A39673:1253
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 2: II. 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. 2. It is a sinful wasting of our precious time, and that puts a further aggravation upon it. Consider, Sirs, the time of Life is but a little spot betwixt two eternities. The long-suffering God wheels about those glorious Celestial Bodies over your heads in a constant revolution, to beget time for you; and the preciousness of every minute thereof results from its use and end: It is intended and afforded as a space to you to repent in, Rev. 2. 21. And therefore great things depend upon it: no less than your eternal Happiness or Misery, hangs upon those precious opportunities. Every minute of it hath an influence into Eternity. How would the damned value one hour of it, if they might enjoy it! The business you have to do in it, is of unspeakable weight and concernment; this great work, this Soul-work, and Eternity-work lies upon your hands, you are cast into straits of time about it. And if so, Oh what an evil is it in you, to waste it away thus to no purpose!
Arg. 2. It is a sinful wasting of our precious time, and that puts a further aggravation upon it. Consider, Sirs, the time of Life is but a little spot betwixt two eternities. The long-suffering God wheels about those glorious Celestial Bodies over your heads in a constant revolution, to beget time for you; and the preciousness of every minute thereof results from its use and end: It is intended and afforded as a space to you to repent in, Rev. 2. 21. And therefore great things depend upon it: no less than your eternal Happiness or Misery, hangs upon those precious opportunities. Every minute of it hath an influence into Eternity. How would the damned value one hour of it, if they might enjoy it! The business you have to do in it, is of unspeakable weight and concernment; this great work, this Soul-work, and Eternity-work lies upon your hands, you are cast into streights of time about it. And if so, Oh what an evil is it in you, to waste it away thus to no purpose!
Arg. 3. It's a sin that few are sensible of, as they are of other sins, and therefore the more dangerous. It's commonly committed, and that without checks of Conscience. Other sins, as Murder and Adultery, though they be horrid sins, yet are but seldom committed, and when they are, Conscience is startled at the horridness of them: Few, except they be prodigious wretches indeed, dare make light of them. But now for idle and vain words, there are innumerable swarms of these every day, and few regard them. The intercourse betwixt the heart and tongue is quick; they are quickly committed, and as easily forgotten.