A39673:1269
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 3: III. 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.
III. CAUTION.
The next danger I shall give you warning of, is the sin of Uncleanness; with which, I fear, too many of the rude and looser sort of Sea-men defile themselves; and possibly, the temptations to this sin are advantaged, and strengthened upon them more than others, by their condition and employments. Let no Man be offended that I here give warning of this evil; I intend to asperse no Man's person, nor raise up jealousy against any: but would faithfully discharge my duty to all, and that in all things. It was the complaint of Salvian many hundred years ago,1 that he could not speak against the Vices of men, but one or other would thus object, There he meant me, he hit me; and so storm and fret. Alas (as he replieth) it is not we that speak to you, but your own Conscience; we speak to the Order, but Conscience speaks to the Person. I shall use no other Apology in this case. That this Sin is a dreadful Gulf, a Quick-sand that hath sucked and destroyed thousands, is truly apparent, both from Scripture and Experience. Solomon tells us, Prov. 22. 14. That it is a deep ditch, into which such as are abhorred of the Lord shall fall. Oh the multitudes of dead that are there! And if so, I cannot in duty to God, or love to you, be silent, where the danger is so great. It is both needless, and besides my intention, here to insist largely upon the explication ⟨p. 38⟩of the particulars in which uncleanness is distributed: the more ordinary and common sins of this kind are known by the names of Adultery and Fornication: the latter is, when single persons come together, out of the state of marriage; the former is, when at least one of the persons committing uncleanness is contracted in marriage. This now is the evil I shall warn you of. And that thou mayst never fall into this pit, I shall endeavour to fence and hedge up thy way to it, by these ensuing Arguments: And Oh that the light of every Argument may be powerfully reflected upon your Conscience! Many men are very wise in generals, but very vain [Greek or Hebrew], in the reasonings, or imaginations, as the Apostle calls them,