thou greatly wrongest and abuseth thine own Body. The Body is the Souls Instrument, it is as the Tools are to a skilful Artificer, this Lust both dulls and spoils it, so that it's utterly unfit for any service of him that made it. Thy body is a curious piece. not made by a word of command, as other Creatures, but by a word of counsel, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and curiously wrought, (saith the Psalmist) Psal. 139. 14. or as the Vulgar: Ace pictus sum, Painted as with a Needle, like a Garment of Needlework of divers colours, richly embroidered. Look how many members, so many wonders. There are Miracles enough (saith one) betwixt head and foot, to fill a volume. There is (saith another) such curious workmanship in the eye, that upon the first sight of it some Atheists have been forced to acknowledge a God; especially that fifth Muscle in the eye is wonderful, whereby ⟨p. 13⟩(as a learned* Author observes) Man differeth from all other Creatures, who have but four; one to turn the eye downward, a second to hold it forward, a third to move it to the right hand, a fourth to the left; but none to turn it upward as a man hath. Now judge in thy self, did God frame such a curious piece, and enliven it with a Soul, which is a spark, a ray of his own light, whose motions are so quick, various and indefatigable, whose flights of reason are so transcendent, did God, thinkest thou, send down this curious piece, the top and glory of the Creation, the Index and Epitome of the whole world, Eccl. 12. 2. did God (I say) send down this picture of his own perfection, to be but as a strainer for meats and drinks, a sponge to suck in Wine and Beer? Or canst thou answer for the abuse and destruction of it? By this excess thou fillest it with innumerable diseases under which it languisheth; and at last thy life, like a lamp extinguished, being drowned with to much Oil. Infinite Diseases are begotten by it (saith Zanch.) hence come Apoplexies,2 Gouts, Palsies, sudden Death, trembling of the hands and legs; herein they bring Cain's curse upon themselves, saith Ambrose. Drunkenness slays more then the Sword. Oh! what a terrible thing will in be to consider upon a Death-bed, that these pangs and aches are the fruits of thy Intemperance and Excess! Who hath woe Who hath sorrows Who hath contention? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause?